Women’s Basketball Upsets Lehigh, 72-60
Raiders never trail after the 15:08 mark to upend Mountain Hawks

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Julie Greco
PHONE: (315) 228-7860
February 28, 2003

Game Statistics

EASTON Pa. – After trailing 10-6 early in the first half, the Colgate women’s basketball team used a 10-1 scoring run to take a lead that they would not relinquish as they upset Lehigh, 72-60 at Stabler Arena on Friday evening. With the win, the Raiders improve to 9-16 overall and 4-9 in the conference. Lehigh, who is in second place in the Patriot League standings, falls to 12-13 overall with a 9-4 mark in league play.

Colgate put in a dominating performance, shooting 45.2 percent from the floor and a scorching 42.1 percent from beyond the arc while holding Lehigh to 34.5 percent shooting and 26.3 percent from three-point range. Lehigh held the 44-29 advantage on the boards but the Raiders forced 20 turnovers while committing a season-low 11. 

After taking an 11-10 lead with 15:08 to play in the first half, Colgate would lead the rest of the way, using a long 17-6 scoring drive over seven minutes to take a commanding 33-21 lead. During the run, the Raiders would connect on three treys, one each from senior Ali Hanson (Norwalk, Iowa), freshman Meghan Curtin (Bronx, N.Y) and junior Malissa Burke (Traverse City, Mich.). Colgate closed the half on a 5-2 run as sophomore Milaina Lagzdins (Burlington, Ontario) hit a lay-up and Curtin drained the third of her season-high four three pointers for a 38-28 halftime lead.

The Mountain Hawks came out strong in the second half, holding the Raiders scoreless for the first three minutes of play. Three times, Lehigh whittled the Colgate lead to four, but each time the Raiders answered. With the score 38-34 at the 17:36 mark, freshman Megan Ballard (Atlanta, Ga.) hit a three to give the Raiders a spark. At 14:54, the Mountain Hawks trailed 43-39 but were stopped cold by Curtin’s final trey of the night. Lehigh would pull to four one final time, 57-53 with 6:22 left on the clock but sophomore Emily Braseth (E. Grand Rapids, Mich.) hit a jumper to begin a 7-0 run that would put Colgate up by 11, 64-53 with under four minutes to play. The Raiders would dominate the rest of the way, taking the 72-60 victory.

Colgate was led by Braseth who registered 15 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Curtin scored 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including a 4-for-7 performance from three-point range. Lagzdins chipped in 10 points while coming up with a team-high four steals and Hanson dished out a game-high seven assists while snagging a team-high eight rebounds. Sophomore Leandra Fuller (Harrisburg, Pa.) added eight points and tied her career-high with five blocked shots.

Lehigh was led by Anne Tierney’s 18-point, 16-rebound double-double while Cat Nicholson added 12 points.

The Raiders play their final regular season game on Sunday as they travel to Lewisburg, Pa., to face Bucknell at 1:00 p.m.