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01.17.09
- When the NAIA 18th-ranked Foresters knocked off the University
of St. Francis 75-58 in a Mid-Central Conference contest, few knew
just how significant the victory really was. Not only did the
win move HU into a tie for first place in the MCC standings, but it
also was the first road win against the Cougars in more than 15
years.
Things got off to a
typical start with St. Francis taking the early lead. Vini Dawson
hit back-to-back threes to give the Cougars a 6-2 lead. But
that is where the similarity to the past ended. From there the
Foresters went on a 19-6 run to take a 21-12 lead eight minutes into
the contest. Jamika Banks drained another trey to cut the
margin to six, but it would be as close as St. Francis would get the
remainder of the game.
Another 13-4 spurt
gave HU its largest lead of the half at 34-19 with 1:45 left until
intermission. Then after holding the MCC's leading scorer,
Marie Kaufmann, to just four first half points and the Cougars to
just 25% (7-27) shooting from the field, the Foresters took a 37-23
advantage to the locker room.
HU continued to pour
it on with a 9-2 run over the first three minutes of the second half
to increase the margin to 21 at 46-25. Over the next 12
minutes, the two teams traded baskets, until St. Francis put
together an 8-0 run to pull within 14 with five minutes remaining.
A pair of Jenna Donaldson free throws ended the Cougars streak and
squelched the rally attempt. The Foresters then went 6 for 8
at the stripe over the final two minutes to seal the long-awaited
victory.
HU's Sarah Miller
topped all scorers in the game with 22 points on 7-12 shooting,
including 3-5 from behind the arc. Donaldson added 19 points
and Lauren Davenport finished with 14 points, six steals and five assists.
Kaufmann paced St. Francis with 19 points and 10 rebounds and Banks
contributed her own double-double with 12 points and a game-high 12
boards.
The Foresters went
25 for 48 from the field for 52.1% for the game while St. Francis
was 19 for 61 for 31.1%. The Cougars won the battle of the
boards 41-24.
Box Score |
