Dec. 19, 2004

Rams Pull Off Major Upset Over 7th-Ranked Georgetown College

MOBILE, Ala. – Four Rams scored in double figures as the University of Mobile (8-2) upset 7th-ranked Georgetown College (11-2) 98-96 Sunday afternoon at Pharr Gymnasium. It is the fourth top-25 ranked opponent that has fallen to the Rams as Mobile continues its bid for national consideration in the NAIA.

UM opened the season with a 75-70 win over a tough 9th-ranked Campbellsville University team. They have since defeated 17th-ranked Auburn University-Montgomery, 61-55 and 5th-ranked Freed-Hardeman University 76-70. Add a 59-57 win over NCAA Div. I Nicholls State University, and it’s a mystery as to how the Rams have successfully evaded top-25 consideration.

With Rams leading scorer, forward Crystal Coston, on the bench early with foul trouble, Mobile didn’t miss a beat as they opened up a 16-point lead and didn’t lose much ground as they entered the half with a 48-35 advantage. The big story in the first half was the superb post-play by Kinga Rybarczyk who scored 14 and freshman phenom Sandra Kostandinovic’s 11.

The second half belonged to Georgetown as senior Candas Smith went off for 22 points to single-handedly bring the Tigers back into the game and nearly avoid the upset.

The Tigers opened up the second half with a 19-6 run to take their first lead, 56-55, since 17:19 to go in the first half. The lead changed hands eight times before the Rams took hold of it for good with 7:22 to go in the game. An Erica Martens field goal sparked a 14-3 run capped off by a three-pointer from senior Jessica Barber as UM took an 86-74 lead with 4:29 remaining.

With Mobile holding their biggest lead of the game, 95-80 with two minutes left, Georgetown’s Smith nearly answered the call. Back-to-back threes helped cut Mobile’s lead to seven, 95-88. Getting an assist on a Kim Ingle three-pointer Smith gave the Tigers a glimmer of hope as they trailed only 97-93 with six seconds remaining. Rybarczyk calmly drained a free throw to put Georgetown’s comeback out of reach and gave the Rams enough to stave off Smith who nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer.

Smith led all scorers with 33 points as she combined on 6-of-10 from behind the arc and 12-of-19 from the field. She also recorded five steals, five rebounds and three assists. She was joined by Neely Thomas’ 22 points, Carrie Meeks’ 11 and Kim Ingle’s 10 in notching a double-figure performance.

Jessica Barber and Kostandinovic each enjoyed career highs as they scored 18 and 17 points respectively. Barber also dished out eight assists. Crystal Coston, who got red-hot in the second half, finished the game with 19 points (15 in the second half) and 10 rebounds while Rybarczyk led the attack with 23 points and nine rebounds.

Mobile will be back in action on Dec. 30 and 31, as they hit the road for the Warner Southern Holiday Tournament held in Lake Wales, Florida. The Rams will take on Evangel University on Thursday, the 30th and Westminster College the following day.

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