Oxy Falters on Day One of Las Vegas Hoopla Tournament

LAS VEAS, Nev. (Dec. 19, 2008) – After trailing for the entire game, minus a two-point lead with 10:36 to play, Brittany Mally hit a three pointer with 20 seconds left to pull the Tigers within a point, but a quick foul allowed Bridgewater College (VA) a pair of free-throws, which they made to solidify the win and hand Occidental College at 56-51 loss on day one of the 2008 Las Vegas Hoopla Tournament.

Stephanie Babij scored back-to-back baskets to give Oxy their first and only lead of the game with 10:36 to play in regulation before Bridgewater used a 7-0 run to regain the momentum. The Tigers had a chance with four seconds remaining, trailing by three, but a turnover allowed Bridgewater to lay the ball in for the final score of the game.

Occidental looked to Brianne Brown and Asha Jordan to come up big off the bench with 12 points, nine rebounds and 10 points, seven rebounds respectively. Each also supplied a block. Brown, Babij and Dior Williams each tallied four steals and Babij led all players with 14 rebounds. She came up with seven offensive rebounds as the Tigers combined to grab an incredible 22 offensive boards in the game.

Unfortunately Oxy was not able to capitalize on those offensive boards as they scored just nine second-chance points. They were however able to use Bridgewater turnovers (30) to their advantage, scoring 21 points off turnovers.

The Tigers shot just 26.4% from the field in large part to a 6-for-33 first half field goal shooting. Oxy was effective from the outside in the second half, nailing 6-for-13 three-pointers after making just 1-for-14 in the opening stanza.

Leading all players was Bridgewater’s Jordan Burkholder who score 25 with 11 rebounds and three steals.

Occidental falls to 4-3 overall and will conclude the Las Vegas Hoopla with a 10:00 a.m. (PST) tip-off against Virginia Wesleyan College tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 20.