OWINGS MILLS, MD: (Nov. 15, 2010) - Three returning players scoring 11 points apiece and an early glimpse into the talent of the team's newcomers, who combined for 18 points and 11 rebounds resulted in an 11 pt. win for Arcadia University in their season opener on the road, 56-45 over host Stevenson University in women's basketball action Monday evening.
Sophomore Jackie Law (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains Fanwood), who went just 1-7 from the floor, sank 9 points from the free throw line for an 11 point affair and added 13 rebounds to begin the year off with her first double-double of the season, a mark she reached a dozen times as a first year. Senior Corrine Geiger (Perkasie, PA/Pennridge), was 4-8 from the floor and finished with 11 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocked shots. Sophomore Angie Adams (Elkins Park, PA/Abington Friends) added 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals to round out the Knights top performers. First year Jess Campbell (Huntington Valley, PA/Villa Joseph Marie) who nailed a pair of free throw tosses with 11:40 to go in the game to give Arcadia the lead for good, finished with 8 points and 5 rebounds in her first collegiate outing. Fellow first year Krista Hsu (Newark, DE/Delcastle Tech) combined for 5 points and 4 rebounds while junior transfer Christine Taylor (Narvon, PA/Garden Spot HS/Ursinus) added 5 points and 3 steals. Junior Ashley Gripper (Philadelphia, PA/Central) would contribute 4 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals for the Knights.
It would be a tale of two halves in tonight's opener as Stevenson controlled first half tempo. Aside from a three pointer from Adams at the 17:00 mark, Arcadia would be forced to play catch up for the next twenty-five minutes. With an 8 pt. lead with 6:13 remaining in the half, the Mustang's lead would grow to 11 when Sam Murray drained a three pointer to give Stevenson a 19-8 advantage. A pair of free throws from Adams brought the Knights within 9 at 3:59 but Daniella Poss, who finished as the game's leading scorer with 18 poins, hit outside for two and then went inside for two more to give Stevenson the 23-10 lead with 2:20 to play in the half. Stevenson would take a 24-13 lead into the locker room.
And then it would be Arcadia's turn to take control. Things got started three minutes into the second stanza when Taylor drained her first three pointer as a Knight to cut Stevenson's double-figure lead down to 7 (24-17). At 16:48, Adams would put back her own missed shot to cut her team's deficit to 5 (24-19). Law would then put her team on top 27-26 with a jump shot at 12:33 but the Mustangs quickly responded with a bucket of their own to regain the 1 point edge. And with Campbell's two free throws at 11:40, the Knights would retake the lead for good and made a statement to finish the game. Adams would convert a three-point play with 7:44 to go giving Arcadia their first double-figure lead of the contest at 42-32, a lead that would grow to fourteen and end at 11 with the 56-45 margin of victory.
Aside from Poss' 18 points, Stevenson (0-1) also got scoring from JaQuelia Conley (11 pt., 4 rb.), Murray (10 pt., 4 rb.) and Kristen Steiner (9 rb.).
From the floor, Arcadia slightly outshot the Mustangs (28% - 27%) and from the line, a place the Knights visited on 35 occasions this evening, they made 22 of them to finish the night off 63% to Stevenson's 59% from the line. Arcadia controlled both ends of the glass, out-rebounding Stevenson 51-43 and committed five less turnovers than the home team (35 SU – 30 AU).
The Knights (1-0) travel to nearby Penn State Abington for a non-conference matchup Wednesday evening at 6 PM.
