Aleksandravicius Lights Up the Nets for 31, ‘Cats Score 71-62 Win

Saturday, December 4

Davidson, N.C

4:00 p.m.

Davidson College

4-3

Radford

2-4

Radford

Davidson

Sophia Aleksandravicius has scored over 20 points six times during her career.

Aleksandravicius Lights Up the Nets for 31, ‘Cats Score 71-62 Win

12/4/2010 7:56:34 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Gavin McFarlin -- Assistant SID

DAVIDSON, N.C. —Sophia Aleksandravicius (Pound Ridge, N.Y.) had her first career 30-point game, dropping in a career-best 31, and four 'Cats in all reached double figures as Davidson won its third straight with a 71-62 victory against visiting Radford on Saturday afternoon at John M. Belk Arena.

Aleksandravicius scored 21 of her points in the second half, including seven during a decisive 12-1 run a little over halfway through the period that pushed the Wildcats lead from two out to 13 (58-45), and they never looked back in scoring their fourth straight win at home.

The sophomore tied her career-best in field goals, going 11-for-16, and swishing home nine free throws, while she added nine boards and blocked six shots. The 6-foot-4 forward has blocked 31 shots on the year, 27 coming in the last five games.

Davidson (4-3) put four players in double figures for the first time since last Feb. 6 at UNC Greensboro. Joining Aleksandravicius in double digits was Ashley Lax (Little Rock, Ark.) with 12 off the bench, while starters Laura Murray (Harrisburg, Pa.) and Kristen Johnsen (Wayne, Pa.) chipped in with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Johnsen registered her second double-double of the season with a game-high 11 boards. She got all 10 of her points at the charity stripe, hitting a career-best 10-of-12 from the 15-foot line.

Radford (2-4) was led by Da'Naria Erwin Spencer's 21 points, 15 coming in the second half, while Denay Wood had 13.

Aleksandravicius opened up the game scoring eight of the 'Cats' first 15 points to help Davidson to a 15-8 lead with 6:40 on the clock.

Radford came back and went on a quick 8-2 run to cut its deficit to one, 17-16, before Aleksandravicius hit a layup with 2:23 left. Then freshman Sheenka Center (Smithtown, N.Y.), in her first action of the season, scored the final four points, including nailing a three-ball as the shot clock was nearing zero, to give Davidson a 23-17 halftime lead.

After seeing the Highlanders tie things up at 30-all in the early stages of the second period, Laura Murray capped off a 11-2 run with a pair of free throws for a 41-32 Davidson lead with under 12 minutes to go.

Da'Naria Erwin Spencer drained a three-pointer that got Radford right back in the game as Davidson held just a two point lead, 46-44, at the 8:36 mark.

But, the Wildcats and Aleksandravicius answered back with their decisive 12-1 run after that and then went 9-for-12 from the charity stripe in the last 2:18 to seal the nine-point win.

The 'Cats finished two made free throws off of tying the single-game record as they went a season-high 32-for-41 for the game, hitting 25-of-33 in the second half.

Davidson now takes a 16-day break for exams and then will prepare for its first Southern Conference game of the season when its travels to Elon, Dec. 20.

GAME NOTES: Davidson evened the all-time series vs. Radford at 2-apiece ... Barbara Sitton dished out half the 'Cats' 12 assists, getting a season-best six on the day ... Aleksandravicius has now scored 23, 20, and 31 points in her last three games ... Johnsen has four double-doubles total for her career ... the last 'Cat to clip the 30-point mark was Mercedes Robinson with an even 30 points vs. College of Charleston on Jan. 12, 22009 ... the Wildcats' 71 points were a season-best ... Davidson made it five years in a row opening up the month of December with a win ... today's game was the first of just four contests Davidson will play during the month.