December 16, 2006

Boxscore

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senior local native Ashley Mitchell (Washington, D.C.) and junior Danielle Norman (Bronx, N.Y.) both scored season-high’s to lead the St. Andrews Presbyterian College women’s basketball team to a 60-52 non-conference victory over the University of the District of Columbia on Saturday afternoon.

The Lady Knights extended their winning streak to five games heading into the Christmas break after shooting 43.2-percent (19-for-44) from the field against the Firebirds (3-6 overall) . St. Andrews’ 6-1 overall record is the best start in the program’s NCAA Division II era.

UDC grabbed an early 5-0 lead against the visitors but it would be their largest lead of the game. Junior April Johnson (McColl, S.C.) connected on a jumper at the 7:11 mark of the first half to put the Lady Knights in front for good at 18-17. Mitchell scored 10 of her season-high 16 points in the first stanza to help SAPC pull out to a 27-22 halftime lead.

A 13- 2 run early in the second half, which included six points by Norman, helped the Lady Knights build a 14-point lead (40-26) with 15 minutes remaining. The Firebirds kept in interesting and a 14-7 rally that was capped by a Tiffany Church three-pointer pulled UDC to within four, 56-52, with 1:31 showing on the clock.

However, the Knights defense that is holding opponents to just 49.7 points per game held the Firebirds scoreless for the final 91 seconds as St. Andrews pulled out the eight-point victory.

Norman converted on 9-of-12 free throws as she scored a season-high and game-high 19 points for the Knights. Norman posted her first double-double of the season by grabbing 10 rebounds.

Mitchell added as game-high four assists to along with her 16 points in her hometown. Senior Diana Martinez (Woodbridge, Va.) connected on 4-of-5 shots for eight points while both Johnson and junior Erika Thompson (Kalamazoo, Mich.) each bucketed five points. Thompson also made a game-high five steals.

Johnson and senior Marquita Prichard (Havelock, N.C.) had nine and six rebounds, respectively, as the Knights out rebounded UDC 44-31.

Church scored all of her team-high 15 points for the Firebirds from behind the arc, going a perfect 5-for-5 from downtown. Jennifer Jones scored 14 points and Ashley Alexander tallied 13 points.

St. Andrews will look to continue its winning streak after the holiday break, when they visit CVAC rival Anderson University (S.C.) on Saturday, January 8 at 2:00 p.m.