McGill Gets 8th Double Double, Leads UDC to, 61-47, Win Over Millersville

Washington, DC: December 30, 2009-- Lillian McGill  (Sumter, SC) recorded her 8th double double of the season this afternoon, pacing the University of the District of Columbia Firebirds Women's Basketball Team to a, 61-47, win over the visiting Millersville University Marauders at the UDC Sports Complex.  The junior center scored a game-high 19 points,  grabbed 11 rebounds, gave 1 assist and made 6 steals in leading the Firebirds to the win.

The Firebirds opened up a 16 point advantage in the first half on the strength of McGill's  11-point, 6 rebound  performance and strong 3-point shooting by senior guard Nicole Cooper (Fort Washington, MD). UDC led, 28-19, at the break on 60 percent (12 for 20) field goal shooting , and a perfect 100 percent (4 for 4) performance from beyond the arc.

UDC led by as many as 23 points in the second half when  freshman guard Ty Abilla ( Galloway, NJ) made the back end of two free- throws with 1:48 remaining in the game. Although Millersville's bench came up strong in the half, scoring 25 points to UDC's  7, it would not be enough to overcome the much stronger overall Firebird game  performance.

Also in double figures for the Firebirds were Cooper with 13 points ( 3 of which were 3-pointers) 3 rebounds and 1 assist,  and Abilla with 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. Sophomore center Stacy Griffith ( Fredericksburg, VA) came in from the bench with a strong 7 point, 5 rebound performance.

Emily Balogh led the Marauder scoring with 16 points, followed by Raquel Welch with 7 points and 11 rebounds, and Sophia Waters, also with 7 points.

The Firebirds begin the new decade with their 3rd Annual New Year's Classic, January 2-3, 2010 at the UDC Sports Complex. Four teams will play in the Tournament, including  C. W. Post College, West Virginia State University, and Washington Adventist University. UDC plays C. W. Post in a 4:30 p.m. contest on Saturday, January 2.