HAMILTON, N.Y. (2/10/10) -   The Colgate women's basketball team fought back from a 12 point deficit to defeat the visiting Lafayette Leopards, 60-57, in overtime on Wednesday evening at Cotterell Court. The Raiders now improve to 9-14 overall and 4-5 in Patriot League play while the Leopards drop to 4-19 overall and 2-7 in the league.

 

Senior Katie Garman (Poplar Grove, Ill.) led the Raiders with 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists, while sophomore Tricia Oakes (Evergreen, Colo.) added 13 points as well as eight boards. Junior Kendra Brim (Buffalo, N.Y.) added eight points and made two key blocks in the second half.

 

The Leopards, who shot 55.0 percent in the first half, were able to build a significant lead by the 13 minute mark. Sarah McGorry and LaKeisha Wright combined for 12 points in the first four and a half minutes of play while Lafayette's defense was able to hold Colgate to just four points. Lafayette gained their largest lead of the game a few minutes later, earning a 20-8 advantage with just 7:02 left in the half.

 

Garman then sparked a 12-4 run sinking two three-pointers to bring Colgate within eight. The Raiders cut Lafayette's lead to just three, with 3:54 on the clock but the Leopards were able to hold on and went into the half-time break with a four point, 24-20, advantage.

 

Colgate and Lafayette both hit their opening shots of the second half but were unable to score over the next three minutes. The Leopards were the first to connect on a shot as Alicia Manning downed a three to give them a 29-22 lead. The Raiders were quick to respond this time as Garman drained another long-range shot and was aided by two free throws by Sami Kozlowski (New Market, Md.) to make it a two-point game, 29-17.

 

Brim shut down the Leopards next shot with her first block of the game but Lafayette was able to score off the offensive rebound. The Raiders responded with a two-point basket from Brim, her first point of the night. The two teams continued to trade baskets over the next several minutes, but a three from junior Tayler Wejnert (Ramsey, N.J.) would tie the game for the Raiders at 37 all with 9:28 to go.

 

Two minutes later Brim connected on a jumper to give the Raiders their first lead of the game, 39-37. With a little less than five minutes remaining in the game, Kozlowski laid one up in the paint to give Colgate its largest lead of the game, 45-40. The Leopards however, were back within two, 49-47, with 1:26 left on the clock. Neither team could seem to find the basket during the next minute as they combined for two turnovers and both went 0-1 from the free throw line. Then with just eight seconds left on the clock Lafayette's leading scorer LaKiesha Wright laid in a second-chance basket to tie the game at 49 and send it into overtime.

 

The Leopards earned the first lead in overtime as Lauren Jackson went 2-2 from the charity stripe, but a lay-up from Oakes followed by two good free throws from Garman would give the Raiders the lead, 53-51, an advantage which they held for the remainder of the game. Sophomore Candice Green (East Brunswick, N.J.) drained a three to give Colgate a five point lead, 56-51, with 1:53 remaining in overtime.

 

The Leopards came within one but the Raiders were able to hold on for the three point victory, 60-57. Colgate finished on 37.9 percent (22-58) shooting while Lafayette shot 45.7 percent (21-46). The Raiders went 5-14 from behind the arc while the Leopards made just one of 11 attempts.

 

Colgate women's basketball will be back in action this weekend when they travel to Washington, D.C. to face American on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 2 p.m.