Nov. 29, 2005
PENSACOLA, Fla. - - Melissa Nafzger set a school record with nine blocked shots, but it was not enough as Mobile topped West Florida 73-66 on Tuesday at the UWF Field House. West Florida falls to 4-1 with the loss. Mobile, the 14th ranked team in the NAIA Division I, improves to 5-1.
Both teams struggled at the outset as West Florida missed their first five shots, while Mobile misconnected on their first nine shots. With West Florida leading 12-10, Mobile used a 13-2 run to open up a nine-point lead with nine minutes remaining in the first half. West Florida immediately responded with a 9-1 run over the next four minutes to cut the deficit to one. But Mobile never gave up the lead as Crystal Coston scored eight of the Rams final 13 points of the half, and Mobile carried a 37-33 lead into halftime.
With Mobile leading 47-41 with 14:33 remaining, the Rams used a 10-2 run over a three minute span to open up their largest lead of the game at 14. Mobile retained their double-figure lead until late in the game. Michelle Gibson hit a three-pointer to cut the Argonaut deficit to seven with 1:28 remaining. After a Mobile offensive foul, freshman Jessie Ivey hit one of her five three-pointers to trim the Rams lead to 70-66. But Danielle Goodly immediately responded with a lay-up to push the Mobile lead back to six en route to the victory.
Nafzger's nine blocks broke Regan Rockwell's record of seven blocked shots against West Georgia in 1997. West Florida also set a school record with 13 blocks as a team. Along with her nine blocks, Nafzger tallied 12 points, 13 rebounds and six steals. Ivey led West Florida with 19 points, including 5-10 from three-point territory. Gibson added 15 points and two steals. Kinga Rybarczyk collected a double-double with 16 points and 19 rebounds. Coston paced the Rams with 17 points. Mobile pulled down 56 rebounds, including 25 offensive rebounds.
The Argonauts will travel to San Antonio, Texas for two games this weekend. West Florida will face Incarnate Word at 6 pm on Friday, followed by a Saturday game against Saint Mary's (Texas).
