EASTON, Pa. – Women's basketball battled Navy to a 71-49 final on Sunday afternoon at Kirby Sports Center.

Junior guard Sauda Ntaconayigize led the Maroon and White with 13 points, while shooting 5-of-7 from the floor.

Lafayette opened the contest with the hot hand, posting a 7-0 run out of the gate, guided by juniors Kay Donahue (2) and Ntaconayigize (5). The Mids immediately responded with their own 7-0 spurt, which was halted at the 6:27 mark by a Ntaconayigize triple. Julianna Almeida dropped in six points in the session for Navy and hit some important shots to keep Navy within striking distance. After 10 minutes on College Hill, Lafayette led 19-14.

The Mids found their rhythm in the second quarter, outscoring the Leopards 23-9. The Patriot League's leading scorer, Zanai Barnett-Gay, tallied 11 points and Almeida tacked on another five. The backcourt pairing shot for a combined 70 percent in the quarter and Navy as a whole held the Leopards to just four makes. Junior forward Emma Shields drained two buckets near the end of the half, as Lafayette trailed 37-28 at the break.

Kia Damon-Olson had her squad rolling to begin the second half, opening the quarter with an 8-2 run that featured baskets by guards Halee Smith (2), Abby Antognoli (4) and Ntaconayigize (2). With 8:09 to go, the Leopards trailed by three (39-36). Mary Gibbons hit a big three at the 3:52 mark, boosting Navy's lead to eight points (48-40). A bucket by junior guard Kay Donahue (2) kept the Maroon and White close, 53-42 heading into the fourth. 

Navy carried over its hot shooting into the final stanza, putting up 18 points to the Leopards' seven. Gibbons led all scorers in the quarter with six points and 13 of the Mids' points came from off the bench. 

Navy took 12 more shots than Lafayette (62-50) and it went 10-of-28 from deep compared to Lafayette's 3-of-12.

The Leopards will look to bounce back in their next game on Wednesday at 6 p.m., as Bucknell makes the trip to College Hill.
 

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