Spartans Drop Home Opener to Lady Reds

AURORA, Ill. November 17, 2008 - In their opening game of the year, the Aurora University Spartan women’s basketball team was unable to overcome 28 turnovers against the visiting Carthage College Lady Reds in AU’s Thornton Gymnasium, falling 55-49.

The Spartans and the Lady Reds battled throughout the turnover stricken contest, in which both team combined for 49 turnovers.

In the first half AU sophomore guard Jessica Mason was three-for-five the field and one-of-two from three-point range, followed by senior captains Meagan Re and Kim Voiles who each had six points.

Carthage was led by senior forward Katie Jarger and freshman guard Dani Ripkey each with 10 points in the first half.

At the end of the half, the Lady Reds led the Spartans 28-24 despite AU out-shooting the Lady Reds 36 percent (9-of-25) to 33.3 percent (11-of-33) from the field.

The second half saw much of the same with both teams fighting the turnover battle and neither team trailing by more than six (the final point difference).

Carthage would be led by Jarger’s 18 points and nine rebounds, Ripkey and junior forward Rosie Dorn each added 10 points, with Dorn grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out five assists.

Mason posted 16 points and was six-of-nine from the field for AU. Re added 12 points and four steals while Voiles had eight points and eight rebounds.

With the loss, AU falls to 0-1 and Carthage is 1-0 on the young season.