McGill Leads UDC to, 55-51, Win Over Puerto Rico Piedras

San Juan, Puerto Rico: January 5, 2010-- The University of the District of Columbia Firebirds Women's Basketball Team defeated the University of Puerto Rico -Rio Piedras, 55-51, in the first round of the Puerto Rico Classic in San Juan, Puerto Rico, today. Junior center Lillian McGill (Sumter, SC) paced the Firebirds to the win with her 9th double double of the season, scoring 18 points and grabbing 16 rebounds.

Sophomore forward Stacy Griffith (Fredericksburg, VA) recorded the first double double of her career, scoring 13 points and collecting 10 rebounds. Senior guard Tamara Watkins (Penns Grove, NJ) added 8 points and 5 rebounds. With this win, UDC improved to 5-10 for the season.

Sonia Roman scored a game-high 21 points and grabbed 2 rebounds for Puerto Rico, and  Shakira Rodriquez followed with 14 points and 3 rebounds .  Yessina Tosado added 11 points and 3 rebounds.

UDC went in to the break with a 32-28 lead on 42 percent (15 for 35) field goal shooting, and 33 percent (2 for 6) shooting from the charity stripe.  They were  0 for 7 from three-point range.

Puerto Rico shot 38 percent (9 for 24) from field goal range, 33 percent ( 5 for 15) from beyond the arc and 56 percent ( 5 for 9) from the free-throw line.

The Firebirds shot 39 percent ( 24-61) in two-point field goals for the game, 10 percent ( 1 for 10) from beyond the arc, and 46 percent (6 for 13) from the charity stripe. Puerto Rico shot 43 percent (18 for 43) from field goal range, 31 percent (8 for 26) from three-point range and  converted 58 percent (7 of 12) from the charity stripe.

 UDC continues play in the Classic on Thursday, January 7, at 1 p.m., in the second round against AU-Puerto Rico.