January 29, 2004

Rams drop only second conference game of the season, 72-62

NEW ORLEANS, La. -- Playing in perhaps their most important game of the season thus far, the University of  Mobile (12-7, 6-2) went into New Orleans and came away with a disappointing 71-61 loss at the hands of No. 13 Xavier University (17-3,8-0).  

The battle for first place in the GCAC turned out to be a game of runs with Xavier coming out on top.

Four Rams scored in double figures with Crystal Coston leading the way with 16 points.  Trevor Chandler chipped in with 12 points while Sherrie Lattimore added 11 and Jessica Barber finished with ten.

Leading 33-32 at halftime, the Rams rushed out to a four point lead in the second half, their largest of the game, before the Gold Nuggets responded with one of their many runs.

This time it was a 16-4 run that was finally broken when sophomore Kinga Rybarczyk made a tough shot in the lane and was fouled.  Rybarczyk, who finished the game with nine points, made the free-throw, pulling the Rams to within five at 48-43 with 11:14 remaining in the contest.  

After a pair of free-throws by Lattimore got the Rams to within three points at 48-46, the Gold Nuggets scored the next four points and pulled away for good as the Rams never got any closer.  

Trailing 20-12 early on, the Rams put together a 9-0 run of their own to pull within one point at the 7:39 mark of the first half.  After the Gold Nuggets managed to score the next three points, the Rams used another mini-run to pull ahead 25-24 on Jessica Barber's lay-up with 4:45 left in the half.

Jackie Tucker led the way for the Gold Nuggets finishing with 17 points and Jarryn Cleaves finished with 16.

The University of Mobile will next be in action this coming Saturday, Jan. 31, when the team travels across town to do battle with GCAC-rival Spring Hill College.

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