Nov. 9, 2007
Box Score in PDF Format Box Score
ROCK HILL, S.C. - Rice connected on 12-of-13 free throw attempts over the final 10 minutes of the game, including 8-of-8 shooting over the final six minutes, to record a 63-52 victory over the Navy women's basketball team Friday evening at the Winthrop Coliseum in Rock Hill, S.C. The game served as the season opener for both programs.
"We have a lot to be encouraged by tonight," said Navy head coach Tom Marryott. "I thought we were very smart on defense and we rebounded the ball well. Offensively, we just let too many opportunities get away from us. But overall, we have a lot to build on from our performance tonight."
Despite starting a youthful lineup consisting of two juniors, one sophomore and two freshmen, the Mids jumped out to a 12-8 lead midway through the first half. The Owls, who posted a 19-14 record last year, answered by scoring seven of the next nine points to take a 15-14 lead.
The lead would change hands seven more times until a Morgan Hill (So., Portales, N.M.) jumper gave Navy a 26-25 advantage with 2:45 left to play before halftime. Rice would score the final six points of the half, however, to take a 31-25 lead at intermission.
The Owls quickly built a 38-30 lead early in the second half and soon took a 45-36 lead with 11:30 remaining in the game. Navy responded by scoring the next six points to pull to within three points at 45-42 with nine minutes showing on the clock. Whitney Davidson (Jr., New Oxford, Pa.) connected on a jumper to start the run, Hill followed with a pair of free throws and K.C. Gordon made a layup to cap the run.
The Owls would build their advantage back up to seven points on a number of occasions, including at 53-46 with just over five minutes left to play. The Mids would slice the margin back down to three points at 53-50 with 3:19 showing on the clock after Kalen Kropa (Jr., Reidsville, N.C.) made a field goal and Cassie Consedine (Fr., Bartlesville, Okla.) converted a pair of free throw attempts.
Over the closing minutes of the game, however, Navy's offense turned the ball over once, missed 5-of-6 field goal attempts and misfired on a pair of free throw attempts. In contrast, Rice's offense committed one turnover, made 2-of-4 attempts from the field and sank all six free throw attempts over the same span to seal the win.
The Owls made only three shots from the field over the final 10 minutes of the game, but managed to hold off the Mids with its shooting from the foul line.
Rice made 17-of-24 free throw attempts in the game, with Navy converting 8-of-11 attempts from the charity stripe.
Both teams made 21 field goals in the game and shot a near identical percentage from the field (38.2% for Navy, 36.8% for Rice). Navy held a 41-34 advantage on the glass, but the Mids turned the ball over 24 times in the game while forcing Rice into 15 turnovers.
Individually for Navy, Consedine became just the second freshman in Navy history to record a double-double in the opening game of the game with 12 points and 10 rebounds. She led Navy in both categories, was the only Mid to score in double figures and was one of five players on the squad to haul in at least five caroms in the contest.
Consedine and Angela Myers (Fr., San Antonio, Texas) became only the seventh and eighth freshman since starts were first recorded (in the 1984-85 season) to start the opening game of the year for Navy.
Rice was led by Tiffany Loggins who posted a double-double of her own with 22 points and 11 rebounds.
Navy will continue play at the Winthrop Classic with games Saturday at approximately 3 p.m. against the host Eagles and Sunday at 1 p.m. against North Texas.
