OPENING TIP:

• Lafayette defeated Lehigh, 61-53, on Saturday afternoon for their third-straight victory and fifth Patriot League victory. The win also marked their first over Lehigh since 2015. Junior Drew Freeland led the way in scoring for the Leopards with 17 points and junior Natalie Kucowski recorded her 13th double double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
• The series history is tied at 37-37. The last time the Leopards defeated the Raiders was Jan. 5, 2018 by a 63-48 final. Colgate has won the last four meetings.
• The Leopards now stand at 5-3 in conference play. It is their best record through eight Patriot League games since the 2007-08 season when they also went 5-3 up to this point in conference play. This year's squad has surpassed their league win total from last season as well as the number of overall wins from last season's squad.

 
SCOUTING THE RAIDERS
Since the two sides first meeting this season, Colgate has gone 2-1, beating Boston University and American and falling to Bucknell.
 
They are coming off a big, one point overtime win, 63-62, at home over American marking their first win over the Eagles since 2007. Their overall 14-5 record remains the best in program history to this point of the season and their 6-2 record in league action at this point in the season ties the 2003-04 Raiders for best all-time.
 
The Raiders lead the league in scoring offense (70.2), field goal percentage (44.1), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.3) and assists (17.3). Individually, senior Rachel Thompson leads the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.5). Thompson leads the team in scoring (17.5 points per game) and rebounding (8.2 per game).
 
THE LAST MEETING
This is the second meeting this season between the Leopards and Raiders. They met just a few weeks ago on Jan. 15. in Hamilton, New York. Colgate walked away with the win, 73-52.
 
The Leopards had their best looks of the day in the first quarter, going up 2-0 at the start and keeping the game close throughout the rest of the quarter but Colgate used a 12 point run near the end of the quarter to gain the momentum they needed to take control of the game.
 
Coming out the locker room down 10 at the start of the third quarter, junior Natalie Kucowski put in two to bring the Raiders lead down to eight before Colgate would turn on the heat again and stretch their lead to as far as 19 by the end of the quarter.
 
Lead by sophomore Nicole Johnson's seven points, the Leopards tried to gain momentum and chip away at the Raider's lead in the fourth quarter but Colgate continued to push out its lead and hold on for their fourth league win of the season.
 
Kucowski led the way for the Leopards with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Senior Sarah Agnello and freshman Shanell Haskins each totaled eight and junior Drew Freeland and Johnson each put up seven.
 
HOME SWEET HOME
The Leopards win over Lehigh on Saturday at Kirby Sports Center marks their fifth-straight league win at home, keeping them undefeated at home in league play. Their only two losses at home came at the hands of non-conference opponents Duquesne and UMBC.
 
THIRD QUARTER TEAM
The third quarter is where the Leopards seem to shine this season this season. Opponents are outscoring them in the first, second and fourth period but in the third, they are outscoring opponents by 41 points.
 
STILL AT THE TOP
Junior Natalie Kucowski is still leading the nation in three categories. She is first in the nation in rebounds per game (13.4), defensive rebounds per game (9.9) and rebounds (228.0).
 
OFF THE BENCH
Senior Tasha Vipond continues to be a force off the bench for the Leopards. She is averaging 2.7 points per game and 0.7 rebounds per game more than she averaged in nonconference action. In conference play she is averaging 5.6 points per game and 3.6 rebounds per game while in nonconference action she was averaging 2.9 points per game and 2.9 rebounds per game.