Nov. 29, 2000

Box Score

Audio from Postgame Press Conference

• Lafayette Coach Pat Fisher
• Freshman Forward Colleen Fitzpatrick

EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - The Lafayette women's basketball team's quest for three-straight wins was shattered by Fairleigh Dickinson on Wednesday at the Allan P. Kirby Sports Center, as the Knights fought their way back from an 11-point second half deficit for the 57-52 win. Lafayette lost its first home game of the season while handing the Knights their first win of the year.

Lafayette (2-4) looked as if they could repeat the heroics of their closing-second victory over Sacred Heart two days ago as the Leopards cut a 52-44 Knight lead to 52-47 off of two free throws by Jennifer Bayer with 1:49 remaining. A Lafayette steal and a three-pointer by sophomore Kim Costello cut the FDU advantage to just two points, 52-50, with one minute remaining.

On the Knights' ensuing possession, Jennifer Kozlowski was sent to the free throw line on a foul called on Lafayette freshman guard Megan Haughey, and the Knights upped their lead to 54-50 with 25 seconds remaining. A basket by Jennifer Bayer with 8.0 remaining put the Leopards within two but Karen Tidemann was fouled by Bayer on her made layup and she nailed the extra point attempt for the final 57-52 margin of victory.

Fairleigh Dickinson jumped out to a 5-0 lead over Lafayette from the tip and did not trail until the Leopards took a 19-17 lead on a field goal by Costello with four minutes remaining before halftime. The lead changed hands twice more before a free throw by Jennifer Bayer with :23 remaining gave Lafayette a 22-21 lead going into the locker room.

The Leopards came out of halftime to go up 32-21 just three minutes into the half but the Knights whittled away at the lead and pulled within two with a steal and layup by Kozlowski with 12:42 remaining. FDU went up for good on a basket by Tidemann with 10:05 remaining and that began the Leopard slide.

Leading all scorers in the contest was Lafayette sophomore Bayer with 19 points to go along with seven rebounds. Freshman Colleen Fitzpatrick managed nine points, six of which came in the first half. Christel Rocha, who scored 22 points in the Lafayette win over Sacred Heart on Monday, was held to only six points on the night.

Three Knights scored in double-digits as Melanie Prol recorded her first double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 boards. Tidemann finished with 15 points and Kozlowski recorded 10 in the team's first victory of the season.

Lafayette has a week off before returning to action Dec. 6 versus Princeton in the first game of a Lafayette basketball double-header at the Allan P. Kirby Sports Center. The women's game is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. with the men's game to follow.