Jan. 11, 2003
HAMILTON, N.Y. (www.lafayette.edu) - Five Lafayette players scored in double-figures as the Leopards exploded for a season-high point total in Saturday's 89-80 Patriot League opening win against Colgate.
It is the first win in a conference opener for the Leopards since the 2000 season when Lafayette defeated Navy 52-50, and it was the most points scored by Lafayette since a 97-63 win over Darthmouth in 1986.
Lafayette and Colgate battled evenly as the first ten minutes of the game featured nine lead changes and two ties. Emily Braseth helped the Raiders to an early lead with two straight layups, making the score 19-15 with 10:17 left in the half.
It then started raining threes, as Katie Kokolus and Kim Costello each hit from behind the arc for Lafayette and Meghan Curtin drained two trifectas for the Raiders, helping Colgate cling to a 25-21 lead at 9:20.
With Lafayette trailing 30-28 at 6:24, the Leopards closed the half with a 20-9 spurt - including a 19-1 stretch - keyed by Brittney Rothweiler's 10 points. Tricia Indoe forced three turnovers and scored two points and Colleen Fitzpatrick added four points during the stretch. Lafayette shot 60.7 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes.
The Leopard defense was also strong during the run, holding Colgate to just three field goals over the last nine minutes of the first half to take a 48-39 lead into the locker room. Lafayette also outrebounded the Raiders in the opening session by a 18-14 margin.
Colgate turned up the intensity to start the second half, working for layups underneath and using a three-pointer by Curtin to trim the deficit to 53-49 at 17:33. Lafayette regrouped during a timeout and used baskets by Costello and Indoe to help rebuild its lead to 60-50 with 15:07 left.
The Raiders threatened again only minutes later after seven straight points by Braseth that made the score, 60-56. Again, Lafayette had an answer as Rothweiler and Ashley MacLelland connected on one-and-ones at the free throw line, putting the Leopards ahead, 64-56 at 12:19. Both MacLelland and Rothweiler made big contributions all game for the Leopards. MacLelland finished with a season-high 13 points, and a career-high nine rebounds. Rothweiler finished with a career-high 12 points, including 6-for-6 from the foul line.
Colgate continued to play tenacious basketball, as Braseth and Devon Warwick helped bring the Raiders to within three at 71-68. With the Leopards reeling, Fitzpatrick muscled her way into position for two layups that ended Colgate's run to put Lafayette up 77-71 at 3:57. Jen Bayer added four points to stretch the advantage to 81-73 with 1:07 left to play.
A three-point play by Braseth and a layup by Alison Hanson allowed Colgate to creep to within five, 83-78. But, then Costello added a free throw and Bayer grabbed a key rebound as Lafayette clung to an 84-78 lead with 38.3 seconds remaining and hung on for the victory.
Costello scored a season-high 13 points, Rojahn added 13 and Fitzpatrick chipped in 12 points and five rebounds in the win. Lafayette finished the game at 52.0 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from behind the arc, both season-highs.
Braseth led the Raiders on the offensive end with a career-high 26 points to go along four rebounds. Fuller and Curtin each added 10 points.
Lafayette plays its second straight road game at conference foe Army on Tuesday at 7 p.m. before returning home to take on Holy Cross on Saturday.