Jan. 16, 2000

Box Score

EASTON, PA - Lafayette women's basketball raced out to a 34-20 half-time lead, then survived a valiant Navy comeback effort to preserve a 52-50 win in the Leopards' Patriot League opener.

With Lafayette leading by two at the end of the game, Navy had a chance to tie the game and send it to overtime. The Midshipmen had the ball under the basket with 12 seconds remaining, but Sherry Vestal stole an errant pass and took it the length of the court, missing a layup, but wasting enough time that Navy couldn't get a good look at the basket with its last second heave attempt.

Lafayette held the visiting Mids to just 29 percent shooting in the first half, and Jen Bayer scored eight points, to hold a 34-20 lead heading into the locker room. Navy, however, responded with a new lineup. The new five stormed out of the break with a 14-2 run that put them just two points behind. Navy's Chrissy Vallely played a major part in the comeback, draining 10 second half points.

Trailing 50-42 with just over five minutes remaining, the Mids again jumped on the comeback trailing, producing an 8-0 run that tied the contest for the first time since 4-4. Vestal, scoring a career-high seven points, responded with a 16-foot jumper from the corner of the key that proved to be the game winner.

Navy's Erica Hayes led all scorers with 16 points. For Lafayette, Bayer scored 14 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for her fourth double-double in five games, while senior co-captain Sara Harris scored a season-high 12 points.

The Leopards improve to 3-11, 1-0 in Patriot League play, while Navy falls to 2-11, 0-2 in league play.

Lafayette continues their Patriot League slate as they travel to Holy Cross on Tuesday, Jan. 18 for a 7:00 p.m. start.