EASTON, Pa. – Plagued by turnovers, the Lafayette women's basketball team dropped a close game on Sunday afternoon, 65-58, to close out non-conference action.

Despite the loss, junior Drew Freeland had a season-high game, recording a season-high 13 points, five field-goals, two three-pointers, one free-throw, five assists and one steal. She was one of two Leopards to hit double-digit points this afternoon.

Junior Natalie Kucowski added to her growing totals, recording 20 points and 17 rebounds for her eighth double double of the season and the 32^nd of her career.  

Senior Tasha Vipond also recorded a season-high three points and sophomore Naomi Ganpo recorded her first block of the season. 

The Leopards (4-6) jumped out to a quick lead in the first period, carrying the momentum into the second period. With a little over a minute left in the second period, the Retrievers (4-7) came back to take the lead, 32-30, but a free throw by senior Alexis Santarelli and a three-pointer from Freeland would put the game back in the hands of the Maroon and White, 34-32, heading into halftime.

UMBC tied the game seconds into the third period to put the game at 34 apiece. From there, both sides battled to hold the lead with each team seeming to go point for point, resulting in the game being tied four times in the third period alone. With a little over three minutes left in the third the Retrievers went on a four-point scoring run to head into the fourth with a two point lead.

The Leopards battled back in the fourth with the help of Kucowski's six points and Freeland's four but a seven-point run by the Retrievers was all they needed to secure the win.
The Leopards committed 19 turnovers to the Retrievers nine, resulting in 18 of UMBC's points.  

Kucowski's 17 boards now puts her career rebounding total to 781. She is now Lafayette's fifth all-time rebounder, moving past Maureen McManus. The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native is now 10 rebounds away from moving into fourth all-time.

Her four blocks Sunday afternoon brings her career block total to 140 and bringing her 20 away from moving into third all-time.

The Leopards will open Patriot League action on Jan. 2, welcoming Boston University to Kirby at 6 p.m.