Nov. 12, 2006
Box Score
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, N.Y. (www.lafayette.edu) - Sophomore forward Emily Garner enjoyed her second career double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds), but it was not enough to compensate for Lafayette's second-half struggles in the free throw and turnover columns, as St. Francis (N.Y.) took a 61-48 decision in the season-opener for both teams on Sunday afternoon on Peter Aquilone Court.
Following a back-and-forth first half, the teams were tied at 30-all at the break and continued to exchange points over the first six possessions of the second period. A layup from junior forward Brittany Purr tied the game at 36-36 at the 16:43 mark, but it was the Terriers responding with six unanswered points over the next 2:31 to stake a 43-36 advantage.
Lafayette trimmed the deficit back down to two, 45-43, on a running one-hander from Garner with 9:03 on the clock. Garner sparked the Leopards' offense, surrounding one of her seven boards of the half with a pair of buckets in 45 seconds leading up to the drive. St. Francis halted the rally, however, pushing the lead back to nine, 53-44, over the next 5:45 to put the game away. Kara Ayers converted five free throws in the final minute-plus to seal the win.
The opening half featured six ties and four lead changes, while Lafayette gained a five-point lead on three occasions midway through the half. Sophomore Jessica Spicer picked the Terriers' Tiffany Hill and finished the job with an easy layin to put her team up, 22-17 with 7:41 remaining. However, the advantage didn't last long, as St. Francis scored 10 of the next 15 points to tie the game at 27-all with 1:43 left. Following a St. Francis free throw, Lafayette senior guard Kara Stetler buried a three from the right wing to make it 30-28, but Kendra Williams' layup with 44 ticks on the clock locked the teams at 30-30 heading into the locker room.
After shooting 47 percent (14-of-30) in the first half, Lafayette finished the game at 36 percent (20-of-56) from the field. St. Francis shot 37 percent (19-of-51) on the afternoon.
Stetler matched Garner's team-high 10 points and also came away with a career-high five steals. Lafayette harassed St. Francis into 13 takeaways overall, as junior Val Gomez and sophomores Cristin Zavocki and Jessica Spicer each had a pair. Spicer finished the afternoon with six points, while junior Vanessa Van De Venter managed nine.
The Leopards forced 19 Terrier turnovers, but committed 21 of their own. Lafayette struggled all day from the charity stripe, converting just 5-of-13 from the line, while St. Francis hit 19-of-26.
Lafayette remains on the road for its second straight game against a Northeast Conference opponent. The Leopards travel to Emmitsburg, Md. to take on Mount St. Mary's on Wednesday night at 7 p.m.
Game Notes:
-Lafayette's 13 steals were the most since since a Jan. 28, 2005 meeting at Holy Cross.
-The Leopards assisted on 12 of their 20 field goals, led by Brittany Purr's three.
-Head coach Tammy Smith went nine-deep with all players scoring at least one point. Freshmen Danielle Jenkins and Amanda Smith clocked their first collegiate minutes.
