Contact: Christina Cracolici

Phone: (315) 228-6761

December 17, 2001

Hamilton, N.Y. - Freshman Emily Braseth (East Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids) scored 18 of her game and career-high 22 points in the second half and scored six of Colgate's 12 points in the overtime period to lead the Raiders past Wagner 84-80 in a non-conference women's basketball  matchup Monday at Cotterell Court.  Braseth also snagged a career-high 10 rebounds to record her first career double-double.  Colgate improves to 4-5 and is off to its best start since the 1997-98 season while Wagner falls to 2-7.  

Down 72-69 with four seconds remaining in regulation, following two clutch free throws by Colgate's Victoria Briscoe (Landover, Md./Riverdale Baptist), Wagner pushed the game into overtime on a desperation three-point shot from Jackie Fournier who put the ball off the glass and in the basket after a heave from Meredith Kerns to tie the game at 72 a piece.  

Wagner took a  78-75 lead with 2:20 remaining in the overtime period on two free throws by Carrie Walker, an offensive rebound and a put-back by Kerns and a lay-up by Kim McGhee.  The Raiders knotted the score at 80-80 with 48 seconds remaining as Braseth converted one of two free throws, for her sixth point of the extra stanza, and then took the lead for good at 82-80 with 29 seconds remaining as Milaina Lagzdins (Oakville, Ontario/Nelson) picked off a Noelle Carter pass and converted a Malissa Burke (East Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids) assist.  Briscoe closed the game for Colgate at 84-80 snaring her fifth defensive rebound of the night and then icing yet another two free throws in the final seconds of the game.  

Briscoe ended the night with 10 points, five rebounds, two steals and a career-high 8 assists in a solid team performance by the Raiders.  Freshmen Allison Lipinski netted 15 points, while Burke added a steady eight-point, three-rebound and three-assist performance.  

"This was a true team performance and a team-win tonight," said first-year Colgate head coach Beth Spycher.  "People stepped up and did the little things we needed to do to win.  I have a tremendous group of 15 athletes that work together to prepare each other for game-day, and this win is a result of that team effort from the reserve players to the starting five."

Wagner was led by Kerns' 16 points and seven rebounds and Walker's 15 points and six rebounds.  Erin Loesner and Fournier chipped in with 13 points a piece while McGhee ended the night with 12 points. 

Colgate is on the road for its final two games before the holiday break and will travel to Connecticut, Wednesday December 19 for a 5 p.m. game versus Quinnipiac.