For Immediate Release:
Nov. 17, 2006

FRANKLIN, Ind. — The Earlham College women’s basketball team opened the season with a 65-42 loss Friday night to Rose-Hulman on the first day of the Raymond James Tip-Off Classic at Franklin College.

Sophomore Tasha Merrill (Cedar Grove, IN/Franklin County) led the Quakers with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Senior Casie Byrd (Bloomington, IN/North) added seven points, while junior Lisa Vanderkolk (Bluffton, IN/Bluffton) and first-year Starr Gary (Indianapolis, IN/Northwest) tossed in six points each.

Junior Samantha Lurie (Lansing, MI/J.W.Sexton) had five points, eight rebounds and three steals.

The contest was tight throughout most of the first half with the Rose-Hulman leading by as much as nine points as the Engineers built a 30-21 advantage by intermission.

In the second period, Rose-Hulman gradually pulled away. Earlham got a close as eight points twice. A basket by Gary with 9:55 remaining made it 41-33. Two free throws by Vanderkolk at the 8:39 mark made it 43-35 and the Quakers couldn’t get any closer.

Earlham (0-1) plays Franklin on Saturday. The Grizzlies (1-0) started the event in the Spurlock Center on Friday with an 80-44 win over Tri-State University. Box Score.

—EC —

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