Providence College Athletics
Providence College
0-8
Navy
2-4
Providence Downed By Navy
12/10/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 10, 2004
Annapolis, Md. - Navy junior guard Ashley Pelzek scored a career-high 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field to lead the Midshipmen to a 72-42 win over Providence Friday at Alumni Hall.
Pelzek wasn't the only Mid to have a career night, as junior guard Lauren Skrel posted a double-double with 13 points and a career-high 10 assists. It marked the third time in the program's history that a Midshipman registered a double-double in points and assists during a game. Angela Dobbs was the first Navy player to reach the feat as she scored 21 points and dished out 10 assists at Bucknell on Jan. 11, 1992. Kim Jackson was the other one to accomplish it with 12 points and 11 assists vs. Bucknell on Feb. 17, 1994.
Senior forward Nikki Curtis and sophomore center Kate Hobbs each chipped in 10 points for Navy (2-4). It was the first time this season that four Midshipmen registered double-figures in the scoring column.
"I thought we played very well tonight," Navy head coach Tom Marryott said. "We were aggressive on defense and got good open looks at the basket on offense which we were able to convert."
Providence (0-8) was led by Shauna Snyder's team-high 13 points, as the Friars dropped their 24th-consecutive game dating back to last season. Providence's last win came back on Dec. 30, 2003, in a 69-61 victory over Coppin State. Kristen Brown added 12 points in the loss.
Navy opened the game on a 10-4 run, which was ignited by six points from Hobbs. Both teams exchanged baskets for the next few minutes and a Snyder free throw with 9:13 to go in the first half brought the Friars within five at 20-15.
However, the Midshipmen responded with a 12-2 burst over the next three minutes, keyed by a Pelzek three and four points from Curtis, to grab a 32-17 advantage.
"I was able to get open tonight and get better looks at the basket," Pelzek said. "I had been rushing my shots lately, but I was able to get set before I shot tonight."
The Friars closed out the half by scoring the final six points to get within nine at 32-23 heading into the locker room.
That was the closest Providence would come to getting back into the contest. Skrel converted a three-point play five seconds into the second half and Navy never let the lead slip below double-figures the rest of the way.
The Midshipmen shot 51 percent (28-of-55) from the floor, while making 10-of-19 shots from three-point range (53 percent). The Mids were also 6-of-7 from the free throw line for an 86 percent clip.
The last time Navy defeated an opponent by at least 30 points was an 80-47 victory over Morgan State back on Nov. 25, 2003. It was just Navy's third win in 13 tries all-time versus a team from the Big East Conference.
