Press Release

DECEMBER 2, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: RUDY YOVICH-SID
260-481-6646

Furious Second Half Comeback Fuels IPFW

Akron, OH- Down by as many as 18 points in the first half, the IPFW women’s basketball team decided it was time to dig in and fight for their first victory of the season. And, when the final buzzer sounded the Mastodons had completed the comeback with a 55-54 win over the University of Akron, Tuesday afternoon at Rhodes Arena.

This one looked like a carbon copy of what had happened so far this year to the ‘Dons. Akron raced out to a 16 point half-time lead (33-17) on 56% shooting, getting eight points each from Jae Conn and Lindsay Hemmelgarn.

But, IPFW slowly chipped away at the Zips’ lead in the second half. With 12 minutes remaining, junior guard Courtney Nicely slashed to the hoop for a lay-in off of a nice feed from junior center Verea Bibbs, and the ‘Dons had the lead cut down to only seven at 39-32.

Senior forward Amy Gearalds began to heat up, and in a two minute span hit two jumpers and a bomb from behind the arc, cutting the Akron lead to three at 46-43, with under seven minutes to go.

Finally with 2:19 left in regulation, IPFW took their first lead of the ballgame on a layup by sophomore forward Geneva Murdock, making it 51-49 ‘Dons.

The lead would switch hands three more times, until Murdock sent the final two of her six points through the hoop with :23 seconds left on the clock.

Akron had one final chance, but senior guard Maggie Bruening stole the ball, with three seconds left, to seal the Mastodons’ first win of the season, 55-54.

IPFW who shot 62% from the floor in the second half, was led by Geralds with 15 points. Nicley chipped in fourteen, and Bibbs was a rebound shy of a double-double with 10 points and nine boards.

The Zips (0-4) were led by Lori Krezeczowski who tossed in a game-high 18 points.

The Mastodons will be off until Saturday (12/6) when they travel to Bowling Green to take on the Falcons. Game time, originally scheduled for 1pm has been changed to 3:30pm as part of a BGSU doubleheader.

~Dons~