UTICA, N.Y. (January 13, 2009) – Senior guard Dani Dudek recorded her sixth double-double of the season on 17 points and 12 rebounds as the Stevens Institute of Technology women's basketball team defeated the defending Empire 8 Champions Utica College, 71-58 Tuesday night in Utica, N.Y. Junior forward Brittany Fuller also notched a double-double on 17 points and 10 rebounds. The Ducks received strong contributions off the bench en route to their tenth win of the season (10-2) and second in Empire 8 play (2-1).
Stevens started the game trailing 15-10, when the Ducks were fueled by a Dudek layup, followed by a two-point basket from sophomore forward Victoria Webber. Dudek put the Ducks back on top as she hit both of her free-throw attempts, as Stevens led 16-15 with 10:58 remaining. After trading baskets, the Ducks were trailing by one (18-19) before a three-pointer by junior guard Sarah Gehring put Stevens back on top 21-19. From that point on the Ducks never fell behind.
The closest the Pioneers came in the second half was when they cut the lead to eight, when two minutes expired off the clock. A three-pointer by freshman guard Dawn Garcia was what started the scoring spark for Stevens with just over 15 minutes remaining in regulation. The Ducks slowly extended their lead to 20 and maintained it for over 10 minutes; as Stevens went on to claim its tenth win of the season.
Stevens shot 40.8 percent from the floor and was 60.0 percent from the line. What was truly the deciding factor was how the Ducks out-rebounded the Pioneers 47-34. Off the bench Garcia had a stellar outing. She totaled 10 points on four field-goals, two of which were big three-pointers. Freshman forward Jillian Barrett had a physical game, having pulled down four rebounds and tallied six points on three of six shooting.
Gehring finished the contest with 11 points as she drilled three baskets from behind the arc. Armstrong was a force underneath as she snatched nine rebounds and totaled eight points.
Stevens will return to play on Friday when they travel to Rochester, N.Y. to face the Saxons of Alfred University at 6 p.m. Check back later this week on more information regarding coverage of the game.
The Following is a play-by-play of tonight's game
17:58 Utica's sophomore forward Jessica Berry (Rome, N.Y.) opens the scoring with a jumper. Fuller answers with a three. Armstrong goes hard through the lane and is fouled. She hits one of two free-throws. Senior guard Mallory Davis (Vernon-Rockville, Conn.) lands a three of her own. Timeout Utica.
12:22 Ducks trailing 12-15. The Pioneers are putting a lot of pressure on the Ducks-having a hard time inbounding the ball. Dudek is 3-for-3 from the field and has a pair of rebounds. Armstrong has been fouled three times now and has also grabbed two boards. Stevens takes a timeout to talk things over.
8:00 Following the timeout, Webber hit a field-goal, followed by a pair of free-throws by Dudek. Armstrong hit her first basket of the game. Freshman guard freshman guard Katie McGee (Philadelphia, Pa.) tied the contest at 18-all after a three ball from the top of the key.
4:47 Gehring hit back-to-back threes after a made free-throw by the Pioneers. The Ducks are on top 24-19. Both squads are playing very aggressive as Utica is relying on shots taken from the perimeter.
3:35 Gehring just put the Ducks up by 10 on her third three-point basket of the game. Just before that Barrett recorded her first field-goal.
1:10 Freshman forward Janelle Nixon (Middletown, N.Y.) goes to the line to shoot a pair, made both. Ducks up by seven (31-24). Armstrong puts back a missed jumper by Dudek Stevens up by nine.
0:00 A pair of turnovers took away any scoring opportunities just before the half. Stevens is shooting 39.4 percent from the floor and is 4-for-12 from behind the arc. Utica has hit only seven field-goals, five of which have been three-pointers. The Ducks are playing well, the only negative I see are to many missed baskets under the net. Ducks lead 33-24.
Stevens Leaders at the Half:
Points: Gehring 11, Dudek 8
Assists: Dudek 3
Rebounds: Armstrong 7, Dudek 6
Note - Gehring is 3-for-4 from behind the arc
17:02 Fuller starts the half off with a three ball. Berry cuts the deficit to eight with a pair of consecutive jumpers. However Fuller puts the Ducks back on top by 10 with her third-field goal.
14:20 Garcia hits her second three of the game to extend Stevens' lead to 12 (41-29). Fuller converts the three point play after she is fouled in the paint. Action is going very fast now, Berry retaliates with a two-point basket, however Dudek answers with a field-goal then two consecutive steals that resulted in a pair of easy layups. (50-31 Ducks)
12:30 Stevens calls a timeout to talk things over. My guess is the Ducks will try to slow things down as Utica keeps pressing, down by 20 (52-32).
10:50 Stevens is doing a good job taking the shot clock down but are taking advantage of open opportunities, just not converting. (52-34)
8:53 Garcia just hit a jumper fed by Fuller then a deep three from the top of the key off an assist by Dudek. Utica answered with a pair of free-throws and a field-goal. (57-38)
6:45 Fuller buries her sixth field-goal as Utica adds a basket. Armstrong converts a three-point play after being fouled, however Utica answers with a jumper to bring the score to 62-42 in favor of the Ducks. Stevens is absolutely owning the boards right now, they are missing shots but are grabbing the offensive rebound and bringing the shot clock way down before their next attempt. The Utica bench is very frustrated. 64-42 Ducks, with 5:15 remaining.
3:47 The Utica bench calls a full timeout trailing 49-65. If the Ducks can continue to dominate down low and work the clock, the Pioneers may have a tough time closing on this lead that Stevens has maintained in the final 10 minutes.
1:19 Dudek hits her seventh field-goal followed by a basket from Barrett. Sophomore guard Stephanie Nara (Frederick, Md.) landed a three-pointer to bring the score to 69-54 in favor of Stevens.
59:3 With under a minute remaining the Pioneers have pulled within 13 as they take their second full timeout. Ducks successfully inbounded the as Dudek ran across the court and down the baseline without even being fouled.
0:00 Ducks win their second Empire 8 game of the year to move to 2-1 in the league and 10-2 overall, as Stevens defeats Utica on their home court 71-58.
