JP Kuhlman (14 points) and De’Mon Brooks (13) led a balanced four-man scoring attack for the Wildcats. Jake Cohen and Chris Czerapowicz added 12 points each.

Davidson raised its record to 18-5 overall, 12-1 in the Southern Conference. Wofford fell to 15-10 overall, 8-5 in the conference.

Brad Loesing had 18 points and Karl Cochran had 17 to lead the Terriers.

The Wildcats outscored the Terriers 32-15 in the first half, then held the margin the rest of the way.

NEXT 2 IN CHARLESTON

Davidson travels to Charleston, S.C., for a pair of games later this week. The Cats play at the Citadel on Thursday at 7 p.m., then at College of Charleston Saturday at 3 p.m.

DOWNLOAD the box score for Monday’s game vs. Wofford (PDF)

READ a full game report on DavidsonWildcats.com.

Laura Murray

Davidson College Sports Information
STATESBORO, Ga.— Nine different Wildcats put their names in the scorer’s book, led by Laura Murray’s game-high 17 points, and Davidson ran its win streak to four straight with a 69-62 victory at Georgia Southern Monday night.

Davidson (15-7, 11-2 SoCon) continued one of its best runs in Southern Conference play as it won for the 13th time in the last 16 games overall. The Wildcats led by as many as 23 points to earn their third straight road win.

Murray, who was celebrating her birthday, led the charge early with 14 points in the first half and closed 7-of-14 from the field, including 3-for-5 from downtown for the game. Sophia Aleksandravicius followed with 14 points, eight boards and four blocks.

Barbara Sitton had her third straight double-digit scoring game with 10 points, hitting a career-best six free throws. She also added six boards and four steals.

The Wildcat bench added 20 points, led by Jasmine Calin’s seven points, all in the first half when she also picked up five boards, two assists and two steals.

GSU (7-16, 3-11 SoCon) put two in double figures with MiMi DuBose and Anna Claire Knight scoring 14 and 11 points, respectively.

Davidson rode the hot-shooting hand of Murray on its way to a 43-24 halftime lead. The guard hit six of her first eight shots, including a pair of triples, and the Wildcats as a team shot 57 percent in the half.

Murray scored Davidson’s first 10 points to open the contest and Kristen Johnsen (Wayne, Pa.) later made it 19-7 at the 13:05 mark on a couple of free throws. The lead then was pushed out to 26-10 on a fastbreak bucket from Calin.

In the second stanza, Davidson opened up a 23-point lead at 54-31 on Aleksandravicius’s free throw with 12:33 remaining.

The Wildcats maintained a double-digit lead until the Eagles went on a 17-7 run to close within nine at 57-48 with under eight minutes left. MiMi DuBose and Jordi Cook capped off the run with back-to-back treys, while Danielle Spencer started the rally with six straight points.

Davidson countered with an 8-2 spurt to stop the momentum and push its lead back to double figures at 65-50. The Wildcats were never threatened again, as Janay Wilson’s three-ball in the last 10 seconds made it the final of seven points, 69-62.

UNCG WEDNESDAY

The Wildcats return home for a mid-week contest against UNCG on Wednesday, Feb. 8. Gametime is set for 7 p.m.

GAME NOTES: the Georgia Southern game was the second of five in an 11-day stretch … Murray’s double-figure streak in league play increased to 18 straight games … dating back to last season, Davidson has won 13 of its last 16 SoCon games … the ‘Cats improved to 5-1 in league road games, 6-6 overall … Davidson ran its all-time record to 22-19 vs. Georgia Southern.

De'Mon Brooks puts home two of his 13 points. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Davidson hit a season-high 17 three-point shots and held Chattanooga’s top two scorers to a combined 16 points to pick up its 11th Southern Conference basketball victory of the season Saturday at Belk Arena.

Chris Czerapowicz hit 6 three-pointers and Nik Cochran had 5 to lead the Wildcats. Czerapowicz finished with 21 points, Cochran with 15.

Download the box score – worth a look for this game. (PDF)

De’Mon Brooks had 13 points for Davidson, including 2-2 from the three-point arc, before fouling out with about 5 minutes left. Jake Cohen was the fourth Wildcat in double figures, hitting 11. He also had a game-high 8 rebounds.

Czerapowicz’s six three pointers on 13 attempts tied Cochran’s season high against Samford Jan. 28. The team hit 17 out of 40 three-pointers overall, topping the 12 threes made against Samford.

