WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Lafayette women's basketball team outscored American in the second half, but a fast start by the Eagles moved the defending Patriot League Champions into the semifinal of the Patriot League Tournament by a 67-47 final on Monday night at Bender Arena.
 
Seniors Alex Cantwell and Nia Holland's Lafayette careers come to a close as the duo combined to play 162 games, with Cantwell a member of the 100 games played club. She finished with five points and nine rebounds while Holland added four points.
 
The Eagles (21-9) got out to a fast start, going on a 14-2 run to open the game before the Leopards (8-23) settled in and held American scoreless for nearly the final six minutes of the quarter.
 
The Eagles would quickly erase the scoreless stretch as they shot 50 percent in the second quarter and closed the half on another 14-2 run to jump out to a 36-14 lead at the break.
 
The second half got off to a fast start with 22 combined points between the two sides within the first five minutes of the third quarter. Sophomore Natalie Kucowski got going in the third, scoring six of those points in the stretch.
 
The sophomore duo of Kucowski and Drew Freeland combined for all 19 Lafayette points in the third where each got into double-figures. Kucowski led Lafayette with 19 points, including 17 in the second half, and seven boards while Freeland scored 11 with five rebounds.
 
Lafayette got out to a fast start in the fourth, scoring five unanswered to open the quarter. It also began to impose its will at the free throw line, going 11-of-13 in the game and 9-of-11 in the second half.

The Patriot League's defensive player of the year had three steals and a block to add to Kucowski's conference-leading blocked shots total. Her 71 rejections rank fifth all-time in a single season in Lafayette history.
 
The Leopards' season comes to a close for the second year in the Patriot League Tournament Quarterfinals, at the hands of American.
 
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.