GETTYSBURG, Pa.—The University of Scranton suffered through their worst shooting effort of the season in dropping a 49-41 decision to Gettysburg College in the championship game of the Days Inn Tournament Monday afternoon at Bream Gymnasium.
With an opportunity to win their second Days Inn title in three years, Scranton got out of the gates slowly and never recovered in falling to 7-4 on the season. The Lady Royals shot only 20 percent from the field, including a paltry 15.8 percent (3 of 19) from beyond the 3-point arc, and turned the ball over 21 times.
Senior guard Megan Kopecki (Millington, N.J./Watchung Hills Regional) led Scranton with nine points, a game-high 11 rebounds, and four steals to earn a spot on the all-tournament team. The Lady Royals also received eight points apiece from senior guard Jennifer King (Taylor, Pa./Riverside) and sophomore forward Tayler Pallotta (Dunmore, Pa./Dunmore).
Tournament MVP Alyssa Oursler (Middletown, Md./Middletown) led the Bullets, now 6-3, with 17 points and junior guard Julie McGrory (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) finished with nine points and five rebounds. Gettysburg also struggled on the offensive end, shooting only 31 percent from the field and committing 20 turnovers.
The Bullets appeared to have the game in check after extending a six-point halftime lead into a 13-point margin with 8:08 remaining. Kopecki then sandwiched four free throws around a lay-up by Pallotta and King buried three straight free throws after being fouled on a 3-point field goal attempt to cut the margin to five, 45-40, with 2:16 left.
Scranton, however, scored just one point the rest of the way—a free throw by senior guard Colleen McLane (Scranton, Pa./Scranton Preparatory) with 28 seconds remaining. With the Lady Royals struggling, all the Bulletts needed was a free throw by junior forward Sara Kingsley (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield Ludlowe) and two by McGrory to push their lead back up to eight, 48-40, with 57 seconds left.
Some positives did, however, come out of tonight's game for the Lady Royals. They connected on 18 of 23 free throw attempts (78.3 percent) and held a 21-14 advantage in bench points.
The Lady Royals will open a four-game Landmark Conference home stand this Saturday, January 8, against the Rangers of Drew University beginning at 4:00 p.m. at the Long Center. On Sunday, January 9, veteran coach Mike Strong will coach his 900th game with the Lady Royals as Scranton hosts the United States Merchant Marine Academy at 4:00 p.m. in the Long Center.
News & Notes: Today's win was the second by the Bullets over the Lady Royals since the series began on February 23, 1985…Scranton now leads the series, 3-2…the Lady Royals have not had a player score in double-figures in two of their last three games.
Newspaper Box Score
GETTYSBURG 49, SCRANTON 41
SCRANTON (7-4)
Megan Kopecki 1-6 7-8 9; Jennifer King 1-7 5-5 8; Tayler Pallotta 3-6 2-2 8; Katie Cunningham 2-10 0-2 5; KC Hawkes 1-3 2-2 4; Christina Hiltunen 1-3 0-0 3; Sarah Gage 1-4 0-0 2; Colleen McLane 0-5 1-2 1; Katherine Torto 0-2 1-2 1; Shernai Bentley 0-0 0-0 0; Courtney Roselle 0-3 0-0 0; Alison Sweeney 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 10-50 18-23 41.
GETTYSBURG (6-3)
Alyssa Oursler 6-11 2-2 17; Julie McGrory 1-2 7-7 9; Rianna Doane 3-10 1-2 7; Lauren Dadigan 2-5 2-2 6; Caitlin Moser 1-7 1-2 3; Sara Kinsley 1-4 1-4 3; Katie Earley 0-1 2-2 2; Mary Spicer 0-2 2-2 2; Caroline Murphy 0-2 0-0 0; Cori Younghans 0-1 0-1 0. Totals 14-45 18-24 49.
The University of Scranton.... 19 22 - 41
Gettysburg College............ 25 24 - 49
3-point goals--The University of Scranton 3-19 (Jennifer King 1-4; Christina Hiltunen 1-3; Katie Cunningham 1-5; Colleen McLane 0-4; Courtney Roselle 0-1; Megan Kopecki 0-2), Gettysburg College 3-9 (Alyssa Oursler 3-4; Rianna Doane 0-4; Cori Younghans 0-1). Fouled out--The University of Scranton-None, Gettysburg College-None. Rebounds--The University of Scranton 41 (Megan Kopecki 11), Gettysburg College 35 (Sara Kinsley 7). Assists--The University of Scranton 6 (Megan Kopecki 2), Gettysburg College 10 (Caitlin Moser 4). Total fouls--The University of Scranton 19, Gettysburg College 18. Technical fouls--The University of Scranton-TEAM, Gettysburg College-None. A-141 Gettysburg wins the Days Inn Tournament for the fifth time and in back-to-back seasons for first time since 94-95. All-Tournament: Pui Sham (SMC), Brandie Witt (RC), Megan Kopecki (US), Sara Kinsley (GC), Rianna Doane (GC) Sally Musselman Most Outstanding Player Award: Alyssa Oursler (GC)