Jake Cohen puts down a shot at the rim (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

The win lifted Davidson to 11-1 in the Southern Conference, and 17-5 overall. The Mocs dropped to 9-15 overall, and 3-8 in the conference.

The big win as a different story from the two teams’ Jan. 26 meeting in Chattanooga, when the Cats needed a last-second foul shot by Cochran to squeeze out a 64-63 win.

“I’m thrilled with the effort,” coach Bob McKillop said afterward. When Davidson players were double-teamed under the basket, they repeatedly kicked the ball back out to open teammates beyond the arc.

“I thought our guys had the willingness to throw it out, number one, and to make the extra pass,” Coach McKillop said.

Drazen Zlovaric was the only Moc in double figures, with 15 points. Omar Wattad, who averages 13.1 points per game, had just 9 Saturday, while Ricky Taylor (13.0) had only 7.

Davidson dominated the first half, building a 17-point lead by the break, 47-30. The Wildcats made 57 percent of their shots in the first half.

Cochran, Tom Droney, Brooks and Czerapowicz led off the Wildcats’ second-half scoring with a barrage of 3s in the first 8 minutes of the half, extending the Cats’ lead to 24 with 12 minutes left.

Brooks had two threes in the first 3 minutes and Czerapowicz had three threes during the run.

Davidson led by as many as 27 points in the second half.

The Wildcats also were strong at the foul line. Although they only took seven foul shots, they made them all. Jake Cohen was 4 for 4 from the line.

WOFFORD MONDAY

Davidson is back at home on Monday, facing Wofford at 7 p.m. It’s the annual Kicks From Cats night, with a collection of money, shoes and supplies for the Access to Success Foundation (A2S). A2S was started by 2009 Wildcat grad Andrew Lovedale to help needy children in his native Nigeria.

HALL OF FAME DAY

Saturday was Davidson Athletics Hall of Fame Day, with five new members inducted during halftime of the Chattanooga game. Read more about this year’s five inductees, http://davidsonnews.net/sports/2012/02/04/wildcat-hall-of-fame-inducts-5-passes-100-members/

Davidson College Athletics Hall of Fame 2012 inductees will be, from left, Koonce, Lewis, Crawford, Brosche and Frank. (Davidson College photos)

During halftime of the Davidson College men’s basketball game Saturday, the Davidson College Athletics Hall of Fame inducted five alumni to pass the 100 mark for total inductees. The latest class of five are: Mary Shell Brosche Zaffino (Class of 2000, swimming and diving), Ryan Crawford (2001, football), the late Jeff Frank (1966, men’s tennis coach), Philip Koonce (1956, men’s track) and Alan Lewis (1988, baseball).

A Hall of Fame reception was planned after the game at 6:30 p.m. in the Chambers building’s Lilly Family Gallery, followed by a Hall of Fame dinner and program at 7:15 p.m.

With the induction of these five honorees, the total number of Hall of Fame members is now 101, according to Davidson athletics officials. Here’s more about this year’s class:

Mary Shell Brosche Zaffino
Class: 2000
Sport: Swimming and Diving
Home/high school: Anderson, S.C./T.L. Hanna

Mary Shell Brosche was named All-Southern States in all four years of her Davidson swimming career. She earned Southern States Swimmer of the Meet honors in 1999 and 2000, helping the Wildcats to consecutive team titles. Brosche won the 200 IM, 400 IM and 200 back events in both years and at one time, was the school record holder in both the IMs. An extremely versatile swimmer, Brosche remains on four Wildcat Top-10 lists the 100 back (3rd, 58.59, 1997), 200 back (3rd, 2:04.43, 1997), 200 IM (3rd, 2:06.74, 2000) and the 400 IM (3rd, 4:27.38, 2000). She was named the Pat Miller Most Valuable Swimmer and won the Billy Rahy High Point Award for 1996-97. She also was named All-Academic Southern States in 1996-97.

Ryan Crawford
Class: 2001
Sport: Football
Home/high school: Maiden, N.C./Maiden)

A four-year letter man, Crawford was a first-team Associated Press All-America selection in 1999 (one of three in school history) and first-team Football Gazette Mid-Major All-America in 1999 and 2000. He was named Football Gazette I-AA Mid-Major Defensive Back of the Year and I-AA Independent Defensive Player of the Year in 2000. He was named a I-AA Independent All-Star and won four consecutive I-AA Independent Player of the Week honors in 2000. Crawford was the National Special Teams Player of the Week Oct. 7, 2000, after blocking two kicks in a 38-31 overtime win over Morehead State. His six blocked kicks (4 punts, 2 FG) in 2000 was an NCAA record at the time. He led the nation in interceptions with eight in 1999 and is tied for the school record in career interceptions with 17. He owns the school record for career blocked kicks (11) and pass breakups (31). Crawford was a key member of the only undefeated team in school history as the Wildcats went 10-0 in 2000; Davidson was 29-13 during his four-year career.

