Nov. 20, 2010
Box Score
LYNCHBURG, Va. - The Lafayette women's basketball team made its longest road trip of the season this weekend, traveling to Liberty University to meet the preseason favorite and defending champion of the Big South Conference. The Leopards hung tough against the Flames, trailing by just three points at the half, but ultimately fell to the home team by a score of 64-52.
With the loss in its second straight road game, Lafayette falls to 1-2. Liberty, which was ranked No. 21 in the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major poll, evens its record at 1-1. The Flames returned more than half of its team - including three starters - that downed the Leopards, 90-55, last season in Easton.
Senior co-captain LaKeisha Wright led the Leopards with 15 points, bringing her career total to 999. Lauren Jackson, another senior co-captain, and freshman Danielle Fiacco each tallied nine points. Fiacco also shared the game high with seven rebounds and blocked four shots.
Liberty made the first run of the contest - a 10-2 spurt that gave the home team an eight-point cushion at 19-11. The Leopards responded in kind, however, with an 11-2 run to regain the lead at 22-21 with 4:13 remaining until halftime. The Flames made one final push in the opening period and entered the locker room holding a one-possession lead, 27-24.
Jackson led the Leopards offensively with seven first-half points. Wright contributed six over the first 20 minutes, and Fiacco had four to go along with her half-best six rebounds. As a team, Lafayette outrebounded the Flames, 20-18, including seven offensive boards that resulted in nine points for the Maroon and White. The Leopards did commit nine turnovers to Liberty's seven miscues, but the Lafayette still led in points off turnovers by a 9-8 count.
The Leopards were the aggressors to open the second half, as a pair of Jackson free throws at the 14:45 mark capped a 9-4 run to give the advantage back to the Maroon and White at 33-31. The score remained within four points - with each teams holding a lead at times - up to a 45-44 advantage for the Flames with 8:53 remaining. Liberty's next run would be the difference maker, as a 13-2 stretch over the ensuing 6:40 gave the home team a commanding 58-46 edge with just 2:13 left. The Flames hit their free throws down the stretch to combat a potential Leopards' comeback en route to taking a 64-52 decision.
Liberty's Jelena Antic led all scorers with 16 points.
The Leopards are back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 23, as they return to Kirby Sports Center for a 7 p.m. match-up with St. Francis (N.Y.). The contest will be aired live on RCN-4, RCN-8 and WBPH-60 and streamed live online on LSN All-Access via GoLeopards.com.
