OPENING TIP
*Lafayette took down Fairleigh Dickinson in its season opener on Tuesday, 61-29. The win was also Lafayette's second season in a row opening up the season with a win over the Knights, defeating them last year as well in both squad's season openers. Sophomore Naomi Ganpo led the way for the Leopards with 12 points and junior Natalie Kucowski recorded a double-double with 10 points and 12 assists. 

*For the second-straight season, the Leopards and Bearcats will meet for each squad's second game of the season. Last season saw the Leopards winning 59-50 at home in Kirby Sports Center. 

*The Maroon and White bring back their two top scorers from last season in Kucowski (15.0 ppg) and junior Drew Freeland (9.0 ppg). Kucowski is also last year's team leader in field goals (.387), free throws (.709), rebounds (11.1 rpg), assists (2.7 apg), blocks (2.3 bpg) and steals (1.5 spg). Freeland is right behind her in field goals and assists. 

LAST MEETING WITH THE BEARCATS 
The Leopards and Bearcats last meeting was last season in  for Lafayette's second game of the regular season in Easton, Pennslyvannia. Lafayette came away with 59-50 victory, helping them to 2-0 to start off the season and handing the Bearcats their first loss of the season. Drew Freeland led the way for the Leopards in the game with 16 points. Natalie Kucowski was right behind her with a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds. 

STARTING THE SEASON ON A HIGH NOTE 
Multiple Leopards recorded career-highs in Tuesday's game. Sophomore Naomi Ganpo hit a career-high 12 points, doubling her previous career-high six points. The sophomore also recorded a career-high six free throws made in her nine attempts. Sophomore Nicole Johnson also started the season on a high note, surpassing her previous career-high field goal mark, putting up four in the Leopards win over the Knights. The sophomore also hit the double-digit point mark for the Leopards along with Kucowski and Ganpo with 10 points on the Knight. 


IMMEDIATE IMPACT 
Making her first collegiate start for the Leopards on Tuesday was freshman guard Jess Booth. Booth made an immediate impact, playing 20 minutes and draining three field goals, collecting six points, two assists and five rebounds in her collegiate debut. Freshman Reilly Campbell also saw action in Tuesday's win, coming in for 11 minutes and recording two rebounds and a steal. 

SO CLOSE  
On Tuesday, Lafayette held the Knights to just four points in the first quarter and just seven in the second and third quarters. At the half, the Leopards were up 37-11. The 11 points that the Leopards held the Knights to in the first half is the lowest they have held an opponent through the first half of a game since at least 2017. The lowest they held an opponent last season was when they held Navy to 19 on January 23, 2018. Their 37 points in the first half was just one point shy of their record from last season when they scored 38 in the first half in Patriot League action against Holy Cross in Easton.