UDC Women Rout Philadelphia Sciences 63-33

Philadelphia, PA: January 19, 2009—In an old fashioned rout, the  # 23 ranked University of the District of Columbia Firebirds Women’s Basketball Team defeated the University of the Sciences Philadelphia, 63-33, tonight in Pennsylvania. Sophomore center Lillian McGill (Sumter, SC) led the Firebirds to the win by scoring 11 points and grabbing 9 rebounds.

Four Firebirds were in double figures, including McGill. Senior guard DeVaughn Hailey (Camden, NJ) scored 12 points and dished out 5 assists, senior LaQuanda Brandon (Washington, DC) finished with 11 points and 2 rebounds and junior Nicole Cooper (Fort Washington, MD) added 11 points and 2 assists. UDC dominated the game from start to finish, building a sizeable lead in the first half and then going into the break with a 26-17 advantage.

Neither team shot particularly well, with UDC shooting 39 percent (27-69) from the field, 30 percent (6 for 20) from beyond the arc and 60 percent (3-5) from the charity stripe. Philadelphia shot only 26 percent (13 for 50) from the field.

Philadelphia had 25 costly turnovers, which UDC converted into 22 points. UDC also capitalized on second chance shots, scoring 18 points from them, compared to just 10 for Philadelphia. With just one player in double figures, Erin Chesnavich (11 points), Philadelphia could not produce an effective offensive game. 

T he UDC zone defense kept Philadelphia off balance and disrupted their game plan so effectively that only four Philadelphia players actually scored during the game. Philadelphia led in only one statistical category, rebounding. They managed to out rebound UDC 42-40, while giving up 15 steals on turnovers.

UDC improved their record to 15-2 with this win, while Philadelphia dropped to 7-7 for the season. UDC will see action again on January 27, at Columbia Union College in Takoma Park, MD.