Melson Scores 1,000th Career Point in 59-29 Win Over Elon
1/26/2009 5:06:00 AM | Women's Basketball
STATESBORO, GA - Senior Ashley Melson (Newnan, Ga.) joined the Georgia Southern women's basketball record book when she scored her 1,000th career point Monday night (Jan. 26) in a 59-29 win over Elon on her home court. Melson becomes the 18th Lady Eagle to reach such a milestone in GSU history.
“She's grown and matured so much since she's been a freshman,” said head coach Rusty Cram on Melson scoring 1,000 career points. “Every year since she has been here, we have improved our record. It's almost like a team award because everyone knows they helped her get there.”
Elon held the lead for the first three minutes of play before Georgia Southern took the lead and never looked back. The Phoenix (1-19, 0-12) dropped its 19th straight game, while the Lady Eagles picked up their 13th win, pushing their record to 13-8 overall and 8-4 in Southern Conference play.
Georgia Southern got off to a slow start in the opening stanza, scoring a total 18 points in twenty minutes. Ashley Rivens (Charlotte, N.C.) drained the first five points for the Lady Eagles that gave them their first lead, 5-4, at the 17:37 mark. The game remained close as the Phoenix held Georgia Southern without a field goal for over five minutes until Jessica Geiger (Stone Mountain, Ga.) nailed a three-pointer to give the Lady Eagles a five point lead, 13-7, with just over seven minutes remaining in the first half.
Georgia Southern widened its lead to eight points after Jamie Navarro (Naples, Fl.) hit a jumper with 3:08 left, allowing the Lady Eagles to walk to the locker room with a 19-11 advantage at halftime. Rivens led Georgia Southern in the first half with five points, while Melson pulled down five boards. Sharwill Bell led the Phoenix at half also with five points as Erica Keto secured a team-best five boards in the opening twenty minutes.
Georgia Southern held Elon to a mere 11 points off 14 percent shooting in the first half, a season low by a Georgia Southern opponent this season. The Phoenix were held to three field goals in the half, but hit 5-of-7 from the charity stripe to equal 11 points. The Lady Eagles drained three from beyond the arc and went 7-of-27 from the floor to comprise a 26 shooting percentage in the opening half.
The Lady Eagles came alive after the halftime break. A three from Navarro jump started Georgia Southern who went on a 9-4 run to take its first double digit lead of the game, 28-15, three minutes into play. Melson continued to inch her way to scoring her 1,000th career point in the second half. With 8:07 on the clock, Melson was fouled by Tiara Gause and went to the free throw line, shooting two. Melson missed the first and drained the second, scoring her 1,000th career point and gave the Lady Eagles a 43-24 advantage.
Georgia Southern continued to widen its lead the remainder of the game and led by as many as 31 points off a jumper by Dawnieka Green (Ellenwood, Ga.) with 45 seconds left. The Lady Eagles rounded out the 30 point win after Keto visited the charity stripe, connecting on 1-of-2.
The Lady Eagles shot 39 percent from the floor to Elon's 21 percent as both teams went 9-of-14 from the free throw line. Georgia Southern held a 42-36 edge on the glass over the Phoenix who went 10-of-47 from the floor.
Melson scored a team-high 13 points (nine in the second half) and pulled down a team-high seven rebounds. Tiffany Davis and Courtney Medley each scored a team-best six points for the Phoenix as Keto and Urysla Cotton each pulled down a team-high eight boards.
Georgia Southern returns to action on Monday, February 2 when they host Western Carolina. Tip-off in Hanner Fieldhouse is slated for 5 p.m.
“She's grown and matured so much since she's been a freshman,” said head coach Rusty Cram on Melson scoring 1,000 career points. “Every year since she has been here, we have improved our record. It's almost like a team award because everyone knows they helped her get there.”
Elon held the lead for the first three minutes of play before Georgia Southern took the lead and never looked back. The Phoenix (1-19, 0-12) dropped its 19th straight game, while the Lady Eagles picked up their 13th win, pushing their record to 13-8 overall and 8-4 in Southern Conference play.
Georgia Southern got off to a slow start in the opening stanza, scoring a total 18 points in twenty minutes. Ashley Rivens (Charlotte, N.C.) drained the first five points for the Lady Eagles that gave them their first lead, 5-4, at the 17:37 mark. The game remained close as the Phoenix held Georgia Southern without a field goal for over five minutes until Jessica Geiger (Stone Mountain, Ga.) nailed a three-pointer to give the Lady Eagles a five point lead, 13-7, with just over seven minutes remaining in the first half.
Georgia Southern widened its lead to eight points after Jamie Navarro (Naples, Fl.) hit a jumper with 3:08 left, allowing the Lady Eagles to walk to the locker room with a 19-11 advantage at halftime. Rivens led Georgia Southern in the first half with five points, while Melson pulled down five boards. Sharwill Bell led the Phoenix at half also with five points as Erica Keto secured a team-best five boards in the opening twenty minutes.
Georgia Southern held Elon to a mere 11 points off 14 percent shooting in the first half, a season low by a Georgia Southern opponent this season. The Phoenix were held to three field goals in the half, but hit 5-of-7 from the charity stripe to equal 11 points. The Lady Eagles drained three from beyond the arc and went 7-of-27 from the floor to comprise a 26 shooting percentage in the opening half.
The Lady Eagles came alive after the halftime break. A three from Navarro jump started Georgia Southern who went on a 9-4 run to take its first double digit lead of the game, 28-15, three minutes into play. Melson continued to inch her way to scoring her 1,000th career point in the second half. With 8:07 on the clock, Melson was fouled by Tiara Gause and went to the free throw line, shooting two. Melson missed the first and drained the second, scoring her 1,000th career point and gave the Lady Eagles a 43-24 advantage.
Georgia Southern continued to widen its lead the remainder of the game and led by as many as 31 points off a jumper by Dawnieka Green (Ellenwood, Ga.) with 45 seconds left. The Lady Eagles rounded out the 30 point win after Keto visited the charity stripe, connecting on 1-of-2.
The Lady Eagles shot 39 percent from the floor to Elon's 21 percent as both teams went 9-of-14 from the free throw line. Georgia Southern held a 42-36 edge on the glass over the Phoenix who went 10-of-47 from the floor.
Melson scored a team-high 13 points (nine in the second half) and pulled down a team-high seven rebounds. Tiffany Davis and Courtney Medley each scored a team-best six points for the Phoenix as Keto and Urysla Cotton each pulled down a team-high eight boards.
Georgia Southern returns to action on Monday, February 2 when they host Western Carolina. Tip-off in Hanner Fieldhouse is slated for 5 p.m.
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