Dec. 7, 2006

Photo Gallery vs. Penn

Box Score

EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Lafayette held a seven-point lead with two minutes to play, but the Leopards let Penn back in the door with three pivotal turnovers as the Quakers rallied for a 78-74 win in women's basketball action on Thursday night at Kirby Sports Center.

Despite a career-high 16 points from sophomore guard Jessica Spicer, it was a heartbreaker for Lafayette (2-6), which held the largest lead to the game at 45-35 with 13:05 remaining, but could not hold on for its second win over Penn (3-3) in as many years.

Senior forward Monica Naltner was a major factor in the Leopards' fate, as she poured in 30 points in the second half en route to a career-high 37 points on the night for the Quakers. Naltner's three-pointer with 1:31 on the clock tied the game at 68-all, while Kelly Scott's layin with a minute to play gave Penn its first lead since a 29-27 advantage at the half. Penn sank all eight of its free throws in the final 53 seconds to seal the win.

Penn led for the majority of the first half, but Lafayette never let the game get out of reach by keeping the deficit in single digits before taking its first lead of the night, 25-24, on an old fashioned three-point play from junior forward Vanessa Van De Venter with 3:18 to go. The teams exchanged buckets over the ensuing four possessions, but a pair of free throws for Penn's Caitlin Slover gave her team a 29-27 edge at intermission.

Lafayette head coach Tammy Smith could not have asked for a better start to the second half, as her team used a 16-6 surge to cruise ahead 45-35 at the 13-minute mark. The Leopards scored on six straight possessions during the stretch, which included a pair of triples from Spicer and senior guard Kara Stetler. Freshman center Amanda Smith's layin on a Spicer dish capped the Lafayette run.

Penn cut the lead to two on five separate occasions and tied the game twice over the next 11 minutes before taking over in the final two minutes.

Spicer put together her fourth double-digit night with 18 points, while Lafayette put five players in double figures for the second straight game. Van De Venter managed 16 points, while classmate Val Gomez put together an 11-point effort for her second straight game in double figures. Stetler and sophomore forward Emily Garner had 10 points apiece. Garner and Spicer pulled down a team-high six rebounds, as the Leopards won the battle of the boards, 28-26.

Lafayette shot 53 percent (28-of-53), including 65 percent (17-of-26) in the second half. The Leopards committed just 11 turnovers in the game, which marked a season-low by ten.

Penn's Joey Rhoads, who scored 14 of the team's first 17 points, finished the game with 25 points and six assists.

The Leopards have a quick two-day turnaround to prepare for a battle with Morgan State on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. on the Kirby Sports Center court.

Game Notes:

-Penn's win in the 32nd game between the two programs tied the all-time series at 16-16.
-Both teams finished with 15 assists, while Lafayette had seven steals to Penn's three.
-Lafayette outscored Penn by a 20-11 margin in the paint.
-Jessica Spicer tied a career-high in rebounds (six) and assists (5) and played all but two minutes for the Maroon and White.