FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12-16-03

Women's Basketball: AASU 76, Tusculum 61

GREENEVILLE, TENN. - The Armstrong Atlantic State University defense held Tusculum College without a point for almost eight minutes in the first half and one field goal over a 10-minute stretch to put the Pioneers away early in their 76-61 win Tuesday night at Alpine Arena.

Neither team shot particularly well in the first half, with AASU shooting 37 percent and Tusculum shooting 36 percent. But the Lady Pirates' 19-2 run effectively ended the game before halftime.
Armstrong Atlantic State started its run with two free throws from senior Alicia Durham (Macon, Ga.) to make the score 12-7 at the 11:53 mark. A missed three followed on the Pioneers' next possession and the Lady Pirates would go on to outshoot TC 5-0 over the next 1:47 thanks to five offensive rebounds, but still failed to score a point.

The teams combined to miss eight straight shots over 2:44, but AASU shook off the slump to score the next eight points before Tusculum broke the streak with a put-back from junior guard Kari Karns (Pilot Mountain, N.C.) to cut the AASU lead to 23-9 with 5:28 to play in the first half. But the Lady Pirates scored the next six points and 10 of the next 12 to take a commanding 33-11 lead.

Two telling stats in Armstrong Atlantic State's 17-point first half lead were AASU's 14 offensive rebounds to Tusculum's one, and 15 turnovers for the Pioneers.

Tusculum came out firing to open the second period, scoring the first five points on a three-pointer from sophomore forward Amber Redding (Sevierville, Tenn.) and a layup from Karns. The Lady Pirates were able to answer with an 8-2 run to push their advantage back up to 18 in the first 4:30 of the half.

The Pioneers were able to come within 12 on one other occasion but was unable to come any closer and AASU led by as many as 24 in the final moments.

The Lady Pirates placed four in double figures, led by senior guard Tasha Washington (Phoenix, Ariz.) who scored 17 with eight rebounds and a game-high eight assists. Freshman Kaneetha Gordon (Savannah, Ga.) posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 boards.

Karns led the Pioneers with 12 points and six rebounds. Junior guard Julie Maples (Knoxville, Tenn.) and sophomore guard Candice Foster (Crossville, Tenn.) had 10 points each.

Armstrong Atlantic State (5-2) moves on to play South Atlantic Conference member Mars Hill College Thursday at 7 p.m. Tusculum (5-5) takes the rest of 2003 off before hosting Lander University on Jan. 3 at 2 p.m.

- Pirates -