Women’s Basketball Begins Preseason With Closed Midnight Practice
Raiders to report at 12 a.m.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Julie Greco
PHONE: (315) 228-7860
Friday, October 11, 2002 

HAMILTON, N.Y. – The Colgate University women’s basketball team will begin preseason practice at the earliest moment possible, beginning Saturday, Oct. 12 at 12 a.m. The practice is closed to the public.

Last season’s Patriot League Coach of the Year, Beth Spycher Combs, will be looking to lead a young but talented Raider squad to their first winning season since the 1986-87 squad went 14-13. In her first year, Combs led the 2001-02 team to their best season in a decade with a record of 14-17.

The Raiders return 10 letterwinners and four starters. Leading the way for Colgate will be second team all-Patriot League selection Malissa Burke (Jr., Traverse City, Mich.) and all-Rookie team selections, Allison Lipinski (So., Garfield Heights, Ohio) and Milaina Lagzdins (So., Burlington, Ont.). Burke was second on the team and eighth in the conference for scoring, averaging 13.9 points per game. She also had 96 rebounds, 80 assists and 54 steals on the season. Lipinski ranked first on the team and fourth in the Patriot League with 15.8 points per game. She also led the Raiders in minutes played, field goals, three pointers and free throw percentage while breaking four Colgate and one conference record. Lagzdins led the Raiders and was third in the conference with 7.8 rebounds per game. She also averaged seven points per game, collected 40 steals and shot .506 (85 for 168) from the field.

“We have had a great preseason,” said Combs. “The team has worked hard all summer and they’re anxious to get started so we wanted to get into the gym as soon as possible.”  

The Raiders open their season on Friday, Nov. 22 when they travel to Washington, D.C., to face BIG EAST opponent Georgetown at 7 p.m.