Purdue Fort Wayne
New Jersey Tech
'Dons Improve to 9-9 with Win over Highlanders
1/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 27, 2007
Newark, NJ - The Mastodons improved to 9-9 with a win over NJIT Saturday afternoon in the Fleisher Athletic Center. IPFW held onto a six point lead at half to defeat the Highlanders 81-70.
It was a back and forth battle for the first six minutes before the Highlanders ran out to a six point lead at the 14:32 mark. IPFW went on a 12-0 run from there, taking their own six point lead with 11:45 to go in the half.
"NJIT had me worried because sometimes people can get caught up in looking at an opponent's record and have false assumptions about the team," said Chris Paul. "I knew they were going to come out and play hard and they did just that and matched our kids' intensity.
"We were pretty intense but we had a defensive breakdown early in the first which allowed NJIT to take the lead and make early shots. I felt good though we shot really well. We were very fortunate to have good play off the bench from Courtney Reed and Hannah Thieke. We had a lot of good energy."
NJIT continued to battle, and once again regained the lead, 24-23, but it was short-lived. Courtney Reed hit a three-pointer and Ashley Johnson hit a jumper to take a four point lead with six minutes left. From there the Mastodons would take a six point lead going into halftime, 40-34.
IPFW took their first double-digit lead after Johnna Lewis-Carlisle hit one from beyond the arc at the 17:12 mark, 46-36. The Highlanders fought back, cutting the 'Dons lead to two and then tying the game up with 10:59 left.
NJIT would hold onto a small lead for the next five minutes before IPFW would go on a 14-0 run to take a 13 point lead with 2:19 left.
IPFW would hold that double-digit lead til the end, defeating the Highlanders, 81-70.
"With the six point lead at half, NJIT came back and was hot as we missed shots. They went on a 13-0 run but the kids came back and went on their own 12-0 run. We are battle tested and have played a really good schedule and have finally started to learn how to win.
"We've won five away from home and its a step in the right direction. Its a step in the right direction. We are back at .500 and are getting ready for a three game home stretch. The kids need to be proud of themselves, with the nine wins we tied the school record and still have 11 to go."
Three 'Dons would finish the afternoon in double figures.
Lewis-Carlisle would connect for 20 points, two assists and three steals. She was 3 of 6 from the arc and 3 of 4 from the line.
Johnson had 17 points, moving her to #10 All-Time with 1,032 career points. She was 5 of 10 from the field and 7 of 10 from the line. She led defensively with seven boards and added two assists and three steals.
Samantha Edwards rounded out the double figures with 11 points. She added six boards and four steals. She was perfect at the line, 3-3, and hit 4 of 6 from the field.
The Highlanders were led by Kelly Crowe with 18 points. She was followed by Jill Dickinson with 12 points and Aine O'Dwyer with 10 points.
The 'Dons have now matched their Division I record of nine wins, with eleven games left to go in the season.
The Mastodons have a three game homestand next week. They will host Northern Illinois on Tuesday (Jan. 30) at 7 PM. IPFW will face Texas-Pan American on Thursday (Feb. 1) at 7 PM and Utah Valley State on Saturday (Feb. 3) at 1 PM. All games are in the Gates Sports Center.
~Dons~
