USIU Tries Luck Against St. Francis for Second Time

The U.S. International University men’s basketball team gets a second chance at St. Francis (N.Y.) tonight when the Gulls play host to the Terriers at 7:30 in Golden Hall.

St. Francis (5-4) rallied for a 92-78 victory over USIU (4-9) in the consolation game of the Dartmouth tournament on Dec. 17.

USIU led, 46-38, at halftime but couldn’t hold it and dropped its sixth consecutive game. The Gulls broke the slide with a victory over Coppin State Dec. 19.

The Gulls will have to stop forward Darrwin Purdie, who scored 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting despite playing with 4 fouls in the second half the first time the teams met.

USIU is coming off a disappointing loss to Montana. The Gulls again squandered a halftime lead and lost, 82-80, to the Grizzlies Wednesday.

St. Francis lost to San Diego State, 91-72, Tuesday as Purdie was held to 9 points.

USIU continues its homestand Monday against Vermont, then plays host to St. Mary’s Jan. 4 and Loyola Marymount Jan. 7.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The University of San Diego held forward Kathy Stecco to less than 10 points for the first time in 21 games, but it wasn’t enough to keep Holy Cross from an 86-72 victory at the USD Sports Center.

Paula Mascari scored a career-high 20 points for USD (3-4). Debbie Gollnick (10) and Lynda Jones (14) also had career bests. Holy Cross (5-4) was led by Ann Borky and Mary Helen Walker with 18 points apiece.

UC San Diego, behind Jill Koster’s 28 points and Tracy Ragatz’s 17, advanced to the consolation championship of the UCSD tournament with a 75-71 victory over Emmanuel.

Tiffany Nicholson scored 21 points for Emmanuel, and Cheryl Macananti and Francis Dolan each had 13.

UCSD (6-3) plays Millikin at 2 p.m. today in the consolation championship. St. Ambrose (Iowa) will play Pacific Lutheran for the championship at 8.

Linda Drayson scored 28 points and grabbed a game-high 17 rebounds as Northwestern State (La.) University handed USIU its eighth consecutive loss, 89-76.

Two other Northwestern State players reached double figures: Pam Hudson (20) and Andrea Carter (13).

Sonya Carter led USIU (2-9) with 15 points, Yvonne Sanchez had 14 points, Vanessa Johnson 12 points and 10 rebounds and Dawn Crinklaw 12 points.