Strong First Half Pushes Davidson by Women's Basketball
2/3/2013 12:25:11 AM | Women's Basketball
Box score (PDF) | VIDEO: Interview with head coach Chris Vozab
STATESBORO, Ga. – Davidson's Sophia Aleksandravicius posted 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Georgia Southern could not overcome a 15-point first-half deficit as the Wildcats topped the Eagles 73-61 in Southern Conference women's basketball action Saturday evening in Hanner Fieldhouse.
Anna Claire Knight scored 17 points to lead Georgia Southern (4-16, 3-8 SoCon), and Meredyth Frye tallied 10 points and six rebounds. Alexis Sams and MiMi DuBose each scored nine.
Dakota Dukes scored 10 points for Davidson (13-8, 10-1 SoCon), and Shneeka Center netted 11 off the bench.
Davidson shot 51 percent from the field in the first half and scored 16 points off of 13 Eagle miscues to build a 43-28 lead at the break. With the Eagles trailing 51-35 early in the second half, Frye scored four points in an 8-2 Georgia Southern run that cut the lead to 10 points.
But the Wildcats responded with an 8-2 stretch to push the lead back to 16, and Georgia Southern could not work the margin under double digits for the rest of the game.
Both teams finished the contest with a 45 percent shooting mark from the floor, but Georgia Southern committed 20 turnovers, and Davidson scored 27 points off the miscues in the game.
"Davidson plays good pressure defense, and it's disappointing that we were not strong with the basketball and able to make them pay," said Georgia Southern coach Chris Vozab. "We shot the same percentage, but they got 13 more shots because of turnovers. We can't spot a good team like Davidson extra possessions."
The Wildcats opened the game with an 8-2 run and took its biggest lead of the first frame at 25-13 on a Laura Murray steal and fast-break layup midway through the period. The Eagles scored eight straight points to get back into the contest. Frye scored on a runner, while Sams and Knight hit consecutive triples.
The Wildcats responded with a 12-2 spurt, capped by a Dukes layup, to open a 14-point cushion, and Davidson led 43-28 at halftime. The Wildcats shot 51 percent from the field in the half and attempted 11 more field goals than Georgia Southern.
The Eagles continue their three-game homestand against Appalachian State Monday, Feb. 4. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. in Hanner Fieldhouse.
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