December 20, 2007
Bobcats Claw Shorewomen, 73-54
Slizofski Named to All-Tournament Team

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A 21-4 run by Bates College over the last four minutes of the first half proved decisive as the Bobcats topped Washington College, 73-54, in the Sunshine Shootout at Isaacs National Gymnasium this afternoon in Nassau, Bahamas. The Bobcats (4-3) got game highs of 23 points and 12 rebounds from All-Tournament Team honoree Meg Coffin in the win, while junior guard Brianne Slizofski (Collegeville, PA/Pius X) earned All-Tournament honors for the Shorewomen (4-5).

Bates scored the first nine points of the game, but the Shorewomen stayed in it, cutting the lead to 23-20 following a Slizofski three-pointer with 4:54 remaining. Washington had the ball with a chance to cut the lead to one or tie the score, but a turnover and fast-break lay-up and free throw by Coffin with 3:59 remaining jump-started the Bobcats' surge to close the half. Bates shot 9-of-10 from the field and 3-of-3 at the charity stripe in the final four minutes of the half, while Washington turned the ball over five times. Bates held a 44-24 lead at the break and led by as many as 30 points early in the second half.

Coffin shot 9-of-15 from the field and 5-of-5 at the line en route to her 23 points. She also blocked three shots, swiped three steals, and handed out three assists. Val Beckwith joined Coffin on the All-Tournament team after tallying 17 points and three steals. Kellie Goodrige added 10 points and three steals, while Sarah Barton handed out seven assists for the victors.

Slizofski finished with 13 points and eight rebounds for the Shorewomen. Sophomore guard Jane O'Donnell (Cape May Court House, NJ/Wildwood Catholic) scored a team-high 16 points, all of them coming in the second half. Freshman forward Erin Mazzatta (Lebanon, NJ/North Hunterdon) matched her career high with six points off the bench and grabbed four rebounds.

Bates held a 41-37 advantage on the boards and committed seven fewer turnovers than Washington (29-22). The Bobcats shot 45.5% from the field in the game to the Shorewomen's 33.9%.

The Shorewomen return to action Saturday, January 5th, with a 2:00 p.m. non-conference game at Trinity (DC).

BOX SCORE