EASTON, Pa. (1/16/08)—Colgate University freshman Sami Kozlowski (New Market, Md.) scored a career-high 24 points as the Raiders’ late rally fell just short in a 57-52 loss at Patriot League women’s basketball rival Lafayette this evening. Senior Shevorne Martin (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added her first double-double of the season with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and a team-high four assists.

 

The Leopards came out of the locker room and stretched their eight-point halftime lead to as many as 14 points, 49-35, with 5:19 left in the game. That’s when the Raiders took over, going on a 13-4 run to pull within three points with one minute left on the clock. Colgate (1-16, 0-2 PL) scored eight unanswered points during the stretch as Lafayette went four minutes without a point.

 

Lafayette (9-8, 1-1 PL) missed a jumper on the next possession, but Jessica Spicer corralled the offensive board and the Leopards drained the clock down to 12 seconds when the Raiders fouled to send Spicer to the foul line. Spicer connected on both shots at the charity stripe for a 55-50 lead with 12 second remaining.

 

Colgate got the ball back and raced down the floor and Martin got a perfect high screen by Katherine McGarry (Salem, Ohio) and hit the layup to make it 55-52 with five seconds on the clock. The Raiders fouled on the ensuing play to send Emily Garner to the line. Garner missed both, but Meaghan Malone picked up the loose ball and hit two free throws to ice the 57-52 victory for Lafayette.

 

The Raiders were able to force Lafayette into foul after foul, but struggled from the charity stripe in the second session. Colgate was just 4-of-14 from the free throw line in the second frame.  

 

The Raiders came out of the gates playing stifling defense against the highest scoring team in the league. Colgate kept Lafayette off the scoreboard for the first four minutes, but were unable to take advantage as the two teams were tied a two until Colgate went ahead 4-2 at 15:04.

 

The two squads traded baskets for much of the first session and featured four lead changes and four ties. With the game tied, 15-15, the Leopards started to find its shooting touch and outscored the Raiders 10-2 in the final four minutes for a 25-17 lead at the break.

 

The Leopards came out of the break and pushed the lead to double digits for the first time, 27-17, with the half’s opening basket. The Raiders hung around and continued to frustrate Lafayette, drawing foul after foul.

 

Sophomore Katie Garman (Poplar Grove, Ill.) added seven points and four assists, while freshman Georgia Gier (Mercer Island, Wash.) pulled down nine boards. The Raiders shot 40.8 percent from the floor for the game and 35.3 percent from long range.

 

Lafayette had three players in double figures with Spicer and Cristin Zavocki leading the way with 13 points apiece. Vanessa Van De Venter added 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Colgate held the Leopards to just 33.3 percent shooting and 35 percent from behind the arc. The Raiders won the battle of the boards 43-34.

 

Colgate returns home for the first time in nearly a month, hosting American on Jan. 19. The game is set for 2 p.m., and will be televised live by Time Warner Sports.