December 7, 2001
WC Snaps Three-Game Losing Streak
Piringer Scores 21 Points Against Hood

CHESTERTOWN, MD -- The Washington College women's basketball team jumped out to a big lead, but then had to hold off a second-half charge by Hood College to come away with an 82-69 home win over the Blazers this evening at the Cain Athletic Center. The Shorewomen (3-4) snapped a three-game losing streak with the win, while the Blazers dropped to 6-3.

WC led 50-25 at the half after making eight of their 11 three-point field goal tries in the opening 20 minutes. Sophomore guard Katie Piringer (Potomac, MD/Stone Ridge) led the first half charge by canning four-of-five treys and scoring 14 points in the period.

The Shorewoman lead grew to as many as 30 with 17:43 to play in the second, but Hood outscored WC 31-12 over the next 14 minutes to cut the lead to 69-58 with 3:45 to go. Piringer put the Shorewoman back up by 14 on the next possession with her only three of the second half. The Blazers eventually cut the lead to 10, at 74-64 with 1:21 to play, but Washington held on for the win.

Piringer finished with 21 points for the Shorewomen and shot 7-for-14 overall and 5-for-10 from beyond the arc. Sophomore guard Karen Simos (North Potomac, MD/Wooton) added 16 points, while sophomore guard Yianna Patronas (Bethesda, MD/Walt Whitman) scored 13 points and dished out a game-high six assists. Freshman forward Liz Smith (Hagerstown, MD/Boonsboro) added 12 points on six-for-nine shooting.

Hood sophomore forward Melissa Kolb (Walkersville, MD) scored a game-high 25 points on 10-for-15 shooting and was a major reason why the Blazers made their second half surge. Sixteen of Kolb's points came in the second period. Senior guard Mandy South (Sykesville, MD) added 15 points and a game-high eight rebounds and freshman forward Danielle Allen (North Wales, PA) finished with 13.

For the game, WC shot 53% from beyond the three-point line.

The Shorewomen return to action tomorrow with a 7:00 p.m. home game against Villa Julie.

BOX SCORE