For Immediate Release:
Feb. 2, 2007

RICHMOND, Ind. — The Earlham College women’s basketball team had four players in double figures Friday as the Quakers dropped a 60-57 decision to Allegheny College on Schuckman Court in the Athletics and Wellness Center.

Sophomore Tasha Merrill (Cedar Grove, IN/Franklin County) led the Quakers with 15 points and nine rebounds in the North Coast Athletic Conference contest.

Merrill’s last chance 3-pointer was blocked just before the final buzzer as the Quakers were looking to tie the game. “We couldn’t be more pleased with our player’s performance,” Earlham Head Coach Liana Coutts said of challenging one of the top teams in the conference. “It came down to free throws. Allegheny was 12-of-15 and we were 7-of-8.”

First-year Shontavia Davis (Indianapolis, IN/Warren Central) tossed in 12 points for the Quakers, while grabbing seven rebounds and handing out four assists. Junior Lisa Vanderkolk (Bluffton, IN/Bluffton) and first-year Starr Gary (Indianapolis, IN/Northwest) scored 10 points each.

Vanderkolk finished with six rebounds and Gary had five. Junior Whitney McBurrows (Lansing, MI/J.W. Sexton) contributed eight points.

The Gators (13-6, 7-4) built an early advantage leading 18-9 with 8:50 left in the opening period. From that point, the Quakers bounced back to lead 26-23 by the 3:23 mark when Merrill drained a 3-pointer. The scored was tied 28-28 at intermission.

In the second half, both teams were scoreless in the first two minutes and the game was eventually tied nine times. The Quakers led by three points on several occasions, but neither team could pull away as the Gators held the largest lead of the second half at 43-39 with 10:26 remaining. The Gators took the lead for good at 59-57 with 1:42 on the clock.

After Allegheny hit one of a pair of free throws to lead 60-57 with 51 seconds left, the Gators got the rebound on the missed second attempt. Earlham’s defense stopped Allegheny to set up the final chance to tie the contest.

Earlham (3-18, 2-10) welcomes Hiram College to Schuckman Court on Saturday. The NCAC game is at 2 p.m. Box Score.

—EC —

Contact:
Don Tincher, sports information director
765/983-1795 — E-Mail Don