Jan. 31, 2013

Box Score

BALTIMORE, MD - Head Coach Nancy Funk earned her 600th collegiate victory Thursday night in Goldfarb Gym as the Johns Hopkins women's basketball team defeated Gettysburg, 47-40. Funk, who ranks in the top-10 in victories among Division III coaches, now stands at 600-309 all-time.

Hopkins (12-9, 10-6 CC) snapped Gettysburg's seven-game winning streak, holding the Bullets to season-lows in points (40) and field goal percentage (.243). Senior Alex Vassila led the way for the Blue Jays, finishing with 18 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks.

The Blue Jays' Sarah Higbee battled for an offensive rebound and scored with a quick lay-up with 3:02 remaining in the second half to put Hopkins ahead, 40-32. Vassila then followed Higbee's effort with a lay-up of her own to give the Blue Jays a comfortable 10-point lead it would never relinquish.

The second half proved rough for both teams from the field, but it was the Bullets who struggled most, going over eight minutes without a field goal midway through the frame. Hopkins built a six-point buffer during the span, with jumpers from Vassila and Liz Tommasi and lay-ups from Fatu Conteh and Maggie Fruehan.

The Blue Jays never trailed in the defensive battle, as they took advantage of early foul trouble on the part of the Bullets' Caroline Murphy. Hopkins jumped out to a six-point lead, 19-13, with 8:15 to play in the first half after a steal and coast-to-coast layup by Conteh.

Gettysburg (14-6, 11-4 CC) managed to cut the Hopkins lead to two points, 24-22, at the halftime break, however, with baskets from Danielle Bermini and Emily Duggan.

The Bullets' leading scorer and rebounder, Murphy, finished with just eight points and one rebound, while Jenna Swope had eight points and nine rebounds. Gettysburg was an abysmal 3-for-13 from the free throw line.

Conteh played strong defense for Hopkins, and finished with eight rebounds and three steals, while Higbee gathered 10 rebounds. Tommasi finished with 12 points.

Funk is in her 36th season of coaching, and began her career as Messiah's head coach for nine seasons. She compiled a 126-89 (.586) record with the Falcons and has earned a 474-220 (.683) record in 27 seasons with the Jays.

The Blue Jays return to action on Saturday in Goldfarb Gym as they host Centennial Conference leader Swarthmore at 3:00 pm. Hopkins handed the Garnet their first conference loss of the season earlier this month on January 8.

-30-