HAMILTON, N.Y. (2/13/08)— Colgate University sophomore Katie Garman (Poplar Grove, Ill.) posted her first career double-double with a game-high 13 points and a career-high 11 rebounds, but it was not enough as Lafayette escaped with a 56-48 victory in Patriot League women’s basketball action. The Leopards used a 17-6 run in the final 7:29 to secure the league win.

 

Colgate (1-23, 0-9) freshman Sami Kozlowski (New Market, Md.) matched Garman’s 13 points and handed out three assists. Junior Gretchen Polinski (Mansfield, Ohio) pitched in seven points and 10 rebounds in the loss.

 

The first half was a defensive battle as both teams struggled with their shooting. Colgate hit 34.5 percent of its shots in the opening 20 minutes, while Lafayette (13-11, 5-4) was 32.1 percent from the floor. The score was tied twice and changed hands five times in the first session.

 

Colgate’s largest lead in the first half was five points after senior Caitlin Gillard (Vestal, N.Y.) beat the shot clock to give the Raiders the 18-13 advantage. Lafayette responded with a 10-4 run to regain a 23-22 lead, but a three-pointer by Kozlowski at the buzzer earned Colgate the 25-23 lead at the break.

 

Lafayette came out of halftime and scored the first four points to go back in front, 27-25. Garman laid the ball in on the next possession to tie the game and spark an 8-0 run that gave Colgate its largest lead of the game at 33-27.

 

The Raiders held onto the lead over the next six minutes before a three-pointer from Cristin Zavocki tied the score at 37-37 with 9:47 left to play. The next two minutes was a flurry of action featuring four lead changes and two ties.

 

A three-point play from junior Katherine McGarry (Salem, Ohio) at the 7:29 mark gave the Raiders the lead again at 42-41. Lafayette answered with a jumper from LaKeisha Wright and then put the clamps on the Colgate offense.

 

The Leopards ran off nine unanswered points over the next 6:29 for a 50-42 advantage. The Raiders stopped the run with a layup from Garman with one minute left on the clock, but Lafayette was able to hold on to the lead despite struggling at the charity stripe down the stretch.

 

Jessica Spicer led all Lafayette players with 13 points and eight assists, while Emily Garner posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Colgate held leading scorer Vanessa Van De Venter to just nine points in her 36 minutes.

 

Colgate shot 34.5 percent from the floor in the game and Lafayette was 41.5 percent from the field. The Leopards improved their shooting in the second half, knocking down 52 percent of their chances, including 40 percent from long range. The battle of the boards was even with 39 rebounds apiece. Lafayette capitalized on Colgate’s 15 turnovers with 16 points off of the giveaways.

 

The Raiders hit the road for their next contest. Colgate will travel to take on American on Feb. 16 at 2 p.m.