Feb. 24, 2007
Box Score
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Lafayette's Patriot League tournament fate will not be determined until all of Saturday's conference games are completed, but the Leopards limited their options with a 60-46 loss at American in women's basketball action on Senior Day at Bender Arena.
Three quick buckets from Kara Stetler, Cristin Zavocki and Brittany Purr, all wide open underneath, trimmed the deficit to five (30-25) just four minutes into the second half. However, the Eagles (11-18, 6-8) countered with a 15-6 run over the next eight minutes, extending the lead to 45-31 with 8:01 to go.
Less than two minutes later, Stetler and Zavocki buried back-to-back triples from the right baseline, pulling Lafayette (7-22, 5-9) back within 10 (47-37) with 6:14 on the clock. The Leopards kept the game within reach for the better part of the next four minutes, but struggled to make defensive stops to complement late offensive sparks. With time running out, Lafayette was forced to foul, which extended the final deficit to 14 (60-46).
Both teams opened the game cold, as Lafayette went scoreless over the first 4:08 when sophomore forward Emily Garner's free throw put the Leopards on the board. Junior forward Vanessa Van De Venter netted the team's first field goal six minutes later (9:48), but the Eagles' hot long range shooting spelled trouble for the Leopards. American shot 6-of-11 (55 percent) from three-point range, while the Leopards did not make any of their five first-half attempts.
Trailing 13-5, Stetler took a pretty behind-the-back pass from Zavocki to make it 13-7, giving a sizable Lafayette crowd something to cheer about. American continued to heat up and held a 28-19 lead at the half.
Lafayette shot 37 percent (17-of-46) from the field, but was hurt by a 2-for-13 afternoon from three-point range. The Eagles finished the afternoon shooting 40 percent (21-of-53) and 47 percent (7-of-15) from behind the arc.
Stetler paced Lafayette with 11 points, eight of which came in the second half, while Zavocki finished with 10. Three other Lafayette players finished with seven points apiece. Garner was one off of her career high with a game-high 11 boards.
Stetler and sophomore guard Jessica Spicer both marked the Patriot League's third leading scorer in Liz Hayes. The Easton, Pa. native scored 10 first-half points, while the Leopards held her scoreless after the break. Senior Abby Lipskis finished with eight points, all in the second half.
The Patriot League quarterfinals are set to begin next Saturday with all four games taking place at Navy's Alumni Hall in Annapolis, Md. The Leopards, who entered today's action tied with Navy and American for fourth in the Patriot League, are awaiting the turnout of two other conference games, both being played later today. Navy plays at Colgate at 4 p.m., while Holy Cross is at Lehigh for a 7 p.m. start.
