Lillian McGill,senior captain, Division II All-Independent First Team member and two-time ICAA Player of the Year
Lillian McGill,senior captain, Division II All-Independent First Team member and two-time ICAA Player of the Year

McGill Records 12th Double Double of Season in, 83-55, loss to Tusculum

 Greeneville, TN: January 12, 2010-Junior center Lillian McGill (Sumter, SC) recorded her 12th double double of the season as the University of the District of Columbia Firebirds Women's Basketball Team fell to the Tusculum College Pioneers, 83-55, tonight in Greeneville, Tennessee. Trailing by only 6 points at the half time break, the Firebirds were confronted with adjustments made by the Pioneers in the second half that gave them the 28 margin victory.

Jasmine Gunn powered the Pioneers to the win with a triple double double, the first in the school's history, scoring a game-high 22 points, grabbing 10 boards and giving 11 assists. Joining her in double figures were Staci Hicks with 13 points, 6 rebounds, Brittni Oliver 12 points, and Jasmine Parker with 10 points and 4 rebounds.

McGill's 11 first half points kept the game close for the Firebirds as the period ended with them trailing 37-31 on 40 percent (12 for 30) shooting. Tusculum went into the break shooting 50 percent (14 for 28) and a perfect 6 of 6 (100 percent) from the charity stripe to UDC's 75 percent (3 for 4).

Gunn caught on fire in the second half, scoring 14 of her 22 points and grabbing 7 of her 10 rebounds as she could not be stopped. Junior guard Tiffany Church (Norfolk, VA) tried to keep pace with Gunn, scoring 11 of her 17 points in the half. It would not be enough as Tusculum made run after run and many defensive stops to limit the UDC scoring to 35 percent (20 for 58) for the game while they shot 53 percent ( 30 for 57).

McGill's 18 point, 12 rebound performance led the Firebird scoring. She and Church were the only two Firebirds in double figures as Church scored 17 points and pulled down 7 boards.

Tusculum out rebounded UDC 44 to 30 and scored more points in the paint (26 to18). The Pioneers also had an advantage in second chance points converting 15 to the Firebirds' 6.  Tusculum's bench outscored the UDC bench 19 to 10.

 UDC (7-11) will stay over in the state to take on King College on January 14, in Bristol, Tennessee.