Links

» Athletics › Women's Basketball

· Schedule · Roster · Statistics · Profiles · Coach · Staff · Outlook · Archives · Recruiting

March 2, 2007

Gwynedd-Mercy 83, Ithaca 74
2007 NCAA Division III Tournament
Griffins use second-half rally move on to second round

Box Score

NEW YORK - Five Griffins finished in double figures led by Michelle Sgrillo's (Philadelphia/Cardinal Dougherty) 16 points and 14 rebounds as Gwynedd-Mercy rallied from an 11-point second half deficit to defeat Ithaca in the first round of the 2007 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament on the campus of New York University.

Junior Kristian Woodridge (Abington, Pa./Abingnton), came alive in the second half, netting 11 of her 14 points in the second stanza. Senior Jackie Dougherty (Roslyn, Pa./Abington) scored 14 points while juniors Karen Tierney (Philadelphia/Kennedy-Kenrick) and Beccie Strohecker (Hatboro, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) chipped in 12 and 11 respectively.

Gwynedd will advance to tomorrow's second round game at 7 p.m. against New York University, who were 84-50 winners over Ursinus in the nightcap.

The Bombers' Erika Steele led all scorers with 22 points, but scored just six in the second half. Sue Kelly added 19 and grabbed 11 boards for Ithaca (16-12).

Gwynedd (26-2) couldn't get in a rhythm at the start of the game and saw Ithaca use an 11-1 run to take a double digit lead (29-19). After a GM timeout, the Griffins fired back outscoring the Bomber's 11-0 over a five minute span. Two Tierney free throws gave GM a 30-29 lead with 4:19 left in the half, but Ithaca closed the period on an 11-6 sprint to lead by four at the half.

The second stanza saw the Bombers generally increase their lead. Three-straight buckets turned a 51-47 edge into their largest lead of the game at 58-47 with 14 minutes left.

Woodridge, Tierney, and Strohecker helped spark the rally combining for 10 points with Woodridge's key three-pointer from the left baseline to knot the game at 60-60 with just under 10 minutes to play.

Sgrillo then helped put the contest away as her two free throws and defensive rebound off a Bomber plus a Woodridge driving layup lifted the Griffins ahead for good, 76-72, with just 2:54 remaining.

Gwynedd shot 65% (13-of-20) and forced 13 turnovers in the second half while outrebounding Ithaca 39-38.

Back to Women's Basketball Main Page