Women’s Basketball Drops Heartbreaker to American, 54-51
Emily Braseth led all scorers with 18 points

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Julie Greco
PHONE: (315) 228-7860
January 24, 2003 

Game Statistics

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sophomore Emily Braseth (E. Grand Rapids, Mich.) led all scorers with 18 points as the Colgate women’s basketball team fell to American University, 54-51 on Friday evening at Bender Arena. With the lost, the Raiders fall to 6-10 overall and 1-3 in the league while American remains at the top of the Patriot League with an 11-6 overall record and a perfect 4-0 mark in the conference.

The first half proved to be a defensive struggle with American shooting 23.1% from the floor while the Raiders were good on only 20.0%. Each team committed 15 turnovers in the half with the Eagles registering 11 steals to Colgate’s seven.

Despite the score being tied five times, American managed a 9-0 run take the largest lead of the half, a 17-8 advantage at the 5:13 mark. The Raiders then used a stifling defense to hold the Eagles to only one point the rest of the way, as Colgate went on a 10-1 run to end the first stanza. During that time, freshman Megan Ballard (Atlanta, Ga.) and junior Emily Damuth (Saginaw, Mich.) connected on two free throws apiece before Damuth drained a three and sophomore Leandra Fuller (Harrsiburg, Pa.) brought the score even at 18 with a free throw.

The second half saw both teams improve on the offensive end with Colgate shooting 36.0% to the Eagles 34.3%.

The Raiders took the largest lead of the game by either team, a 39-29 advantage when Damuth hit a jumper with 7:43 remaining. American whittled away at Colgate’s lead, taking a one point edge, 46-45, with 3:06 left. A three-point play by Braseth put the Raiders back on top before American’s Jenyce Woodruff hit a jumper to even the score at 48. Junior Malissa Burke (Traverse City, Mich.) connected on two free-throws with 2:15 left before Woodruff hit another clutch shot to even the score at 50. Braseth then connected on 1-of-2 free throws to give Colgate the 51-50 advantage with 50 seconds remaining. With five seconds on the clock, the Eagles’ Mari Werries hit a jumper to give American a 52-51 lead. Two made foul shots by Woodruff accounted for the 54-51 final.

The Raiders were led by Braseth’s 18 points while Fuller had her second double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Ballard came within one of the Colgate freshman record for steals in a game with five take-aways.

The Eagles were led by Katryn Costenbader’s 15- point, 10-rebounds double-double and Woodruff’s 12 points.

Colgate is back in action on Sunday, Jan. 26 as they travel to Annapolis, Md., to take on Navy at 1 p.m.