Late surge propels Lady Quakers to victory

Rausch leads a trio of Lady Quakers in double figures with 22

[Box Score]

(WC Press Release) Wilmington, Ohio (January 7, 2004) -- The Lady Quakers used a late 12-0 run to pull away from a feisty Muskingum squad on Wednesday evening 91-67.

Tara Rausch (Marysville/Fairbanks) led three Lady Quakers in double figures with 22 points while Emily Cummins (Springfield/Northwestern) and Siobhan Zerilla (Cincinnati/Mercy) added 16 and 15 points respectively. Rausch also pulled down 13 rebounds and Zerilla 12 for double-doubles.

The Lady Quakers, who never trailed in the game, opened a 17-7 lead five minutes into the half before the visiting Muskies cut the deficit to four with a 6-0 run. The lead would fluctuate between 9 and 13 points the rest of the way, as the Lady Quakers took a 41-28 lead into the locker room.

In the second half the Muskies fought back and cut the deficit to eight points, their last single digit deficit in the game. The Lady Quakers then dug in their heels, and opened a 12-0 run late in the game to put the contest out of reach, and cruised the rest of the way in the 24-point win.

Rausch scored 22 points on 11-of-19 shooting while Cummins had 16 and Zerilla 15. Samantha Hood (Lockbourne/Teays Valley), Amy Kincer (Englewood/Northmont) and Amy Eichner (Johnstown/Johnstown-Monroe) each scored eight points. Rausch and Zerilla had 13 and 12 rebounds respectively, as the Lady Quakers out-rebounded the Muskies 61-40. Kincer had five assists while Rausch blocked three shots in the contest.

Muskingum was led by Lindsay Mast who scored 19 points while Leslie Kimble was also in double figures with 12 points. Joanna Clark pulled down a team-best eight rebounds as Mast had four assists and four steals in the game.

With the win the Lady Quakers, ranked 25th by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Poll, improve to 8-3 on the y ear and 4-1 in the OAC while Muskingum falls below .500 with a 5-6 record and 2-3 in the OAC.

The next game for the Green and White is on Saturday, January 10, when the team hosts the Purple Raiders of Mount Union College with tip-off set for 3:00 p.m.