'Cats Claw Way to a 68-64 Win at ASU in Women's Basketball
2/20/2007 1:31:05 PM | Women's Basketball
Sports Information - Gavin McFarlin
The win gave Davidson its fourth regular-season two-game series sweep against a SoCon foe after earning a 75-62 win in the first meeting against Appalachian State. Earlier this season the 'Cats swept Elon, Georgia Southern and College of Charleston. The triumph was also only the second win in six tries on ASU's home floor during head coach Annette Watts' six-year tenure.
Senior Brynn Kelly (Spokane, Wash.) and redshirt junior Katie Hamilton (Lilburn, Ga.) led the way for the Wildcats with 13 points apiece. Kelly, who has now had back-to-back 13-point games and is averaging nearly ten points in the past four after missing nine straight from Jan. 8-Feb. 5, and Hamilton also each hauled in a game-best eight rebounds. In addition, both players hit clutch second-half three-pointers that helped the Wildcats keep pace with the Mountaineers.
After Davidson had taken a five-point advantage at 59-54 on a Hamilton layup at the 5:06 mark, Maria Grimes of Appalachian State buried back-to-back three-pointers to single-handily give Appalachian State a 60-59 lead. Grimes tacked on two more points on pair of free throws later for a score of 62-59 with 3:15 remaining in the contest.
Davidson then went on the offensive, highlighted by a driving layup from senior Tia Washington (Charlotte, N.C.) that dropped in as she was fouled on the way up. Washington swished home the one free shot for a three-point play and the Wildcats had a 64-62 lead with 1:46 on the clock.
Kelly and sophomore Kelly Gassie (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) then netted four of five free throws in the last minute, while the Wildcat defense held ASU to a single bucket to pick up just their third February win by the count of 68-64.
The Wildcats finished 13-of-15 from the charity stripe for an 86.7 percent clip, marking the 11th game they have hit better than 80 percent from the free throw line when attempting 10 or more shots. Davidson also improved to 18-2 when attempting more free throws than its opponent, bettering ASU by two free throws in the game.
Both teams came out sloppy to start play as they combined for 12 turnovers through the first four minutes of action. Davidson went on to cough the ball up 27 times for the game, while ASU lost it 23 times. The half also featured seven lead changes and two ties.
Trailing 11-8, Grimes sparked a 13-2 run by ASU with a putback layup and a three-ball, one of four in the first half, and Davidson saw itself down by the count of 24-13 with 6:18 on the clock.
Hamilton got the Wildcats back in it though, starting a 13-0 run for Davidson with a jumper at the top of the key and Kelly finished it off with two free throws as the 'Cats led 26-24. Davidson finished the half shooting 58.3 percent from the floor and 48.1 percent for the game.
Both teams then traded leads in the final 2:45 of the half before going into halftime knotted up at 32-all.
Grimes finished 6-of-11 from downtown on her way to a game-high 26 points. Whitney Tossie, the Mountaineer's leading scorer, was two below her season average with 14 points, while GiGi Thomas was second for ASU with 16 points.
Davidson wraps up its regular-season play with a final road game at Furman on Sunday, Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. The Wildcats last played the Paladins on Dec. 15 and took a 75-55 decision at John Belk Arena.
