Boston College
7-5
California
5-5
Women's Basketball Tops California, 81-69
December 29, 2009 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 29, 2009
San Diego, CA - Junior center Carolyn Swords scored 17 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, while junior Stefanie Murphy added nine points and 11 rebounds as Boston College defeated California, 81-69, at the Maggie Dixon Surf `n Slam Tournament.
The Eagles improved to 7-5 on the season and will play host San Diego in the final on Wednesday, Dec. 30 (11 p.m. ET). California is now 5-5 and will play Nevada in the first game on Dec. 30.
BC built a 13-8 lead behind six quick points from Swords at with 13 minutes to play in the half. Mickel Picco (14 points) hit two straight hoops and BC was up 22-12 with seven minutes to play. California closed the lead to five points but BC freshman Kerri Shields stepped up and hit two three-pointers followed by three-pointers from Jaclyn Thoman and Jasmine Gill to lead 40-25 at the half.
California came out in the second half with a 10-3 run on BC to cut the lead to eight points. The Eagles maintained the lead with key baskets from Picco, Ayla Brown (10 points, five rebounds) and Murphy. A layup by Brittanny Johnson (seven points, four rebounds, two assists) gave BC a 16-point lead at 14:18. Five straight points from Cal's Alexis Gray-Lawson at the five minutes mark but the lead to 12 points.
Cal's DeNesha Stallworth's three-pointer cut the lead to seven points but Shields launched a three-pointer or her own and BC's lead was back to 10 points with 4:59 to play. A traditional three-point play by Swords would secure the win with just under four minutes to play.
Game Notes:
BC shot 45 percent from the floor in the game and 47 percent in the second half ... Mickel Picco needs one more three-pointer to reach 200 career three-pointers ... Carolyn Swords notched her 23rd double-double of her career and fifth this season ... Stefanie Murphy grabbed 11 rebounds, it was the second time she reached double figures in rebounds this season ... Freshman Kerri Shields shot 3-for-4 from the three-point line and finished with 11 points. It was the second time this season, Shields hit three three-pointers in a game ... BC outrebounded California, 54-47. It is the 10th time in 12 games BC has won the battle of the boards this season.
