WASHINGTON, D.C. – The University of the District of Columbia ran its region-best winning streak to 13-straight games following a 73-56 victory over Daemen College here tonight in East Coast Conference women's basketball action. UDC, which is ranked 21st nationally and second in the East Region in the latest D2SIDA polls, improved to 15-3 overall and remained unbeaten (10-0) in league play. Daemen dropped to 4-13 overall and 2-9 in the league.
Sophomore Sarah Saba (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) and junior Leah McDonell (North Tonawanda, N.Y./Cardinal O'Hara) both scored 15 points to pace Daemen. Saba, who scored in double figures for the 10th-straight game, also grabbed five rebounds and registered four blocks. Senior Raeann Stilwell (Cheektowaga, N.Y./St. Mary's of Lancaster) was held scoreless for the first time all season, but did lead the team in rebounds (9), assists (6) and steals (3). Junior Rachel Pawlak (North Tonawanda, N.Y./Niagara Wheatfield) equaled her season-high for points (7) in 11 minutes off the bench.
Senior Iman Scott (Hagerstown, Md.) and junior Brandi Henton (San Jose, Calf.) both sparked the host Firebirds off the bench. Scott played 23 minutes and totaled 14 points and six rebounds, while Henton drilled two three-pointers and also scored 14 points in 20 minutes. Senior Taj Baldwin-Kollore (Newport News, Va.), who entered the game averaging 18.2 points a game, connected on just 3-of-11 shots and was limited to 10 points.
The final margin of victory is a little deceiving, as UDC was clinging to a six-point lead, 62-56, with two minutes to play. The Firebirds secured the win by scoring 11 unanswered points—all of which came from the free throw line. UDC finished 21-for-28 from the charity stripe for the game.
Another 11-0 run, this one to close out the first quarter, gave the Firebirds a 20-9 lead after one quarter. UDC scored the first two points of the second quarter and the teams traded baskets the rest of the frame. The Firebirds took a 12-point lead, 33-21, into halftime.
The UDC lead was 15 points, 40-25, two minutes into the third quarter, before Daemen rallied with eight unanswered points and cut the lead to seven points, 40-33, after McDonell drained two free throws with 5:12 left in the quarter. UDC took a 48-41 lead into the final quarter, and after the Firebirds scored the first two points of the quarter Daemen scored the next four points and cut the lead to five, 50-45, following a three-pointer by senior Samantha Wozniak (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster). It remained a single-digit lead for the Firebirds until the hosts secured the win at the free throw line over the final two minutes.
Daemen connected on just 7-of-25 shots (28%) in the first half, but recovered nicely and shot 44-percent (12-for-27) in the second half. UDC shot 42-percent (13-for-31) in the first half and finished 23-for-60 (38%) from the field overall. Both teams collected 11 offensive rebounds and the hosts finished with a slim 40-36 edge in total rebounds.
Turnovers were an issue for Daemen for the second-straight game. The Wildcats turned the ball over 20 times and UDC converted those miscues into a 23-4 edge in points off turnovers.
Daemen is idle until next Friday (Feb. 5) when it hosts Dowling College in an ECC game at 5 p.m. The Wildcats suffered a 74-68 loss at Dowling earlier this season.
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