Published: February 15, 2008 10:57 am         

ACM beats PSC, 89-62

Trojan's second half too much for Catamounts

CUMBERLAND - The Allegany College of Maryland women picked up their defensive intensity in the second half and got their offense clicking to the tune of 50 points after the break to pull away for an 89-62 victory over Potomac State College on Thursday night at Bob Kirk Arena.

The Trojans, ranked No. 14 in the NJCAA Division II poll this week, stretched their winning streak to 18 games with the season sweep over the Catamounts. They will be taking a 22-1 record into tonight's game at Frederick Community College.

Former Beall High School and 2004 Cumberland Times-News Area Player of the Year Kacey Kahl led four Allegany players in double figures with 24 points. The 5-foot-9 sophomore forward played for Potomac State two years ago before sitting out last year with an injury.

Freshman forward Melissa Ford came off the bench to score 14 points and hauled down a game-high nine rebounds. Sophomore Jasmine Blanks contributed 13 points and six assists, while former Fort Hill standout Lindsay Holliday added 12 points with two big three-pointers in the second half.

Potomac State was led by former Hampshire standout Ashley Heavener with 17 points and seven rebounds. Amanda McKim added 13 points and Julieanne Buckley had 11. The Lady Catamounts fall to 17-8.

Allegany, which won the first meeting between the two schools (87-61) at Potomac State, was up by only three points (39-36) at halftime before out-scoring the Catamounts 50-26 after the break.

"We picked up our intensity in the second half after getting off to a slow start and our depth wore them down," said Allegany coach Jerry Rice. "That has been our trademark all season and we can go to nine or 10 players.

"Potomac State has a very strong physical team and we matched up better in regards to that physical part in the second half," said the Trojans' coach. "We have a situation where different people pick us up and I thought our guards took over the game."

The first half had two ties and nine lead changes. Potomac State was up 9-5 after the first four minutes and was leading 30-28 after a McKim three-pointer with 5:01 left in the half.

Allegany scored nine unanswered points for a 37-30 lead after a Lisa Byer three-pointer at the 2:43 mark. Potomac State responded with the next six points, but a Kahl jumper from the side with 40 seconds left on the clock gave the Trojans the 39-36 halftime edge.

Allegany put the lead in double figures on a Holliday jumper that made it 50-40 at the 16-minute mark. A 13-point run that included a Holliday trey up the margin to 64-42 with 11:21 left.

Back-to-back three-pointers by Kahl and Byer made it 75-52 with 7:05 on the clock. The final score matched the biggest lead.

Allegany hit on a 36-of-63 field goal attempts and was 8-for-16 on three pointers with Kahl, Blanks, Holliday and Byers hitting two each. The Trojans out-rebounded the taller Catamounts 28-27 and forced 25 turnovers.

"We were wore out," said Potomac State coach Jim Walton. "They have a very good team with a lot of depth. When you take away one thing someone else steps up."

Potomac State repeated as the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference champion with an 11-0 record and will play the Eastern Conference champion Northhampton for the Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Association championship on Saturday in Bethlehem, Pa.