Wildcats Cruise to Third Straight Win, defeat Emory 88-40
12/2/2006 11:55:39 AM | Women's Basketball
Box Score
DAVIDSON, N.C. — Davidson returned home for the first time since its season-opening win over UNC Asheville, continuing its solid start to the 2006-07 season by hitting the 80-point plateau for the third time this year and matching a single-game school record in steals with 26 in an 88-40 win over Division III Emory on Saturday afternoon at Belk Arena in women's basketball action. The 88 points were a season-high as the Wildcats finished their second straight game shooting over 50 percent, hitting at a 51.3 percent clip (40-78) to improve its overall record to 6-2. The 40 field goals made were just one off the school record Davidson set last year against Oglethorpe. After winning their first three games, Emory dropped its second straight to fall to 3-2 overall.
The Wildcats' six wins through the first eight games matches the start of the 1996-97 team, who started 7-2 and finished 15-11.
Davidson had it working again on both ends of the floor. The 'Cats finished shooting over 50 percent in each half and have now shot better than 50 percent in five straight halves. They dished out a season-high 23 assists and moved their consecutive assist streak of dishing out 10 or more in a game to 26. Every Wildcat dished out at least one for the game.
For the second straight contest, all 12 players etched their names into the scorer's book as sophomore Kelly Gassie (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) hit for a game- and team-high 15 points. She matched her career-best with seven field goals made and set a new career mark in steals, pocketing six. Senior point guard Tia Washington (Charlotte, N.C.) was a prefect 5-of-5 from the floor for 10 points, and freshman Julia Paquette (Stockbridge, Ga.) was one-point off her season-best, dropping in 11 points to go along with seven boards and three steals.
Most of Davidson's scoring on the afternoon came in the paint with the Wildcats dropping in 66 of their 88 points on layups or short jumpers in the lane. The Wildcats' bench also had its best game of the season, combining to score 60 points, 38 of them in the second half.
Davidson came out a little sluggish to start the contest, making only two of their first eight shots and trailed Emory 5-4 through the first four minutes of play. But after a media time out at the 13:42 mark, the Wildcats got back in the swing of things, scoring 16 of the next 22 points and turned a one-point deficit into an 11-point advantage at 22-11 with 6:24 remaining in the half. Gassie, sophomore Mercedes Robinson (Mansfield, Texas) and freshman Alexandra Thompson (Asheville, N.C.) each dropped in two points during the run. The 'Cats would go on to score 18 more points and headed into halftime up 40-22.
The Wildcats then turned up the defensive pressure, pocketing 16 of their game-high 26 steals in the second stanza, while holding Emory to 33.3 percent shooting from the field in pushing its lead out to as much as 48 points for the final score of 88-40. Besides Gassie's career-best six steals, Robinson also swiped a career-high, finishing with five in helping Davidson to a season-high in the steals category.
In addition to pocketing a season-best in steals, for the fourth time this year the Wildcat defense held their opponent to under 35 percent shooting and forced more than 20 turnovers.
Jenny Kraus was the lone Eagle to hit for double digits, scoring 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting with two three-pointers and a free throw. Erica Kaplan was one rebound off her season average, hauling in five rebounds to pace Emory.
The Wildcats will have a short turn around as they open Southern Conference play on Monday, Dec. 4 against preseason favorite, UNC Greensboro Spartans, at 7 p.m. on the floor of Belk Arena. Davidson will be looking for some payback after getting knocked out of the semifinals of the SoCon Tournament last year by the Spartans. Davidson trails in the all-time series, 25-7.
DAVIDSON, N.C. — Davidson returned home for the first time since its season-opening win over UNC Asheville, continuing its solid start to the 2006-07 season by hitting the 80-point plateau for the third time this year and matching a single-game school record in steals with 26 in an 88-40 win over Division III Emory on Saturday afternoon at Belk Arena in women's basketball action. The 88 points were a season-high as the Wildcats finished their second straight game shooting over 50 percent, hitting at a 51.3 percent clip (40-78) to improve its overall record to 6-2. The 40 field goals made were just one off the school record Davidson set last year against Oglethorpe. After winning their first three games, Emory dropped its second straight to fall to 3-2 overall.
The Wildcats' six wins through the first eight games matches the start of the 1996-97 team, who started 7-2 and finished 15-11.
Davidson had it working again on both ends of the floor. The 'Cats finished shooting over 50 percent in each half and have now shot better than 50 percent in five straight halves. They dished out a season-high 23 assists and moved their consecutive assist streak of dishing out 10 or more in a game to 26. Every Wildcat dished out at least one for the game.
For the second straight contest, all 12 players etched their names into the scorer's book as sophomore Kelly Gassie (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) hit for a game- and team-high 15 points. She matched her career-best with seven field goals made and set a new career mark in steals, pocketing six. Senior point guard Tia Washington (Charlotte, N.C.) was a prefect 5-of-5 from the floor for 10 points, and freshman Julia Paquette (Stockbridge, Ga.) was one-point off her season-best, dropping in 11 points to go along with seven boards and three steals.
Most of Davidson's scoring on the afternoon came in the paint with the Wildcats dropping in 66 of their 88 points on layups or short jumpers in the lane. The Wildcats' bench also had its best game of the season, combining to score 60 points, 38 of them in the second half.
Davidson came out a little sluggish to start the contest, making only two of their first eight shots and trailed Emory 5-4 through the first four minutes of play. But after a media time out at the 13:42 mark, the Wildcats got back in the swing of things, scoring 16 of the next 22 points and turned a one-point deficit into an 11-point advantage at 22-11 with 6:24 remaining in the half. Gassie, sophomore Mercedes Robinson (Mansfield, Texas) and freshman Alexandra Thompson (Asheville, N.C.) each dropped in two points during the run. The 'Cats would go on to score 18 more points and headed into halftime up 40-22.
The Wildcats then turned up the defensive pressure, pocketing 16 of their game-high 26 steals in the second stanza, while holding Emory to 33.3 percent shooting from the field in pushing its lead out to as much as 48 points for the final score of 88-40. Besides Gassie's career-best six steals, Robinson also swiped a career-high, finishing with five in helping Davidson to a season-high in the steals category.
In addition to pocketing a season-best in steals, for the fourth time this year the Wildcat defense held their opponent to under 35 percent shooting and forced more than 20 turnovers.
Jenny Kraus was the lone Eagle to hit for double digits, scoring 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting with two three-pointers and a free throw. Erica Kaplan was one rebound off her season average, hauling in five rebounds to pace Emory.
The Wildcats will have a short turn around as they open Southern Conference play on Monday, Dec. 4 against preseason favorite, UNC Greensboro Spartans, at 7 p.m. on the floor of Belk Arena. Davidson will be looking for some payback after getting knocked out of the semifinals of the SoCon Tournament last year by the Spartans. Davidson trails in the all-time series, 25-7.
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