Jan. 6, 2005

Lady Rams Top Another Ranked Foe

By TOMMY HICKS
Sports Reporter - Mobile Register

A non-conference schedule that included playing five top-25 teams paid off for the University of Mobile Lady Rams Thursday night -- against their sixth top-25 team.

Using scoring punch from the frontcourt and key plays during important stretches, especially in the final moments, Mobile, ranked No. 25 in the NAIA national poll, upset No. 20 Dillard University 66-63 at Pharr Gymnasium.

The victory carried extra importance as the first Gulf Coast Athletic Conference game of the year.
" We were fortunate," Lady Rams head coach Martha Gore Algernon said. "We did just enough -- it came down to the last possession -- to get the win.

" We played a much tougher (non-conference) schedule (than Dillard), playing five ranked teams, and I believe that made a difference. Hopefully, it will pay off for us down the road in conference play."

Mobile (10-3) defeated then-No. 9-ranked Campbellsville in its first game of the year and later picked up wins against then-No. 6 Freed-Hardeman and then-No. 7 Georgetown, Ky., College as well as NCAA member Nicholls State.

Kinga Rybarczyk led the Lady Rams with 22 points (8-of-11 from the floor) and 10 rebounds. Crystal Costen added 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Dillard (8-2) was led by Lariana Landry's 17 points. Usually a strong perimeter-shooting team, Dillard was just 1-of-6 from 3-point range, an effect of the Lady Rams' defensive efforts at the guard positions.
Mobile awaits William Carey Saturday at Pharr Gymnasium for a 5 p.m. game.

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