March 19, 2009

Box Score

ROCHESTER, Mich. - The University of Dayton women's basketball team earned its first ever postseason win as a Division I program Thursday evening with a 70-55 decision at Oakland in the first round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament. The Flyers will travel to face Indiana in the second round of the WNIT on Sunday, March 22 at 2 p.m. ET.

The win marked the first time Dayton has ever advanced past the first round of a postseason tournament since turning Division I.

"We have had a lot of firsts this year," said head coach Jim Jabir. "Our first Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year. We advanced to the A-10 Semifinals for the second-straight year. We had back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time. Now to advance in the WNIT is just another step and with our youth I think the future is very bright for our program"

Kristin Daugherty led all scorers with 19 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the field including 2-of-3 from three-point range and 3-of-4 from the line. Freshman Justine Raterman tallied the ninth double-double of her career with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Junior Kendel Ross also finished with 10 boards in the game as UD led on the glass 41-29.

It was a balanced scoring effort across the board as Dayton shot a strong 44 percent from the field, 41 percent from beyond the arc, and 78 percent from the line. Casey Nance contributed with nine points, while three other Flyers chipped in with seven apiece including Kendel Ross, De'Sarae Chambers, and Marie Rosche.

The Flyers snapped Oakland's 10-game home winning streak. Leading the Grizzlies was Melissa Jeltema with 17 points and eight rebounds. Fellow teammate Jessica Pike also scored in double figures finishing with 15 points, 13 of which she scored in the first half.

Casey Nance was fouled on a made basket for a 3-0 lead 10 seconds into the first. OU would trail until Jessica Pike knocked down the first trey of the game to tie it up at 17:18, 7-7.

Pike continued to come on strong for the Grizzlies as both teams traded baskets for the next six minutes.

The score remained close for most half and Pike would knot it up once again at the three minute mark. Dayton would have the lead entire first frame until the final six seconds as the unstoppable Pike sank a lay-up for OU's first advantage (30-29).

Daugherty would put up five-straight points to start the second half as the Flyers went on an 16-3 run over the course of seven and half minutes for a 45-33 edge.

Oakland attempted to chip away at the lead with a 6-0 spurt, but Dayton kept up the intensity and behind a three-pointer from De'Sarae Chambers would take its largest lead of the game by 18 points (60-42) with five minutes to play.

Dayton never let up advancing to the second round of the WNIT for the first time in program history, 70-55.