Tigers Come Up Short on Day One of the Tiger Panther Classic
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Dec. 30, 2009) - The Tigers returned to the hardwood tonight to co host the annual Tiger Panther Classic. Both games today were held on the campus of Occidental College in Rush Gymnasium, where co host Chapman University pulled out a 64-55 win over Anderson University, in the opening matchup. Oxy was not as fortunate, as they squared off with the University of Texas-Dallas in the nightcap, falling by the final score of 71-63.
The visiting Comets and host Tigers both came in with identical 6-2 overall records, but Texas-Dallas had received more national recognition over their eight game stretch, entering the night just outside the national top 25 on D3Hoops.com. Which gave Oxy the perfect opportunity to showcase their game at a national level, and that's just what they did, battling throughout the contest before the length of their opponents became the deciding factor in this heavyweight matchup.
The first half was a back and forth affair, with five lead changes, the biggest lead being a mere six points. That being held by the Tigers, but it came within the first four minutes of the game, and evaporated quickly as Texas-Dallas responded to cut it to two three quick possessions later. With less than three minutes to play, Gillian Nugent hit a jumper from the wing to give the Tigers a 26-22 lead as Oxy had done a great job handling the size and length of their opponents, but the Comets finished the first half on a 6-0 run fueled by Oxy turnovers. Altogether the visitors forced 10 turnovers in the first half, none more crucial then the final three that gave them a 28-26 lead going into halftime.
In the second, Texas-Dallas really controlled the tempo and held the lead through the twelve minute mark, until Britinee Yasukochi sank two freethrows, which came on the heels of Nugent burying a long three to erase a five point deficit. Yasukochi had a sensational half, going 3-3 from the field and 6-6 from the charity stripe, scoring 13 of her game high 15 points in the second session. Dior Williams gave the Tigers their final lead of the game, sinking two freethrows to put the Tigers ahead by two with 5:31 left. Oxy was fearless as they continued to keep the game close, attacking the bigger front line of the Comets, going 12-14 from the freethrow line in the half. Heart wasn't enough tonight, though, as Texas-Dallas executed better at the end of each half and picked up their seventh victory of the season.
Yasukochi led all scorers with 15 points, going a perfect 3-3 from the field and 8-8 for the freethrow line overall, adding in a game high 5 assists. Williams scored 13 while Stephanie Babij was the other Tiger to break double digits with 10, but Babij also had to play all 40 minutes tonight to help combat the size difference in the post, and Makenzie Brandon led the Tigers with 10 boards. The Comets were led by the quartet of Chelsea Edwards (14 points & 5 assists), Rachel Addison (14 points & 9 rebounds), Lauren Hale (12points) and a double double from Tarneisha Scott (12 points & 13 rebounds).
The Tigers (6-3) will travel to Chapman University tomorrow for the final day of the Tiger Panther Classic. They will face Anderson University at 2pm to close out the 2009 portion of their schedule.
