BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Lafayette women's basketball team put together an aggressive offensive performance on Saturday, getting to the free throw line 29 times, but could not overcome a cold first quarter to fall to Delaware, 65-47, at FAU Arena in the FAU Thanksgiving Tournament.

The Leopards (3-3) opened the game shooting 1-of-16 in the first, with the only field goal coming from a sophomore Drew Freeland 3-pointer as the Blue Hens (3-3) took a 14-6 advantage into the second quarter.

Both teams began to find a rhythm in the second as each outdid its scoring production from the first, midway through the second.

Sophomore Natalie Kucowski got to the free throw line early and often. Lafayette's first points of the frame came from a second chance opportunity where junior Tasha Vipond pulled in the rebound and Kucowski earned her way to the charity stripe.

Junior Sarah Agnello hit a pair of free throws on the ensuing possession, answered by a Justina Mascaro layup for Delaware before Vipond's put back layup for the Leopards as the teams went back-and-forth.

The Lafayette defense got a stop and Kucowski hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to seven with 6:47 remaining in the half. It was quickly answered on the other end when Justina Mascaro matched it with a trey of her own for Delaware.

Lafayette did not shy away, as it closed out the half on a 9-2 run, highlighted by another Kucowski 3-pointer to head into the half down just six, compared to 13 points earlier in the quarter.

However, the cold shooting of Lafayette would be too much to overcome as the Leopards shot a season-low 19 percent, while the Blue Hens were red hot, shooting 45 percent from the field. The Maroon and White shot 22-of-29 from the foul line, making more free throws than field goals in the game.

Kucowski led the Leopards with a game-high 16 points and 10 rebounds to earn her fifth double-double of the season and 14^th of her career to earn all-tournament laurels.

Vipond was productive off the bench pulling in eight rebounds, with five on the offensive end, adding two points and a rejection. Also providing a strong presence off the bench was freshman Naomi Ganpo who scored a season-best five points with three rebounds, going 5-of-6 from the foul line. 

For the sixth time this season, Lafayette outrebounded its opponent, 46-39, including a 19-10 advantage on the offensive end, but the fast-paced Blue Hens were impressive scoring 21 points in transition.

The Leopards will take a week off from game action before returning to Kirby Sports Center for a matchup with Albany at 2 p.m. on Dec. 1 for the annual Recycle-Mania game.

For the latest on the Lafayette College women's basketball program, follow the Leopards on Twitter @LafayetteWBB, Facebook at Lafayette Women's Basketball, and Instagram @LafayetteWBB.