TOWSON, MD – The York College women's basketball team used a big first half to cruise to a 60-47 non-conference win at Goucher College on Wednesday night. The Spartans improve to 2-0 overall while the Gophers fall to 0-2.
The Spartans had a very balanced effort as senior Jaimie Sapp and freshman Brittany Hicks each had 12 points while freshman Kristen Haley pulled in 12 rebounds.
The Green and White used a crisp first half as they jumped on the hosts early. York began the game with a 22-5 run, keyed by 10 points from Sapp. The Gophers trimmed the York lead to nine thanks to an 8-0 run keyed by back-to-back three pointers from Amy Smith and Sharnell Huff. York ended the run with a Kelsey Murphy triple and, by the end of the half the Spartan lead grew to 18 at 35-17.
The Spartans shot 51.9% from the field for the half while the York defense limited Goucher to just 18.8% from the floor in the opening 20 minutes of action. Sapp scored all 12 of her points in 13 minutes of action in the half.
York began the second half with a Hicks lay up to push the lead to 20. The Spartan advantage vacillated between 14 and 20 points until the Gophers got consecutive lay ups from Kiara Doughty, cutting the York lead to 10 with just 5:46 left. Elizabeth von Ende hit a jumper a minute and a half later and the Gophers were within eight, their smallest deficit since 13:50 of the first half.
With the Gophers clawing back into the game, Hicks hit a pair of free throws at the 3:11 mark, pushing the lead back to double figures at 54-44. Murphy hit a dagger three with just a minute left to ice the game for the Green and White. York hit three out of four free throws in the final 42 seconds to secure the victory.
Hicks was 4-for-6 from the floor and a perfect 4-for-4 from the line while she also pulled down six rebounds. Hicks blocked two shots, handed out one assist and notched a steal in her 34 minutes of work. Sapp finished the game 5-for-10 from the floor and 2-for-2 from the line. Haley contributed eight points, two assists, and a blocked shot to go along with her game-high 12 caroms. Murphy recorded nine points, six rebounds, and three blocked shots. Freshman point guard Aja Wallpher handed out seven assists, had six rebounds, and four steals for York.
Senior Gayle Exley had another strong all-around game with six points, five rebounds, three blocked shots, two assists and a steal in her 20 minutes of action.
Doughty led the Gophers with 14 points and six rebounds while Huff was the other Gopher in double figures with 11 points.
York was much cooler from the field in the second half as they converted just 32.1% from the floor. They finished the game at 41.8% including 18.2% from three. However, they were 12-of-16 from the charity stripe, good for a 75% mark.
Goucher, after their first half shooting woes, shot 44.8% in the second half as they ended up at 31.1% for the game. They went 3-for-10 from three and 6-for-11 from the free throw line.
York outrebounded the Gophers 43-37 while they also forced 18 Goucher turnovers, which the Spartans turned into 15 points.
The Spartans return to action on Saturday evening when they host Rosemont College in the opening round of the 2010 White Rose City Classic. Tip time at Charles Wolf Gymnasium is set for 6:00 pm. TCNJ and PSU-Harrisburg will play in the other semifinal at 8:00 pm.