Feb. 25, 2006
Box Score
EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Lafayette's seniors put on a show in their final game at Kirby Sports Center. The trio combined for 39 points, leading the Leopards to a 73-66 victory over American in the final regular season game on Saturday afternoon.
Senior guard Kristin Doherty drained a pair of from the line with half a minute to play, capping a solid 18-point effort. She also grabbed five rebounds and drilled a game-high four three-pointers. Senior guard Katie Kokolus turned in a season-high 13 points on the afternoon, while junior guard Kara Stetler poured in all of her 11 points in the second half.
Senior guard Lindsay Myers kick-started Lafayette in the first half, as she tallied seven points and six boards before the break. The Leopards pounced on American early, racing to a 7-0 lead on a Doherty triple just two minutes in.
American used an 11-7 run midway through the first, deadlocking the game at 21 all with 8:20 remaining. Over the next eight minutes, Lafayette maintained control, never allowing American to take the lead. With 35 seconds on the clock, Doherty banked a floater off the glass, giving the Leopards a 41-31 advantage. American scored on the other end, making it 41-33 at the break.
The Leopards came out gunning early in the second, establishing a 48-36 lead on another Doherty bucket with 14:54 remaining. The Leopards held off an American threat over the ensuing five minutes, but the Eagles then rattled off nine straight points to slice the deficit to 55-54 on a free throw from Sahara Nusseibeh with 6:14 on the clock.
The teams traded baskets over the next five minutes, but American was never able to get over the hump. Lafayette held a 65-63 edge with a minute to go and sealed the win at the free throw line. Doherty and Stetler each registered a pair, while Kokolus converted the front end.
The Leopards shot 52 percent (24-of-46) on the afternoon, while holding American to just 31 percent (18-of-59) from the floor.
Lafayette (8-19, PL 3-11) has closed out its home slate with a win in each of the last four years. Today's victory avenged a one-point, 75-74 loss at American (7-20, PL 4-10) on Jan. 28.
No. 1 seeded Army awaits No. 8 seeded Lafayette in the opening round of the Patriot League Tournament next Thursday at 8 p.m. The Black Knights claimed the regular-season title, securing their home court as one of two host sights around the league.
