HAMILTON, N.Y. (1/20/10) -   The Colgate women's basketball team fought back from a nine-point deficit, to come within two points but were unable to gain the lead as they fell to defending Patriot League champions, 57-45, Wednesday evening at Cotterell Court. The Raiders drop to 6-12 overall and 1-3 in the conference while the Mountain Hawks improve to 16-4 overall and a 3-1 mark in the league.

 

Rookie Jhazmine Lynch (San Diego, Calif.) led the Raiders with 11 points, eight rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals. Sophomore Tricia Oakes (Evergreen, Colo.) added eight points and three boards and junior Kendra Brim (Buffalo, N.Y.) grabbed six rebounds. Courtney Dentler had a game-high 12 points along with six rebounds while Tricia Smith pulled down a game-high nine boards for the Mountain Hawks.

 

Colgate was able to jump out to a 14-7 advantage eight minutes into the game thanks to hot shooting from the entire Raider bench. Candice Green (East Brunswick, N.J.) and Katie Garman (Poplar Grove, Ill.) each hit a three while Lynch, Brim and Sami Kozlowski (New Market, Md.) all put in a lay-up.

 

Lehigh was able to close the gap to one, 14-13, by 9:16 but junior Tayler Wejnert (Ramsey, N.J.) collected five points and Green added a basket to put the Raiders back on top by eight, 21-13. The Mountain Hawks wouldn't go away easily as Emily Gratch scored all six of her first half points in the final five minutes bringing Lehigh within three points. Dentler finished off the half going 2-2 from the line and added a last second jumper to give the Mountain Hawks their first lead of the game, 23-22, heading into the half-time break.

 

Lehigh opened the second half with a 6-2 run to earn a seven point lead in the first three minutes of play. After trading baskets the Mountain Hawks were finally able to extend their lead to nine, but the Raiders wouldn't go away easily cutting Lehigh's lead to two, 44-42, thanks to four points from Lynch and a three-pointer from Kozlowski. The Mountain Hawks were quick to get back on top, responding with an 8-0 run to gain a 52-42 advantage. Lehigh never looked back from that point, earning a 12 point win, 57-45.

 

Colgate finished the game on 34.0 percent shooting (16-47) from the field while the Mountain Hawks went 20-58 from the floor (34.5 percent). Lehigh held the advantage in rebounding 46-36.

 

The Raiders will be back in action this Saturday, Jan. 23 when they take on Bucknell at 7 p.m. in Lewisburg, Pa.

Fans don't forget to Click Here to check out a list of all upcoming Women's Basketball Promotions. Up next is "Paint the Court Maroon" on Saturday, Jan. 30th against Navy. The first 200 fans get a FREE maroon t-shirt!