Jeff Frank (posthumous)
Class: 1966
Sport: men’s tennis coach

Jeff Frank spent 34 years as the men¹s head tennis coach and won more games than any coach in Davidson history in any sport (541-319-1). He was the Southern Conference Coach of the Year five times and compiled 29 winning records in his 34 seasons. He was inducted into the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 1996. He was given the SoCon Distinguished Service Award in 2006, and only former wrestling coach Charlie Parker (40 years) had a longer coaching tenure at Davidson. Frank took over the tennis program in 1973 and led the Cats to a 23-2 record and a SoCon title. The Wildcats logged 20-win seasons under Frank nine times, including four in a row from 1985-88. He was also the Big South Coach of the Year both seasons Davidson competed in that league. Frank passed away in May 2009. (Read his obituary on DavidsonNews.net)

Philip Koonce
Class: 1956
Sport: Track
Home/high school: Tarboro, N.C./Tarboro

An outstanding track & field athlete, Phil Koonce won the 100 yard and 200 yard events at the 1955 Southern Conference Championship. A year later, at the 1956 Southern Conference Championship, Koonce repeated as 100 yard champion and added a title in the long jump. He led his team to an undefeated dual meet record in 1955, and the Wildcats tied for second at the Southern Conference Championship that season. Koonce once ran the 100 yard dash in 9.7 seconds and legend has it, he ran a 22.3 in the 220 yard during his Davidson track career. A three-time winner of Davidson’s William A. Merchant Award as the track team¹s high scorer for the season, Koonce was also selected as the Tommy Peters Award recipient in 1956, given to Davidson’s top senior athlete.

Alan Lewis
Class: 1988
Sport: baseball
Home/high school: Charlotte, N.C./West Charlotte

Two-time All-Southern Conference shortstop, Lewis was one of several sluggers that made up the explosive Davidson baseball offense of the mid-1980s. As a freshman, he set the single-season RBI record with 61 that still stands today. The following season he led the team with a .410 batting average, plus recorded an astounding .534 on-base percentage. Lewis followed up that season by hitting 14 home runs, third all-time at Davidson. Drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers, he signed after his junior season, reaching Double-A in that organization. Lewis later earned his degree in history in 1996 and is currently coaching and teaching.

The 23 points allowed were the least amount scored against Davidson in school history, snapping the 25 scored by Sacred Heart back on Feb. 7, 1974. The Wildcats (14-7, 10-2 SoCon) snapped a three-game road skid at CofC as it picked up 10 league wins for the eighth time in the past nine years.

From tip to finish, the ‘Cats never trailed despite shooting just 26 percent themselves. Laura Murray paced the attack with 13 points, while Barbara Sitton had her second double-digit scoring game with 11 points.

Reigning SoCon Player of the Week and Player of the Month Sophia Aleksandravicius was held to just one point, but did haul in a game-best 10 rebounds to go with a couple of blocks and three steals.

Charleston (6-17, 5-9 SoCon) was led by Latisha Harris with eight points and six rebounds.

The first half saw Davidson race out to a quick 9-0 lead behind a couple of triples from Murray, who had 11 points in the half. The lead would grow to 24-4 going into halftime after a pair of Kristen Johnsen free throws. Johnsen had a nice game of four points, nine rebounds and three assists.

Though the offense was not clicking on all cylinders, the ‘Cats defense was stout and sharp. They held the Cougars to just two field goals on 33 attempts in the first half, including an 0-for-11 start to the game. Davidson forced 10 turnovers in the half and held CofC scoreless until the 13:09 mark, and then shut the Cougars down in the final 10:40 of the first period.

The second half was much the same as Davidson held CofC to just 4-of-27 shooting and forced another 10 turnovers in outscoring the Cougars, 22-19.

Seeing solid minutes off the bench was Mason Jeffries and Mellissa Giegerich, who each played a season-high 17 and five minutes, respectively. Jeffries tallied a pair of points, while Giegerich had a pair of rebounds.

AT GEORGIA SOUTHERN MONDAY

The Wildcats travel to Georgia Southern for a 5 p.m. contest, Feb. 6. They defeated GSU 72-48 earlier this year at home.

