March 22, 2007

Southern Connecticut Shuts Down Drury

All-American Lynch Keeps Owls Flying

      Kearney, Neb. –  The second quarter final game of the NCAA Division II Women’s Elite Eight matched up Drury University of Springfield, Mo. versus Southern Connecticut State University .      

      Led by a double double from All-American Kate Lynch (27 points and 10 rebounds), the 7th-ranked SCSU Owls beat Drury 74-54, to improve to 32-2.

    This was a national quarterfinal game of the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championships.  The Elite 8 tournament is being held at the Health and Sports Center at the University of Nebraska – Kearney.

      This game was the quarter finals of the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championships.  The tournament is being held at the Health and Sports Center at the University of Nebraska – Kearney.

      Southern Connecticut, champs of the Northeast Region, took an early lead and continued to defend it with a tough zone defense and the impressive shooting of Lynch.  In the first half alone, she went 8 of13 from the field, including 2 of 3 from beyond the arch. 

      Hitting a layup right before the buzzer sounded, Lynch led all scorers at half with 18 points.

      “Kate brings us so much.  She gives you that spark.  Once it starts, it goes through everyone.  It goes through me, through everyone on the bench.  That’s what drives us, said junior guard Shamika Jackson.

      Down 34-27 at halftime, Drury kept things close by shooting 47 percent from the field (11 of 23) in the first 20 minutes.

      But, Southern Connecticut quickly expanded its lead early in the second half, starting things with an 11-4 run.  SCSU's lead then got to 20 by the seven minute mark.

      Southern shot 59 percent from the field (16 of 27) in the second half while holding the Panthers to a cold 8 of 24 (33.3 percent) effort.

      Lynch added an additional nine points in the second half.  She was aided by Michelle Martinik (11 points; 3 of 6 threes), Jackson (eight points, four rebounds, three assists) and post Babette Noah (10 points, seven rebounds)

      One of the team's top players, Noah got into early foul trouble and sat out much of the first half. Reserve Rochelle Johnson filled the void by providing four points and four boards in 16 minutes.

      In addition to SCSU’s offensive power, one of the nation's best defensive clubs forced 18 Drury turnovers and that led to 29 points. Southern also out rebounded Drury by a wide margin, 35-22, and that led to 17 second chance points.

      SCSU came into the Elite 8 allowing just 49.8 points per game. In four NCAA wins, no Owls' opponent has tallied more then 55 points. 

      Drury  was led by sophomore forward Lauren Gregory with 13 points.  Four other starters had at least six points in the loss. The Panthers ended the game shooting 40 percent from the field (19 of 47).

      “We are obviously very disappointed in our play today and we have to give Southern Connecticut some credit for that. They’re (SCSU) is a very good defensive team,” said Drury Head Coach Nyla Milleson.

         SCSU will advance to the semi-finals on Thursday to face UC San Diego at 7:00 p.m. The game will be aired live by ESPNU.