Jan. 16, 2007

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EASTON, Pa. - Lafayette used a 24-6 run over the final nine minutes of the game to upend a Bucknell team that came into Kirby Sports Center Tuesday night as one of two undefeated clubs in the league. Vanessa Van De Venter (22 points), Emily Garner (16 points) and Jessica Spicer (16 points) combined to net nearly 80 percent of the Leopards' offense in a 68-63 upset over the Bison.

"We never gave up and that's what we tell our kids everyday in practice," said head coach Tammy Smith in the post-game show. "It was an outstanding effort on everyone's part. We did a great job defensively...and got stops when we needed to."

Spicer drained a key three-ball with under five seconds on the shot clock to pull Lafayette within five, 61-56, with 3:45 to play. The teams traded buckets over the ensuing two minutes before a staunch Lafayette defense took over, holding Bucknell scoreless while forcing six Bison turnovers in the final 2:20 to seal the win. With 1:08 to play, Garner converted a traditional three-point play following a layin through traffic to knot the score at 63-all.

Garner hit two more from the stripe with 38 seconds on the clock to give the Leopards their first lead since midway through the first half, 65-63. Garner hit 3-of-4 free throws, while Spicer converted both of hers to seal the Leopards' second straight win at Kirby Sports Center.

After a back-and-forth start to the game, Bucknell (11-8, 3-1) controlled most of the action and led by as many as 16 points just two minutes into the second half. However, a resilient Lafayette (4-14, 2-2) team was not about to give up. The Leopards chipped away at the deficit, trimming the lead to eight on two occasions over next four minutes before Bucknell went back up 13 (57-44) at the 8:57 mark.

Lafayette finished the night shooting 42 percent (21-of-50) from the floor, while matching a season-high 88 percent (23-of-26) of its free throws. Led by Amanda Brown's 18 points, which included 13 before the break, Bucknell shot 47 percent (23-of-49) from the field and 59 percent (10-of-17) from the free throw line.

Van De Venter scored Lafayette's first three baskets of the game and rolled on to a season-high, 22-point performance to lead all scorers. The 6-0 junior also hauled down a team-high seven boards, as the Leopards out-rebounded Bucknell by a 33-28 margin. Garner picked up where Van De Venter left off, netting six of her 16 points in the final minute. Spicer scored 11 points after the break to go with a career-high six assists and six steals.

Junior guard Maureen Johnson came off the bench and was one off a career-high with five rebounds, while Garner added four.

The Leopards remain in the Lehigh Valley, but travel to Bethlehem, Pa. for a 5 p.m. clash with Lehigh on Saturday at Stabler Arena.

Game Notes:

-Lafayette enters the weekend tied with Navy and American at 2-2 in the middle of the Patriot League pack.
-Bucknell's Lindsey Hollobaugh went down with under 12 minutes to go after crashing into the scorers' table. The senior guard was one of three scorers in double-figures with 10 points.
-Junior Vanessa Van De Venter has led Lafayette in scoring in the last three outings and scored in the twenties for the second time this season. -Lafayette held Bucknell to just 22 second-half points, marking the fewest points the Leopards have allowed an opponent all season.
-After sweeping the season series versus Bucknell in 2005, Lafayette dropped both games last season. The Leopards' win on Tuesday night pushed Lafayette ahead 32-26 in the all-time series.