Jan. 25, 2007
Box Score | Photo Gallery 
EASTON, Pa. - Senior guard Kara Stetler shot 7-of-8 from the floor to lead four Lafayette players in double figures, but the Leopards could not stop a hot Columbia team in a 74-66 setback in non-league women's basketball action on Thursday night at Kirby Sports Center.
For the second straight game, Lafayette (4-17) and Columbia (4-13) were tied at 32-all at the half, but the Lions proceeded to score 11 of the first 13 points of the second half to give Columbia a 49-40 lead at the 13:33 mark. Columbia's Brittney Carfora, who finished with a career-high 24 points, sparked the Lions with three triples during the stretch.
Columbia led by as many as 11 (51-40) two possessions later and never allowed the Leopards to cut the deficit to under five the rest of the way.
With just under four minutes to play, Stetler speared a long offensive board and pulled up for her fourth three of the game, cutting the Lions' lead to 66-61 with 3:33 to play. Columbia's Megan Griffith answered with a three of her own and Shasta Henderson's layin 30 second later pushed the lead back to 71-61 with 2:17 remaining.
The teams traded baskets to start the game, as Columbia took its first lead (15-14) just 5:34 into the action. Sophomore Jessica Spicer's three with 12:08 on the clock jumpstarted an 11-1 run to give Lafayette its largest lead of the game (23-16) at the 7:39 mark. Junior forward Brittany Purr scored four points to highlight the stretch. Columbia proceeded to close the half riding a 16-7 run to even the score at intermission.
Lafayette shot 47 percent (24-of-51) from the floor, while Columbia made 53 percent (25-of-47) of its shots. Led by Emily Garner's 10, Lafayette out-rebounded the Lions by a 33-21 margin.
Stetler buried all four of her shots from behind the arc to pace Lafayette for the second straight game, while Garner (17 points) notched her fourth double-double of the season. Spicer and Purr rounded out the bulk of Lafayette's offense with 15 and 11 points, respectively.
Lafayette is set to play its third game in five days when Patriot League play resumes on Saturday, as the Leopards host American at 6 p.m.
Game Notes:
-Lafayette shot 80 percent (12-of-15) from the free throw line. The Leopards have hit that mark in each of the last three games.
-Jessica Spicer played limited time in the second half after picking up her fourth foul just 2:32 into the second stanza.
-Kara Stetler has averaged 14 points a game in the Leopards' last two outings. She had 11 on Tuesday against Army.
-Lafayette was plagued by 22 turnovers on the night, while Columbia had 14 miscues.
