Purdue Fort Wayne
Centenary (LA)
Mastodon Women Exert Their Will in the Second Half
1/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 12, 2008
Fort Wayne, IN - Johnna Lewis-Carlisle scored a game-high 22 points, and IPFW registered four players in double figures, as the Mastodons moved to 3-2 in Summit League play with a hard-fought, 80-68 win over Centenary College Saturday afternoon at the Memorial Coliseum.
The Mastodons bolted out to a double-digit lead early as freshman guard Jordan Zuppe connected from behind the arc. Zuppe's triple gave the 'Dons a 20-9 advantage at the 12:12 mark.
Lewis-Carlisle put the Mastodons up by 14 with a jumper from the wing, and with just 1:40 left in the opening half, Zuppe gave IPFW its biggest lead of the half on another bomb from behind the arc.
Centenary would go on a 5-0 run from that point as freshman forward Ashley Jackson converted an "old fashioned" three-point play, and sophomore guard Monique Jefferson got a layup to go, cutting the 'Dons lead to 38-26 at the break.
In the second half, the Ladies came out on fire. Sophomore center Leslie Forest began to get on track with a couple of baskets in the paint, and on a three-point play of her own, drew the Ladies to within three at 44-41.
Sophomore guard Bethany Joseph gave Centenary their first lead of the second half, converting three straight foul shots, and at the 10:27 mark, IPFW found itself on the losing end of a 50-47 score.
That was a wake-up call for the 'Dons.
Senior forward Natalie Roberts woke the Mastodons up out of their brief sleep with an offensive rebound off of a miss. She powered the rebound up in the paint, scored the basket, and was hacked in the act. Roberts made the freebie putting IPFW back up 56-52 at the 8:52 mark.
Then it was the Zuppe/Lewis-Carlisle show.
The freshman from Aliquippa, Pennsylvania drilled a pair of huge threes.
Lewis-Carlisle dropped in a triple of her own, and the 'Dons put it on cruise control.
After increasing the lead back to double-digits, IPFW hit their free-throws the rest of the way to seal the win.
Lewis-Carlisle was one of four Mastodons to hit for double figures. She finished with a game-high 22 points. She also had a team-high six assists.
Zuppe tossed in a career-high 19 points, including a season-high five 3-pointers.
Junior guard Tina Moen tied a season-high with 13 points, and Roberts finished with 11 points and six rebounds.
Forest was team-high for Centenary (3-11, 0-4) with 15 points.
With the win, Head Coach Chris Paul's 'Dons improves to 5-10 overall and 3-2 in the Summit League.
The Mastodons return to action, hosting Summit League foe Oral Roberts, Monday night at 7:00 p.m. at the Hilliard Gates Sports Center.
~Dons~
