Jan. 23, 2002
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (www.lafayette.edu) - Courtney Davidson made a pair of free throws with eight seconds remaining and Navy survived a pair of Lafayette shots to defeat the Leopards, 56-55, Wednesday evening in Alumni Hall.
Lafayette (2-16, 0-5 Patriot League) outshot -- 46.7-32 percent -- and outrebounded Navy -- 25-12-- in the first half to take a slim 30-26 lead at the break.
Davidson scored nine of Navy's (9-9, 1-4) first 13 points after intermission as Navy took a 39-38 lead with 13:53 to play in the game. Lafayette regained the lead on two Lindsay Myers free throws and another foul shot from Liz Rojahn to take a 41-39 advantage. The Leopards eventaully took their largest lead of the second half at 50-45 on a free throw from Elicia Kruise with just 4:43 remaining.
Navy scored five straight points to knot the game for the eighth time in the second half at 50-50 on a three-pointer from Davidson and a layup from Adrienne Roseti with 3:22 to play. A Rojahn three-point play would give Lafayette a three-point lead with 1:55 left in the game, but Roseti cut the Navy deficit back to one point on a pair of free throws just 20 seconds later.
Rojahn returned the lead to three on two free throws with 80 seconds to play. Navy's Bryanna Herring then sank a pair of free throws cut the deficit to 55-54.
Navy pressed the Leopards and forced a travelling violation with 23 seconds to play. Navy then put the ball in the hands of Davidson, who missed a field goal but Navy retained possession as Lafayette knocked the ball out of bounds with 13 seconds to play. Davidson's number was again called, and she was fouled while driving to the basket with eight seconds to play. Davidson, who ranks third in the nation with a free throw percentage of 92.2 percent, calmly sank both free throws to give Navy its second lead of the second half at 56-55.
Lafayette pushed the ball down the court and with time running out, Myers' shot fell short, but she and Davidson both grabbed the rebound to force a jump ball with 1.5 second on the clock, after which Lafayette retained possession. The Leopards inbounded to Kim Costello, who attempted a desperation shot at the buzzer that went wide.
After shooting nearly 50 percent from the field in the first half, Navy held the Leopards to just 28-percent shooting in the second half. Lafayette outrebounded Navy in the game, 45-37, but Navy forced 22 Lafayette turnovers while committing only 16.
Lafayette was led by Colleen Fitzpatrick who scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
The Leopards return to action on Saturday at Kirby Sports Center against Colgate in a 1 p.m. tip-off. Tickets are still available and can be purchased right here at GoLeopards.com or by calling the Lafayette ticket office at 610-330-5471.
