Carpenter Puts Nail in AU’s Coffin, Women Lose 61-54
February, 8, 2003

Complete Box Score

Much to the chagrin of the Ashland University women’s basketball team, Findlay’s Croy Gymnasium became the Carpenter’s Shop on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 8).

The University of Findlay’s Lydia Carpenter had 22 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Oilers past the Eagles, 61-54 in a key Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game Saturday. Carpenter had 15 points and collected all 11 of her rebounds in the second half when the Oilers erased a nine-point halftime deficit.

The loss drops Ashland to 9-14, 3-10 in conference action. Findlay is 8-17 and 5-8. The two teams split their season series. The loss puts a dent in AU’s plans to claim third place in the GLIAC South Division. That spot would get the Eagles into the league tournament. The win keeps Findlay in contention for that slot. Gannon, which won at Wayne State Saturday, now owns third place.

Saturday’s win gives Findlay a split of the season series with AU. Earlier in the season, AU won at Kates Gymnasium, 64-61.

In the first half, it looked like the Eagles would have the upper hand for the majority of the afternoon. Carpenter scored the game’s first five points and the Oilers had a 5-0 lead after three minutes. But AU held the Oilers without a point for 10:09 midway through the half and the Eagles led at halftime, 31-22.

That’s where the highlights ended for AU. In the second half, the Eagles shot 35.7 percent, hitting only seven of 27 shots from the floor. Findlay tied the game at 38-38 with 11:21 left in regulation on a jumper by Carpenter. The Oilers took the lead for keeps with 6:42 left in regulation on a layup by Clarissa Gross. Over the last 6:42, Findlay outscored the Eagles, 15-9.

The only other Findlay player besides Carpenter to reach double digits in scoring was Zsofia Horvath. She had 10 points and pulled down seven rebounds. AU was led by junior forward Alanna Buurma, who had 17 points and 12 rebounds. Freshman center Maria Dehne came off the bench to score 11 points and grab five rebounds. Another rookie, Dee Bethune, came off the bench to score 10 points.

Ashland shot 35.7 percent (20-56) from the floor for the game. Findlay wasn’t much better, connecting on 21 of 54 shots (38.9 percent) from the field.