BETHLEHEM, Pa. (2/20/08)—Lehigh University guard Alex Ross had a game-high 16 points to lead the host Mountain Hawks to a 51-39 victory over Colgate University in women’s basketball action at Stabler Arena. Freshman Sami Kozlowski (New Market, Md.) led the Raiders with 10 points.

 

Senior Caitlin Gillard (Vestal, N.Y.) added nine points, four rebounds, and two assists to the mix for Colgate, while rookie Krista Moser (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) had eight points and five boards. Sophomore Katie Garman (Poplar Grove, Ill.) led all players on the glass with eight rebounds.

 

Both teams struggled offensively in the first half, combining for just 12 field goals, including just three in the first 5:37, in the opening 20 minutes. Lehigh jumped out to an 11-0 lead in the first eight minutes before Moser knocked down a free throw to get the Raiders on the scoreboard.

 

The Mountain Hawks’ defense continued to frustrate the Raiders for the final 10 minutes of the session. Lehigh held Colgate to just 13 percent shooting and to only three field goals in the opening 20 minutes.

 

The Mountain Hawks (16-10, 8-3) used their 11-0 start and stretched the advantage to as many as 18 points, 25-7 with just over a minute to play. Junior Gretchen Polinski (Mansfield, Ohio) laid the ball in on the next possession to make it a 25-9 game at the break.

 

Lehigh came out of the break and built its 16-point lead to as many as 24 points with a 13-5 run in the first four minutes. The Raiders started to click on the offensive side midway through the second frame. Colgate chipped away at Lehigh’s 24-point lead and cut it to 15 points with a 12-4 run over a six-minute span. Kozlowski and Moser combined for 10 of the points during the stretch. The Raiders’ comeback effort came too late as Lehigh kept its spot in first place with the 51-39 victory.

 

Colgate (1-25, 0-11) improved its shooting dramatically in the second half. The Raiders took just 14 shots, making nine of them for a 64.3 percent success rate. Colgate got to the free throw line 12 times in the second half. Overall, the Raiders shot 32.4 percent from the floor.

 

Erica Prosser and Courtney Dentler both added nine points for the Mountain Hawks. Prosser also handed out four assists. Haly Crites paced Lehigh on the boards with seven rebounds. The Mountain Hawks shot 35.8 percent for the game.

 

The Raiders won the rebound battle 32-30, but it was Lehigh’s 22 points off of turnovers that secured the 12-point win.

 

Colgate returns home for its Think Pink weekend on Feb. 23. The Raiders host rival Bucknell at 2 p.m., on Cotterell Court. Admission to the game is free.