BOSTON, Mass. – Lafayette women's basketball opened its Patriot League slate on Wednesday at Boston U., resulting in the Leopards' first win in Case Gym since 2018. Junior guard Kay Donahue led Lafayette with 18 points, while classmate Sauda Ntaconayigize added 15 points in a 66-55 final. 

The hosts hopped out to a 12-8 lead in the first three minutes, thanks to three triples by Alex Giannaros and a three from Bella McLaughlin. The Terriers led 14-10 with 2:23 to go in the first quarter before Lafayette went on a 10-2 run. The spurt included four different scorers and it propelled the Leopards to a 20-16 lead after the first period.

Lafayette outscored Boston U. 21-12 in the second quarter, led by seven points apiece from Donahue and Ntaconayigize. Kia Damon-Olson's squad also grabbed three more boards than the Terriers (10-7) and bested them in the turnover column (5-3). At the 6:38 mark, Lafayette took its largest lead of the half (16 points) courtesy of two free throws by Donahue. Additional free throws by Ntaconayigize and a layup by sophomore forward Brynn Beffert guided the Maroon and White to a 13-point lead (41-28) at the intermission.

Sophomore forward Tasha Chudy dropped in two buckets to start the second half before the hosts got going. The Leopards led 47-30 (6:29) prior to a 7-0 run by the Terriers, which featured baskets by Anete Adler and Audrey Ericksen. Giannaros cut Lafayette's lead to single digits (49-41), but Donahue and sophomore guard Teresa Kiewiet both knocked down clutch shots to maintain a 13-point lead with 10 minutes to go in Case Gym.

The next four minutes of play had little scoring, but then Boston U. converted back-to-back buckets to cut the Leopards' lead to nine points (56-47). Ntaconayigize responded with consecutive triples of her own to give Lafayette some breathing room (62-47). The Terriers resorted to fouling in the final two minutes, but four clutch free throws by Donahue handed the Leopards their first victory of the Patriot League slate.

The Maroon and White shot a season-high 93.3 percent from the charity stripe (10 or more attempts) and a season-high 44.9 percent from the floor in the road win. 

Lafayette returns to Kirby Sports Center at 2 p.m. on Sunday, as it invites Navy to town.

 
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