Dec. 29, 2013

Box Score

Berkeley, Calif. - No. 22 California used a 13-2 run early in the second half to pull away from the Leopards on Sunday afternoon. Lafayette built an early lead, but the Bears were able to use a strong second half to push past the Leopards.

Lafayette was led by Linnel Macklin and Danielle Fiacco who each scored 13 points in the loss. Fiacco finished with eight rebounds and six blocks. Emily Homan also finished in double figures with 11 points and six boards. The Leopards moved to 6-5, while Cal improved to 8-3.

Maddie Peabody scored Lafayette's first five points on a driving layup and a three from the top of the key. Macklin buried a triple from the wing to give the Leopards an 8-7 lead and force a California timeout at the 16:10 mark of the opening half.

Cal took the lead with a 7-2 run, but the Leopards answered and tied the game at 14 at the under 12 media timeout. Homan scored Lafayette's next six points to help the Leopards build a 20-15 lead.

The Bears answered back with a 7-0 run to take a 22-20 lead. The Maroon and White went on a 7-2 run of their own to take a 27-22 lead with 4:18 on the clock. Cal ended the half on an 8-0 run to take a 30-27 lead at the break.

Macklin opened the scoring in the second half with a triple to tie the score at 30, but Cal answered back with a quick 5-0 spurt. Another three from Afure Jemerigbe pushed the Cal lead to eight, 38-30. Peabody found Brya Freeland on a fast break to stop the run.

Kelly Loughney knocked down a pair from the charity strip to cut the Bear lead to nine, 43-34, with under 12 to play. Cal answered with a three from Mikayla Lyles and a lay in from Kyra Dunn to push its lead to 14, 48-34. Macklin buried a three from the wing to cut the deficit to 12, 48-37.

Danielle Fiacco grabbed an offensive board and converted a three-point play to pull the Leopards within nine, 49-40. Another triple from Lyles increased the Bears back to 12, 52-40, with nine minutes on the clock.

Back-to-back baskets from Fiacco trimmed the Cal lead to nine, 53-44, at the 7:42 mark. The Bears used a 10-0 spurt to take a 63-44 advantage with five and a half minutes to play. Madeline Fahan scored the next four Leopard points, but Cal was able to maintain its double digit lead into the final media timeout, 70-48.

Lafayette went on an 8-0 run out of the media timeout highlighted by a pair of Homan jumpers, but the Bears were able to hold on and defeat the Leopards, 77-60.

The Leopards return to action on Thursday Jan. 2 at Army in their Patriot League opener. Lafayette returns home on Jan. 5 to take on Navy.