By Staff
ECU Sports Information
GREENVILLE — For only the second time in program history, the East Carolina women's basketball team has won its first six games of the season, netting its latest victory in a 68-45 decision over Towson in game three of the Lady Pirate Invitational at Minges Coliseum. The Tigers fall to 2-4 in 2009-10 and have lost three-straight contests. ECU is also 6-0 for the first time since the NCAA officially recognized women's basketball in 1982.
Head coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener is now just one win away from matching Catherine Bolton as the winningest coach in program history as she owns 109 victories here. Additionally, Kim Gay was named the MVP of the Lady Pirate Invitational, putting in 12 points against the Tigers while notching 10 in last night's affair.
"We had some turnover trouble tonight but I was pleased with our defense," Baldwin-Tener stated. "We need to do a better job of rebounding and boxing out but I want us to enjoy this win and the fact that we are 6-0. We will come into the gym Monday and get ready for a very solid VCU team."
Kelly Smith gave ECU a 6-2 lead at the 18:51 mark when she hit her second three-point field goal of the game. The Lady Pirate advantage stretched to 12-2 with 17:22 left in the half when Gay converted a fast-break layup.
Shanae Baker-Brice tried to rally the visitors, scoring her team's first seven points to slice the deficit to 14-7 at 13:40. However, East Carolina outscored Towson 11-10 over the next six minutes to keep the Tigers at bay.
The Lady Pirates pushed the lead to 33-18 at the final media timeout of the half as the teams went hard at each other. Each squad was assesed a technical foul, but it was ECU that would have the last word of the period, as Ashley Clarke recorded a steal and found Ariana Jackson for a layup that just beat the buzzer, giving the Lady Pirates a 40-18 advantage at the break.
Gay led the offense in the first half with nine points while Smith had eight. Ashley Clarke, Allison Spivey and Gay also pulled down a team-best four rebounds while Clarke handed out five assists.
Shooting was a forte for the home team as East Carolina shot 66.7 percent in the interval as opposed to just 22.6 for Towson. The Lady Pirates also enjoyed a 21-17 rebounding margin.
The Tigers mounted a charge over the first seven minutes of the second period, cutting the ECU lead to 46-31 on a Kandace Davis jumper at the 12:53 mark. However, the Lady Pirates recovered and put together a 6-2 run to extend the advantage back to 19 at 52-33. Towson would come no closer than 18 the rest of the way.
In addition to Gay's output, Kelly Smith also reached double figures with 11 points while Clarke led the team in rebounds with seven. She also matched her career high, distributing seven assists. Clarke now averaging 5.8 assists so far this season.
East Carolina enjoyed its top shooting output of the year, hitting 51.1 percent of their shots while allowing just 28.1 to Towson. The Lady Pirates also won the battle of the boards, outrebounding the Tigers 42-35.
Gay and Clarke were both named to the Lady Pirate Invitational All-Tournament Team while Gay earned event MVP honors.
ECU next plays on Wednesday when it hosts VCU at 7 p.m. at Minges Coliseum.