THE OPENING TIP
*    The Leopards travel to New York City on Saturday for a match-up with Columbia.

*     Lafayette's balanced scoring effort against UMBC propelled them to a 72-38 victory on Wednesday. Makayla Andrews and Abby Antognoli each netted 15 points. Every individual that checked into the game put up a basket for the Leopards.

*     In the last meeting on Nov. 18, 2021, Columbia defeated Lafayette 72-59. The Leopards hold the 4-3 series advantage.

*    Junior forward Kayla Drummond found her way back into the starting lineup after missing four games due to injury. The Ontario, Canada native made an immediate impact, grabbing seven boards and scoring 10 points.

*    Lafayette will host ACC opponent Notre Dame on Thursday at Kirby Sports Center. 

SCOUTING COLUMBIA
The Lions are 6-2 on the season, defeating Memphis (77-69), Delaware (64-56), Seton Hall (83-76), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (95-57), Miami (78-71) and Marist (103-54). Their two losses occurred against Iowa State (99-76) and Vanderbilt (74-63). Columbia finished 25-7 last season, including a 72-59 win over Lafayette on Nov. 18, 2021. 
    Abby Hsu is the leading scorer, averaging 16.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg and 2.0 apg. The Lions have five players averaging double figures in Hsu, Hannah Pratt (12.8), Kaitlyn Davis (11.6), Jaida Patrick (11.3) and Kitty Henderson (11.0).  Davis is the leading rebounder with 7.9 rpg and Henderson is the leader in assists with 4.75. 

LAST TIME OUT
    Five players scored in double figures to lift the Leopards over UMBC 72-38 on Wednesday night at Kirby Sports Center.
    Sophomore Abby Antognoli and junior Makayla Andrews led the way with 15 points apiece. Sophomore Kylie Favours and senior Jess Booth each chipped in 11, while junior Kayla Drummond added 10.
     UMBC was led by K.K. White who had 11 points. The Retriever's leading scorer Kiara Bell had a cold shooting night (1-10), but grabbed 10 out of the Retrievers' 24 rebounds.
     The Leopards held a steady lead throughout the first half, outrebounding the Retrievers 20-13. This led to 10 points in the paint for Lafayette compared to UMBC's two.
     Lafayette led 26-16 at halftime, with Andrews leading the charge with seven points.
     The Leopards ran on a 18-6 run in the final six minutes of the third quarter, outscoring UMBC 22-10 in the third. Three players entered into double figures by the end of the third quarter in Booth, Favours and Drummond, giving the Leopards the 48-26 lead heading into the fourth.
     The Retrievers could not find their way back into the game with the Leopards putting up 24 points in the fourth quarter, as Lafayette secured its first home win of the 2022-23 season, 72-38.

A BALANCED SCORING EFFORT
    The Leopards had a hot shooting night against UMBC, shooting a season-high 51.7 percent from the floor.
    Every player that checked into the game recorded a basket for the Leopards, with a season-high five players in double figures (Andrews 15, Antognoli 15, Favours 11, Booth 11, Drummond 10).
    Freshman Kay Donahue netted her first career three-pointer for the Maroon and White, while Favours scored a career-high 11 points with nine from beyond the arc.
    Andrews has scored in double figures in six out of eight games, averaging 13.3 ppg. The guard had a season-high 20 point performance at NJIT, and is the Leopards' leading rebounder with 7.9 rpg.
    Antognoli put on a season-high 19 point performance against La Salle on Nov. 22. The Bay Head, N.J. native has found her groove, posting five-straight double figure performances. The 5-7 guard also leads the Leopards in minutes per game with 35.0.

DRUMMOND RETURNS
    Junior forward Kayla Drummond and the Leopards outrebounded UMBC 41-26 on Wednesday, which led to 28 points in the paint. The Ontario, Canada native made an immediate impact in her return, grabbing seven boards and putting up 10 points. 
    Through four games, Drummond is averaging 8.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg and 26.6 mpg. 

LEOPARDS LAND FOUR IN CLASS OF 2027
    Lafayette women's basketball head coach Kia Damon-Olson introduced her program's four-member class of 2027 on Nov. 9. The signees are from New York, Australia and two are from Minnesota.