JACKSON, Tenn. - 12/1/2007 - The top-ranked Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ University Lady Bulldogs improved to 10-0 on the season with a 93-79 win over No. 24 Westminster College (Utah) on Saturday afternoon in Salt Lake City. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ is 10-0 for the first time since the 2004-05 season when the Lady Bulldogs started 17-0. That season, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ won the first of two straight national titles and third overall.
After a dismal shooting night in the first game of the Westminster Classic on Friday night (Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ def. Rocky Mountain College 68-67), the Lady Bulldogs flexed their shooting muscle with 52-percent shooting from the field, including 60-percent from behind the arc in the game. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ made 5-of-10 three pointers in the first half and 10-of-15 in the second half. In the win over Rocky Mountain one night earlier, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ made just 5-of-22 for the game.
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ scored early and often as they jumped out to a 31-19 lead just over the halfway point of the first half. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ held the lead for the entire game, posting a nine-point (43-34) advantage at the half.
In the second half, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ again came out hot by posting a 20-6 run to put the game out of reach at 66-40 at the 13:41 mark in the second half. Over the next 11-plus minutes of play, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ maintained the big lead, not allowing a determined Westminster team to make a run. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ took their biggest lead of 27 points, (90-63), with just 2:26 left after a three-pointer by Merideth Richardson Jacobs. Westminster made a late push to cut their final deficit to just 14 points, but the damage by the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Lady Bulldogs on this night was just too much for the home team.
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ was led by sophomore All-American Dudley with 26 points, including 6-of-7 from behind the arc. Josephine Owino and Latoya Bellamy each added 16 points. Jacobs added 14 points on 4-of-7 three-pointers. Crystal Eason, who was held scoreless in the first half, came out strong with nine points, on three 3-pointers in the second half to spark the Lady Bulldogs game-clinching run.
Westminster (9-2) was led by Shannon Evans with 23 points, Elisa Leader added 20 points, and Mara Hoskins scored 12 points.
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ should maintain their No. 1 ranking with a 10-0 record as the next ranking will be released on Wednesday, December 5. Up next for Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ will host Temple Baptist College (Ohio) on December 14 in their final game before the Christmas break.
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