Three-Ball Carries Red-Hot Wildcats To Record Eighth Straight Win, 77-69
12/20/2006 12:17:03 PM | Women's Basketball
Box Score
SPOKANE, Wash. -- The Davidson women's basketball team hit a season-high 11 three-pointers and placed four players in double figures for the third time this year as the Wildcats set a school record with their eighth straight win in defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs, 77-69, at McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Wash. on Wednesday evening. The Wildcats improved to 11-2 overall, continuing their best start in school history. Davidson also picked up its fourth straight road win and moved to 5-1, another school best, and finished its first-ever trip to the state of Washington, 2-0. Gonzaga dropped to 7-8 on the year.
"It took a lot of maturity to get two wins out here on the West Coast and being so far away from home, but the team responded to the challenge," said head coach Annette Watts, who moved her career record at Davidson to 87-70 in her six years. "We are just clicking on all cylinders right now, and I couldn't be more proud of how they have played together as a team. We're looking to keep things rolling on into the new year."
After Gonzaga jumped out to an early 17-10 advantage in the first stanza, junior Danielle Hemerka (Blackwood, N.J.) took charge for the Wildcats on offense as she scored nine of Davidson's next 18 points in helping the 'Cats take a 28-25 lead with 4:42 remaining on the clock. The junior went on to score 11 first-half points on 5-of-7 shooting, including a three-pointer. Senior Jessica Mitchell (Wilkesboro, N.C.) and Honna Housley (Riceville, Tenn.) along with Hemerka all drained three-pointers during the 18-8 run as Davidson finished 6-of-14 from behind the arc in the first half. Overall, the 'Cats went 11-for-22 for the game from downtown.
Davidson pushed its lead out to as much as eight points, 35-27, when Housley hit her second three-ball of the half in the right corner, and the Wildcats would carry a 35-30 lead into halftime. Housley came off the bench to score six of her nine points in the first period.
The Wildcats then showcased a little of their patented, stout defense to start the second half in holding the 'Zag to two single free throws and an 0-for-6 shooting performance from the field in the first five minutes of play.
"Defense can never have an off-night and I preach it to the team every practice," said Watts. "We really stepped up the pressure in the early part of that second half, and of course this whole week against Eastern Washington and tonight against Gonzaga. Our defense was a huge part in picking up two hard-fought wins this week."
Redshirt junior Katie Hamilton (Lilburn, Ga.) and sophomore Mercedes Robinson (Mansfield, Texas) took care of the rest on offense for Davidson in the second half as they combined for all 23 of their points in the second stanza. Hamilton, who got in foul trouble in the first half, hit 4-of-8 shots from the field, including two three-pointers for 12 points. Robinson was clutch in the paint, hitting all five of her shots with a free throw for 11 points off the bench.
Davidson never trailed in the second half, leading by as many as 13 points, 73-60, when Robinson hit a running layup with 2:19 remaining in the contest. The Wildcats went on to hit 59.3 percent of their shots in that second half and picked up the 77-69 win over the Bulldogs. For the game, Davidson shot 50 percent (29-58) and the 29 field goals made, were tied for the second most this season.
Hemerka paced Davidson with 15 points, while Mitchell was the fourth 'Cat to reach double figures, finishing with 12 points. She also hauled in six boards and dished out six assists. Senior Tia Washington (Charlotte, N.C.) helped Davidson tie a season-high in assists (23) with a team- and season-high nine. Finally, senior Brynn Kelly (Spokane, Wash.) ended her return trip home with five points and a game-high seven boards.
The Bulldogs were paced by Michelle Elliott, who dropped in a game-high 16 points, nine of them from behind the arc. Despite having six players who are six-feet or taller, Gonzaga tied with Davidson in the rebounding margin, 38-38. The 'Zags shot only 37.3 percent from the field and were hurt by poor free throw shooting, going only 20-for-35.
Davidson takes a little Christmas break before returning to the hardwood floor on New Year's Day in Charleston, S.C. against the College of Charleston. Gametime is set for 2 p.m.
