EASTON, Pa. – The Lafayette women's basketball team defeated Loyola on senior day Saturday afternoon, 47-35.

The Leopards were led by senior Natalie Kucowski who totaled 14 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore Jess Booth was the other Leopard in double figures Saturday afternoon, totaling a career-high 13 points. Sophomore Reilly Campbell also had a career-high day, totaling a career-high nine rebounds in the victory.  

Kucowski is now just 17 rebounds away from becoming the Patriot League's All-Time Leading Rebounder.

Senior Sydney Sabino started things off for the Leopards (4-7 PL) with a shot from beyond the arc off an assist by Kucowski. The back-to-back Greyhounds fouls sent both junior Naomi Ganpo and junior Nicole Johnson to the line. Each went 1-1 to bring the score to 5-0 in favor of the Leopards, before Kucowski put in a bucket to make it 7-0 with 6:28 left to play in the first frame.

A few seconds later, Loyola (0-11 PL) got in its first bucket of the afternoon. The two squads went back and forth until, with 3:04 left to play, Loyola had pulled within five of the Leopards. Both sides put in a three-pointer to make the score 14-9 heading into the second 10 minutes of action.

Both teams took a little while to get going in the second frame as it wasn't until the 8:46 mark that either side was able to put in a bucket until Campbell drew a foul, sending her to the line for two. She made both and then a three-pointer from Booth gave the Leopards a 10-point lead with 6:58 left to play in the half.

The Maroon and White outscored the Greyhounds 9-5 in the rest of the half to take a 28-14 lead heading into the locker room.

The Greyhounds came out strong in the third quarter, playing solid defense, not letting the Leopards get in a shot until the 7:12 mark. Kucowski put in her 13^th point of the game to make 30-14 in favor of the Maroon and White.

With the Leopards up by 12 with 3:24 left to play in the third quarter, neither side was able to get the ball through the bucket until a Loyola foul sent freshman Makayla Andrews to the line for two extra shots. She made both, and Booth put in a bucket to bring the score to 39-26 heading into the fourth quarter.

It was a low scoring affair for both sides in the final frame. Though the Greyhounds outscored the Leopards 9-8, Lafayette was able to hang on, bringing the final score to 47-35. The win was the programs fifth-straight win over Loyola. 

Up next for the Leopards is a trip to Baltimore for a 5 p.m. tip with the Greyhounds Sunday night.