Feb. 23, 2003

Box Score?|? Photo Gallery

EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - There is nothing more beloved on College Hill than a victory over archrival Lehigh on the hardwood. On Sunday afternoon, in front of a season-high 1500 fans that were hanging on the edge of their seats for 40 minutes, the Lafayette women's basketball team delivered a thrilling and cathartic 72-71 victory.

On senior day, graduating point guard Kim Costello drove baseline, rose above the Lehigh defenders and found teammate Colleen Fitzpatrick perched on the block for the winning bucket with 0.1 seconds remaining.

After the Mountain Hawks (12-12, 9-3) failed to get a shot attempt before time expired the Leopards (3-22, 2-10) jumped for joy at center court, as Lafayette head coach Tammy Smith notched the biggest win of her two-year tenure.

Both teams got off to solid starts, and Lehigh's Anne Tierney knotted the score at 12-12 with a three-point field goal early on.

The two teams continued to trade baskets before an inspired Lafayette team caught fire on the offensive end. Liz Rojahn and Kirstin Doherty both connected on a pair of free throws, and Ashley MacLelland, Costello and Fitzpatrick all contributed to a 12-3 Lafayette run and a 29-20 lead.

The Mountain Hawks answered with a three by Carli Toliver and layup by Jenny Callan, but the Leopards continued their aggressive play and regained control with a 35-25 lead with 2:24 before intermission.

The Leopards remained aggressive throughout the opening stanza, moving the ball better than they have all season, and also hurt Lehigh at the foul line. Lafayette connected on 9-for-11 from the charity stripe and took advantage of the Mountain Hawk's foul trouble. Lehigh's All-Patriot League center Anne Tierney picked up two first-half fouls and the entire Mountain Hawk starting front line had two fouls apiece.

The Leopards, who managed only 40 points in their first meeting against Lehigh, finished the half shooting 51.7 percent from the floor and took a 39-30 advantage into intermission.

The intensity and high quality play continued on both ends of the floor in the second half. Lehigh slowly cut into the Lafayette lead on the strength of forward Jessica DePalo's 14 second-half points. A DePalo offensive board and layup reversed the tide and gave the Mountain Hawks a 51-50 lead at the 11:32 mark. DePalo canned a jumper the next time down the floor for a 54-51 Lehigh lead tying its largest advantage of the game.

A poised Lafayette team looked to its senior leaders and Fitzpatrick to regain control, and they responded. Fitzpatrick cut into Lehigh's lead with a layup, and Costello buried a long distance three for a 56-54 Lafayette advantage. The Mountain Hawk lead was short lived, and Fitzpatrick hit another short jumper, and Rojahn buried a pair of free throws to push the Lafayette advantage to 60-54 with 8:44 on the clock.

Like Lafayette, Lehigh refused to give in, and the Mountain Hawks chipped away at the Leopards' lead. Dawn Gorynski halted Lafayette's run with a slashing layup. She then scored a three-point play and hit a three-point field goal for a 65-64 Lehigh lead.

Rojahn settled the Leopards with a short jumper, and Fitzpatrick connected on a two free throws and a layup inside for a 70-67 advantage with only 3:06 to play.

The Leopards would not score again until Fitzpatrick's game winner. DePalo converted a driving layup to bring the Mountain Hawks to within 70-69, and she hit another to give Lehigh a 71-70 lead with 1:57 remaining.

After a media timeout MacLelland came up short on a three-point attempt, and after the Mountain Hawks turned the ball over Rojahn failed to connect.

Lehigh worked the clock down to 17 seconds before Toliver rimmed a shot with the shot clock winding down. MacLelland corralled the rebound, and the Leopards called timeout with possession and eight ticks remaining.

After the timeout Costello took the inbounds and penetrated the right baseline looking for an opening. She was cut off under the hoop and jumped to find Fitzpatrick with position under the basket. Costello's pass was picture perfect, and Fitzpatrick converted for her game-high 25th point.

Fitzpatrick, who uses the glass to her advantage on the offensive end better than anyone in the Patriot League, finished 9-for-10 from the field and 7-for-8 from the line. Doherty added 15 points, including 9-for-10 from the line, and Rojahn added 14 points. MacLelland finished with a career-high 11 rebounds, and Costello chipped in nine points to go along with her two assists.

After their most exciting weekend in recent memory the women's basketball team travels to Navy on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.