Women's Basketball 11/27/2007 5:00:00 AM MEAC Media Relations

Fann Leads Winthrop Over Norfolk State, 68-63

Ashley Fann scored a team-high 20 points to lead three Winthrop players in double figures as the Eagles defeated Norfolk State 68-63 Monday night at Joseph Echols Hall.

Fann was 8-of-12 from the floor and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. She also had six assists and five rebounds in 32 minutes.

It was a close game from the start with the teams going basket-for-basket throughout most of the first half. Tiffany Rodd hit her first 3-pointer of the night to give the Eagles (6-2) a six point lead, 22-16, with 6:24 left in the first half.

The second of two free-throws by Tiffany Gadsden brought NSU (1-2) within two, 20-22, at the 4:39 mark and Ashley Compton hit a trey to give the Spartans a 30-28 advantage with 22 seconds left before the break.

Jessica Fansler ensured that Winthrop would not go into the half trailing, however, as she hit a jumper with eight ticks on the clock to the tie game at 30-all before the intermission.

NSU kept it close in the second half, but Winthrop jumped out to an 11-point lead, 64-53, on a layup by Fann with 5:18 left in the game.

The Spartans cut the deficit to three, 66-63, after a pair of free-throws by Danelle Tate, but NSU could get no closer. A free-throw by Yvonne van Daalen with two seconds left sealed the win for the Eagles, who improved to 2-0 all-time over the Spartans.

Rodd finished 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range and is now Winthrop’s all-time leader in made 3-pointers with 145. Shelly Haskins contributed 10 points and four rebounds for the Eagles, who shot 51.2 percent (22-of-43) from the floor for the game, but had 31 turnovers.

Gadsden led NSU with her first career double-double of 22 points and 11 boards. She added two blocks and two steals in a career-high 38 minutes. Tate had 12 points and was 8-of-11 from the charity stripe, while Ebony Gibbs had 11 points and three steals.

NSU shot 33.9 percent (20-of-59) from the field and was out rebounded 36-30. There were six ties and nine lead changes in a game that had a total of 54 turnovers.

The Spartans open Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play on Saturday when they host North Carolina A&T at 4 p.m.