GAME NOTES: Murray’s double-figure streak in league play increased to 17 straight games … Aleksandracivius saw her overall double-digit scoring streak come to an end at 13 games … Dating back to last season, Davidson has won 12 of its last 15 SoCon games … the Wildcats have won 12 of the past 15 games overall … Davidson hauled in a season-best 54 rebounds, getting 17 of those on the offensive glass … the ‘Cats improved to 4-1 in league road games, 5-6 overall … Davidson ran its all-time record to 25-9 vs. College of Charleston.

Jake Cohen

Cohen averaged 18.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots per game in a 7-1 month for the Wildcats that propelled them into first place in the SoCon South Division standings. The junior had five consecutive games with 20-plus points and two double-doubles during the month.

He matched a career high with 29 points to go along with 12 rebounds in a win over Georgia Southern and collected 29 points and a career-high 14 rebounds in a victory over College of Charleston. Cohen shot 59 percent from the floor, 50 percent from 3-point range and 88 percent from the free-throw line for the month. He was named SoCon Player of the Week in consecutive weeks, Jan. 10 and 17.

Cohen is second on the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 13.9 points and 6.1 rebounds a game. He is seven rebounds away from becoming the third player in Davidson history to record over 1,000 career points, 500 rebounds and 100 blocked shots, joining Jamie Hall ‘82 and Detlef Musch ‘93 (Davidson began tracking blocks as a stat in the 1976-77 season).

Davidson returns to action Saturday as the Wildcats hosts Chattanooga at 4 p.m. in Belk Arena.

Sophia Aleksandravicius

Davidson College’s Sophia Aleksandravicius was named the Southern Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Month on Friday, the second time this season the junior star has won the honor.

Aleksandravicius also was the league’s first player of the month back when the season opened in November. She also was league’s weekly Player of the Week for games from Jan. 24-30.

The 6-foot-4 forward led the Wildcats to a 6-2 month by averaging a double-double on 15.3 points and 11 rebounds in eight games. She scored in double figures in all eight games, with six double-doubles and two games of 20-plus points.

Defensively, Aleksandravicius blocked 41 shots during the month (5.1 per game), which included two games of seven blocks and a new school record nine blocks in the final game of the month. In addition, she hauled in 69 defensive rebounds, three times pulling in 10 or more, including a career-best 17 at Appalachian State, Jan. 15.

She started the month off with a double-double, scoring a season-high 23 points to go with 10 rebounds in a home win vs. Elon. The junior capped off her three-game run of double-doubles with a monster contest at Appalachian State. In that game, Aleksandravicius registered 17 points, a career-high 20 rebounds and swatted away seven shots in a 55-52 win. She had a double-double alone in the second half (13 points/12 rebounds) when Davidson erased a halftime deficit to send the Mountaineers to their first league defeat.

The junior closed out the month with another milestone, nearly getting the program’s first triple-double in a home win vs. Furman, Jan. 30. Aleksandravicius tallied game highs of 20 points, 11 rebounds and blocked a new school record nine shots, breaking her own mark of seven. The nine blocks were also tied for the second-most in a single SoCon game, while she tied her season-best with 10 field goals on 10-of-15 shooting.

The six double-doubles for the month pushed her total to nine on the campaign and 28 for her career.

Earlier this year she became Davidson’s 15th player to eclipse the 1,000-point mark and currently sits in seventh all-time with 1,153 points. She is also climbing the rebounding charts, sitting in fifth place with 698 career boards. She already holds the school mark in career blocks with 212 and counting.

ROAD TRIP THIS WEEKEND

The Wildcats hit the road for a pair of contests to start February. They will play at College of Charleston on Saturday, Feb. 4, and then travel to Georgia Southern, Feb. 6. Davidson won both of the first meetings this year against the Cougars and Eagles.

JP Kuhlman

Kuhlman, a native of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., has started all 21 Davidson games this season and is averaging 11.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists a game for the 16-5 Wildcats.

The junior and three-year starter reached the career 1,000-point mark earlier this season, in the Wildcats’ game at Appalachian State, and now has 1,060 career points, 309 rebounds, 261 steals and 86 steals in 85 contests.

Kuhlman carries a 3.80 grade point average in religion and plans to go to medical school after he graduates. He was a Preseason All-SoCon selection this year and has been named to the Cousy Award Watch List (nation’s best point guard).

Davidson returns to action Saturday as the Wildcats hosts Chattanooga at 4 p.m. in Belk Arena.