Eagles Women Top Gannon in Battle for First, 85-73
February 14, 2004

Complete Box Score

In the Deep South, there are drawls and sometimes, a slower pace to life. In the Great Lakes Intercollegiate South Division on Saturday at Kates Gymnasium, there was no drawling or dawdling. For Gannon and Ashland, the two top teams in the GLIAC South, it was fast times at Kates Gymnasium.

After 40 minutes, it was the Eagles, who picked up the win and sole possession of first place in the division with an 85-73 triumph. Ashland is 18-6, 9-5 in league play. Gannon is 15-9 and 8-6.

The teams were deadlocked, 35-35 at halftime. Over the last 20 minutes, Ashland got 10 points and eight rebounds from senior forward Alanna Buurma. The Eagles shot 56 percent (14-25) in the second half and used a little deeper bench (Ashland outscored GU in points off the bench, 31-24) to hold off the Golden Knights. Ashland also helped its cause with some outstanding free throw shooting. AU hit 29 of 34 attempts (85.3 percent) while Gannon ended the afternoon 14-of-21 (66.7 percent).

Buurma finished with 16 points, 12 rebounds and three assists. She hit 5-of-7 shots from the floor and 5-of-5 attempts at the free throw line. Considering the importance of the game and the quality of the opposition, this would qualify as one of her best showings of the season.

AU’s leading scorer was freshman guard Amber Rall. This game will probably go a long way in Rall’s candidacy for the GLIAC freshman of the year award. Rall shot 7-of-14 from the floor and 9-of-12 at the free throw line. She had four assists and blocked a pair of shots. Rall scored 15 points in the second half.

Gannon had a nine-point lead, 46-37 with 16:57 left in regulation. Over the next 7:53, the Eagles outscored the Golden Knights, 25-7 to take a 62-53 lead. Gannon had the lead cut down to four points, 73-69 with 4:17 to play, but AU answered with six unanswered points to go on top, 79-69 with 1:59 remaining. Rall had three points in that spurt and Buurma added a jumper.

In addition to Rall and Buurma, senior guard Isolina Brescia had 14 points and sophomore guard Dee Bethune added 12 points.

Christina Jackson came off the bench to score 20 points for Gannon. Casey England had 15 points and six rebounds. Point guard Jen Gwin, who orchestrates the GU attack and has played well against the Eagles in the past, had 13 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and three steals.