FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Gary Holden, Sports Information Director
(540) 365-4306
 
January 25, 2003
 
 
Triplett Shines in Ferrum Women's Hoop OT Win
Sophomore Nets Career-High 26 Points in 81-78 Win over Methodist
 
Ferrum, Va. –  Sophomore Amber Triplett (Bassett, Va./Bassett) had 26 points and was perfect at the line as the Ferrum College women's basketball team defeated Methodist College 81-78 in overtime in a Dixie Conference contest this afternoon at home.
 
The 26 points is a career-high for Triplett, pictured here, and is the highest single-game point total by a Ferrum player this season.  Triplett is averaging 12.6 points per game and shooting just under 35 percent from behind the three-point arc this year.
 
Ferrum led 32-27 at halftime, only to see the Monarchs tie the game at 69-69 to close regulation.  Methodist's Latasha Watlington, who led all scorers with 33 points and came into the game as the Dixie scoring leader (19.2 ppg), sent the game into overtime by burying a three-pointer from the right baseline with two seconds remaining in regulation.
 
In the OT period, Methodist led 77-74, when Triplett nailed her sixth three-pointer of the game to tie at 77-77.  Watlington made one of two free throws with 0:37 left to put the Monarchs up 78-77.  
 
Junior Shermika Harris (Martinsville, Va./Laurel Park), pictured at left, put back her own missed jumper to give Ferrum a 79-78 lead with 0:16 showing on the clock in OT.  Methodist's missed three-point attempt by Christen Snyder was rebounded by Ferrum senior Tina McBride (Glade Hill, Va./Franklin County) with four second left.  McBride converted a pair of free throws for the 81-78 score and Ferrum stole the inbound pass and ran out the clock for the win.

Harris dominated the boards with a game-high 18 rebounds, including 11 offensive.  She had 16 points on 7-13 shooting.  McBride had 14 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and four steals.  Junior Tanisha Durham (Roanoke, Va./Patrick Henry) had 10 points and nine rebounds, while sophomore Tara Toland (North, S.C./North) had nine points and five assists.
 
McBride has 221 career steals and needs just two to break the career steals record of 223.  She also has 1,254 career points, and now needs just 62 points to break the College's all-time scoring mark of 1,315 points.  McBride is also approaching career marks for field goals made and field goals attempted.  She is a three-time All-Conference player in basketball, and also made All-Conference in her first season with the Ferrum women's tennis team last year.

Ferrum improves to 12-2 overall with the win, and remains unbeaten in the Dixie at 4-0.  Coach Donna Doonan's team won for the 12th time in its last 13 games.  Methodist evens its overall record at 6-6, and remains winless in league play at 0-3.  The Panthers play next at Dixie opponent Greensboro College Jan. 28 at 7 p.m.  For more information, please contact the Ferrum sports information office at (540) 365-4306.
 
 
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