Jan. 13, 2010
Box Score | Photo Gallery 
EASTON, Pa. - Three players in double figures and 63 points were not enough to lead the Lafayette women's basketball squad to a win over Colgate, evening both team's league records at 1-1. The Raiders came away with the 71-63 win on Wednesday night, spoiling the Leopards' long-awaited return home.
After spending six games on the road, Lafayette (3-13, 1-1) was looking to ride the momentum from a conference-opening win at Holy Cross on Saturday, but the Raiders used 38 points from their bench to help snap their 10-game slide and pick up their first league win of the season.
Three Leopards reached double figures, led by LaKeisha Wright's 14. Sophomore Sarah McGorry matched her career high with 12 points and Elizabeth Virgin fell one rebound shy of a double-double (10 points, nine rebounds).
Colgate (6-11, 1-1) countered with four players in double digits with freshman Jhazmine Lynch and junior Tayler Wejnert combining for 28 points (14 each).
The Leopards jumped out to a quick, 4-0 lead and maintained a 6-3 edge after baskets from three different players.
Colgate took its first lead (8-7) on a Kendra Brim layup with 13:02 on the clock but Lafayette remained ahead 11-8 on Melissa Downey's put-back layup less than two minutes later.
The lead changed hands several times before the Raiders took a 20-11 advantage thanks to a 12-0 run. McGorry put a stop to the run with a free throw that made it 20-12 with 5:12 left in the opening half.
Wright kept it a single-digit game (23-14) with her first basket of the night and Ashley Springer drained a three with three minutes on the clock to bring the Leopards back within six (23-17).
Samantha Jordan sank two free throws with 42 seconds remaining to cut it to a three-point game (28-25) but Colgate took a 29-25 lead into halftime.
Both squads traded baskets to open the second half before a three-point play by the Raiders' Tricia Oakes put Colgate back up by 10 (41-31) with 17 minutes remaining.
It appeared momentum may have shifted two minutes later on Wright's steal and ensuing layup. She continued her hot streak with another basket at 15:02 that made it 41-35, but the Leopards still found themselves trailing 45-37 at the 12-minute mark.
Amanda Leone collected an offensive board and followed that with a layup to briefly bring the team within five (45-40.)
The Raiders built their lead back to double figures with 5:14 on the clock on two Wejnert free throws as both teams were in the double bonus by the five-minute mark.
Leone gave Leopard fans hope when she drained a three with 13 seconds left (68-63) but the Raiders held on for the win.
Lafayette remains home to host Navy on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Postgame Notes:
- Senior Amanda Leone made her first career start and finished with a career-best eight points.
- Freshman Ashley Springer also finished with a career-high in points (7).
- LaKeisha Wright's four steals matched a career high.
- Following Saturday's game vs. Navy, the Leopards will be signing autographs and handing out schedule posters.
