Smith keys SM to win over Murphy

Murphy's Megan Zimmerman had 10 points.

"We played well and kept our focus even though it was a non-conference game late in the year," Coach Cindi Simmons said. "I was pleased with how we came out and had a lot of energy."

A follow shot by Lindsey Lewis with 6:41 to go in the first quarter put the Lady Mustangs (17-4) ahead for good and started a 14-2 run. Smith had 10 in the spurt for an 18-5 lead with 2:02 to play in the opening period, which ended with SM on top 20-10.

The Lady Mustangs closed the half on a 9-2 run, including three by Melissa Collins, for a 35-16 advantage.

Nathalie Broom and Kaitlin Ritchie both had three points in a 12-2 spurt for the game's biggest lead, 52-24, with 1:13 left in the third stanza. SM led 52-26 entering the fourth quarter.

The closest Murphy came after that was 52-33 on a free throw by Nikol Watson with five minutes left.

The Lady Mustangs regained control with eight straight points, capped by Ashley Holmes' basket, for a 60-35 lead with 1:42 remaining.

Smith made eight of 13 field goals and three of three free throws.

Ritchie, Collins and Broom all finished with seven points, Lewis netted six, Christy Pruett and Tara Green both scored four, and Holmes, Alyson Bartell, Ashley Harn and Courtney Bryson all had two. Ritchie dished out six assists while Green had five and Smith four. Ritchie, Lewis and Nathalie Broom all came up with three steals.

The Lady Mustangs shot 40.3 percent from the floor.

The SM JVs are 9-7 after a 56-34 victory. Tasha Grant scored 14 points.

"It was a great overall win," Coach Tonya Kenyon said. "Everybody got significant playing time and did an extremely good job."

The Lady Mustangs led at quarter breaks by scores of 11-5, 25-17 and 41-24.

"Tasha was basically unstoppable," Kenyon said. "We tried to really utilize our inside game because we had more height."

Back to Sports: 02/08/01.