Dec. 6, 2005

Box Score

BALTIMORE, MD - Senior Amanda Leese recorded game-highs of 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Johns Hopkins women's basketball team past conference and state rival McDaniel 65-57 at Goldfarb Gymnasium. The Blue Jays, who were picked third in the Centennial Conference preseason poll, improved to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the conference, while the Green Terror, who were predicted to finish first, fell to 3-3 and 0-2.

Johns Hopkins won the game in the second half when it outscored McDaniel 36-29 after leading by just one point, 29-28, at the break. The first half included five ties and 11 lead changes with no team leading by more than five points; the Blue Jays led 9-4 at 11:49.

McDaniel threatened to pull ahead in the first half when it went up 20-16, but freshman Jenna Berninger assisted junior Whitney Davis for back-to-back fast break layups to shift the momentum in favor of Hopkins. Leese led all scorers at the half with 12 points and seven rebounds, while junior Theresa Hess had eight points and five rebounds for the Terror.

The second half started like the first did, with the teams answering each other on every possession. Johns Hopkins led for the first 2:45 before McDaniel took its first lead of the half on a jumper by senior Kristy Costa at 17:15. The Terror increased its lead to three points three times, but senior Julie Miller scored six straight points to regain the Blue Jay lead for good with 14:07 remaining.

After Davis hit two free throws to put Hopkins ahead 43-40, sophomore Andrea Dodrill came off the bench and scored seven consecutive points to the continue the 11-0 Blue Jay run. A steal and a layup by freshman Jessica Rice capped the scoring streak and gave Johns Hopkins a 53-41 lead with 11 minutes to play. McDaniel senior Sara Franz ended the run with two foul shots before Davis nailed a three to put Hopkins ahead by its largest margin, 13 points, at 8:43.

Leese finished the game 7 for 15 from the field and added two assists, two blocks, and a steal to her double-double performance. Miller also recorded a double-double with 13 points (5 for 10), 10 rebounds, two assists, three blocks, and a steal, while Davis and Dodrill each added 11 points.

The Blue Jays shot 42 percent from the field, held the Green Terror to just 26 percent shooting, and finished with a 44-40 advantage on the boards. Hess led McDaniel with 12 points, while Costa had eight points and 10 rebounds.

The all-time series between Johns Hopkins and McDaniel now stands 32-26 in favor of the Green Terror. McDaniel won two of three games last season, taking both regular-season meetings but losing in the conference playoffs at Goldfarb.

The Blue Jays visit Washington College this Thursday, December 8, at 7:30 pm in their final game before holiday break.