Dec. 3, 2008

Box Score | | Photo Gallery

EASTON, Pa. - The Leopards recorded their second victory of the season in thrilling fashion, pulling out a 59-55 overtime win against Penn in women's basketball action on Wednesday night. Three Lafayette players reached double figures in scoring for the first time this season as the team recorded its second win in three games.

Lafayette (2-5) led for the first 38 minutes of the game but there were five lead changes in the final 1:05 of regulation. Three free throws by Cristin Zavocki following a Penn technical with eight seconds remaining in the second half gave Lafayette a 51-49 edge, but Penn's Kelly Scott came through with a layup at the buzzer to send the game to overtime.

The score remained tied at 55-all in the extra session after Carrie Biemer's third trey of the night, but with 1:20 to play Jessica Spicer fed the ball to Zavocki under the basket to give the Leopards the two-point advantage (57-55). Zavocki's free throws with seven seconds on the clock sealed the 59-55 Lafayette win.

Penn (0-6) shot just 25 percent for the game and the Leopards finished with a season-high 44 rebounds to out-rebound the Quakers 44-38. Sophomore Elizabeth Virgin finished with a team-high 17 points and was joined in double figures by Zavocki (15) and Spicer (13).

The Leopards kept the Quakers off the scoreboard for more than four minutes and upped their first-half lead to double figures (18-7). Carrie Biemer brought Penn back within single digits (21-12) with a three-pointer at 6:52. Biemer went on to score a game-high 26 points. Lafayette led by seven (27-20) after Amanda Smith's scored the period's final basket.

Neither team scored for the first two and a half minutes of the second half before Virgin's free throw made it a 10-point game (30-20). Penn did not back down and cut the lead to two with Biemer's basket at 4:30. Scott's three at the three-minute mark cut the lead to one, the closet the Quakers had been since the opening minute of the game. Lafayette led 50-49 after Zavocki's free throws with seven seconds on the clock before Scott's buzzer beater.

Lafayette continues its three-game homestand on Friday with a 7 p.m. game against NJIT.

Postgame Notes:
- Jessica Spicer has 23 assists this season and 209 for her career. She needs six more to tie Angela Spell (1990-94) for 10th all-time.
- Lafayette has now won two straight vs. the Quakers and leads the all-time series 18-16.
- The 20 first half points scored by Penn were the fewest by an opponent in a half this season.
- Junior Amanda Smith tied her career high with nine rebounds and freshman Sarah McGorry had a career best seven boards.