Contact: Christina Cracolici

Phone: (315) 228-6761

March 3, 2002

Box Score

Upper Marlboro, Md. - Top-seeded Holy Cross scored the last 11 points over the final two minutes of action, knocking down six straight free throws, to hold off fifth-seeded Colgate University, 83-71 in the Patriot League semifinal match-up at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Md.  

Colgate ended its season with a 14-17 overall record and a 7-7 record in the Patriot League.  The Raiders' 14 overall  wins are the most since the 1990-91 season (14), while their seven Patriot League wins are the most since 1994-95. 

"I am really proud of this Colgate team," said first-year head coach Beth Spycher.  "When you center your team around four freshmen and two sophomores and have players like Briscoe, Burke, and Lipinski, you are going to be successful.  We are proud of what we did and can walk away from this tournament with our heads held high."

Holy Cross had four players in double-figures and were led by Maggie Fontana's 20 points and a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double by Katie O'Keefe . Jeanette Paukert had 19 points, including five three-pointers while Amanda Abraham chipped in with 16 points. 

Sophomore Vicky Briscoe (Landover, Md./Riverdale Baptist) led four Raiders in double-figures with 16 points while Allison Lipinski (Garfield Heights, Ohio/Garfield Heights) netted 14 points, including three three-point field goals.  Malissa Burke (E. Grand Rapids, Mich./E. Grand Rapids) and Emily Braseth (E. Grand Rapids, Mich./E. Grand Rapids)  each chipped in with 11 and 10 points each.  

Behind a 53.8 percent shooting outburst, the Raiders took a 38-31lead into the halftime break.  Briscoe and Lipinski netted nine and eight points a piece in the first twenty minutes of action to lead the Raiders.  

In the second half, Holy Cross quickly cut the Colgate lead to one at 38-37 on two points a piece from Abraham, Fontana and O'Keefe.  

The Raiders countered, however, as Briscoe netted her second three of the game on an assist from from senior Sarah Parks (Wilmington, Del./Ursuline Academy), to spur an 11-2 run  and take their largest lead of the game with an 11-point margin at 50-39 with 15 minutes left in the game.  Parks ended the game with a game-high six assists for the Raiders. 

Both teams battled back and forth as the lead changed hands five times before settling on the first tie at 65-65 with 6:19 remaining.  

The Crusaders took a 72-67 lead with four minutes remaining on a three-pointer from Fontana before the Raiders crept to within one, 72-71 on two points a piece from Braseth and Briscoe within a span of one minute.  

Braseth grabbed her second offensive rebound of the night and then converted two free throws after a foul by Paukert and Briscoe swished home a driving lay-up with 2 minutes left in the game to keep the Raiders within striking distance.  

Holy Cross maintained its composure as Paukert threw down her fifth three-pointer of the game and Fontana scored on an offensive put-back  to push the lead to six with one minute remaining in the game, forcing the Raiders to put Holy Cross on the foul line.