For Immediate Release:
Feb. 3, 2007

RICHMOND, Ind. — One day after a close loss, the Earlham College women’s basketball team responded with a 71-45 blowout victory over Hiram College Saturday on Schuckman Court in the Athletics and Wellness Center.

The Quakers had 10 players in the scoring column in the North Coast Athletic Conference win. “It was a great day,” Earlham College Head Coach Liana Coutts said. “We played extremely well on Friday against Allegheny and we were able to carry that over. We played some great team defense. Offensively, we’re recognizing where our scoring opportunities are and taking advantage of them.”

Junior Whitney McBurrows (Lansing, MI/J.W. Sexton) and first-year Starr Gary (Indianapolis, IN/Northwest) led the Quakers with 13 points each. McBurrows added three assists.

Sophomore Tasha Merrill (Cedar Grove, IN/Franklin County) tossed in 12 points. First-year Shontavia Davis (Indianapolis, IN/Warren Central) had 11 points, while leading the Quakers with eight rebounds.

Hiram led 5-0 early in the contest before a pair of free throws by Gary gave the Quakers a 6-5 advantage with 13:29 left in the first half. Earlham eventually led by nine points in the opening period and had a 27-21 at intermission.

Earlham began the second half with an 8-2 run as McBurrows put the Quakers in front 35-23 with 15:39 remaining. Hiram (6-15, 1-11) could only get as close as 38-29 at the 11:27 mark as the Quakers put the game away.

Senior Guin Summerton (Williams, IN/Shoals) and junior Lisa Vanderkolk (Bluffton, IN/Bluffton) were honored before the contest. Both are playing their final seasons for the Quakers. Summerton will graduate this semester, while Vanderkolk will play her last season of volleyball in the fall and then graduate.

The Quakers (4-18, 3-10) entertain Wittenberg University on Wednesday in their final home game of the regular season. The NCAC game starts at 6 p.m. Box Score.

—EC —

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