March 13, 2002

Box Score

Eugene, OR - The Saint Mary's women's basketball team (16-13) was defeated by the University of Oregon Ducks, 72-61, in the first round of the Women's National Invitational Tournament. With the loss, the 2001-02 season comes to a close for the Gaels.

Saint Mary's was led by its two seniors, Jerkisha and Jermisha Dosty. Jerkisha led the Gaels with a game-high 23 points as she converted 7-of-16 shots from the field and was 2-for-2 from three-point range and 7-for-7 from the foul line. Jermisha finished her final game in a Saint Mary's uniform with her 17th double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Oregon opened an 11-7 and a three-pointer by Katie Davis cut the lead to one, with 15:35 left in the first half. Oregon opened its lead to 19-14 but a lay-in by Jerkisha Dosty and a three by Davis evened the score at 19-19 with 9:16 remaining in the half. After Kisha gave Saint Mary's the lead (21-19) at the 8:25 mark, Oregon regained the lead, 23-21, with back to back baskets.

The score remained the same for more than three minutes, until two free throws by Jerkisha knotted the scored once again. With the score tied at 28-28, a steal and lay in by Oregon's Curry gave the Ducks a 30-28 lead at the intermission.

Saint Mary's stayed in the game at halftime solely by Jerkisha Dosty. Dosty scored 16 points in the first half, while the rest of the team chipped in with just 12 total points. Kisha was 5-for-11 in the first half, including 5-for-5 from the foul line and 1-for-1 from three-point range, and added seven rebounds in the first half.

In the first half SMC shot just 32 percent (10-31) from the field and turned the ball over 13 times. Oregon shot 43 percent in the half on 13-of-30 shooting. Saint Mary's held the advantage on the boards 23-16 at the break. There were four lead changes and eight ties in the first half. The biggest lead for Oregon was five points at the 10:16 mark.

Saint Mary's scored the first basket to open the second half, but a three and a lay in by the Ducks opened the lead to five points. The Gaels cut the lead to 43-40 when Jermisha scored her eighth point of the half at the 11:53 mark. Oregon used a three and a lay in to open a 48-40 lead with 11 minutes to play.

With the score 49-42 in the favor of the Ducks, Kourtney Shreve hit a three from 25 feet to give Oregon a 10-point lead, 52-42. The Oregon lead reached as much at 13 points, 55-42, when Shreve converted a breakaway lay in with 7:49 remaining. Misha snapped the UO 12-0 run when she connected on a lay in at the 7:08 mark.

Saint Mary's cut the lead to 56-50, but Jamie Craighead hit a three from the right corner to open the Oregon lead to nine points with five minutes on the clock. Katie Davis would answer for the Gaels with a three of her own at the 3:30 mark to cut the Duck's lead to 61-56.

Oregon hit 7-of-9 free throws down the stretch to keep the Gaels out of reach. Kisha tried to keep SMC in the game with a three with one-minute remaining to cut the lead to 67-60. Late free throws by the Ducks helped UO to a 72-63 win.

Misha provided much of the offense in the second half for the Gaels as she scored 14 points in the half. She was 6-for-10 from the field in the second session. Jerkisha Dosty finished the game with a game-high 23 points and added nine rebounds for the Gaels. Katie Davis was the only other Gael in double figures with 10 points. Davis hit 3-of-6 attempts from three-point range in the game.

Saint Mary's turned the ball over 23 times in the game and Oregon forced 15 steals defensively. The Gaels shot 37 percent from the field, while Oregon converted 44 percent from the floor. Saint Mary's was stronger on the boards, out-rebounding the Ducks 41 to 35.