HAMILTON, N.Y. (2/6/10) - The Colgate women's basketball team rode a strong first half to a 61-47 win over the Army Black Knights, Saturday at Cotterell Court. The win was Colgate's first against Army since January of 2006.
Colgate's defense was stifling in the first half. They held Army to just 16.7% shooting (5-30) and only 14 points. The Raiders went to the halftime break with a commanding 36-14 lead. Colgate was then able to withstand a strong second half charge from the Black Knights to hold on for the victory.
On offense, Colgate spread the points around. Freshman Jhazmine Lynch (San Diego, Calif.) led the way with 15 points, while sophomore Candice Green (East Brunswick, N.J.) added 11 and senior Katie Garman (Poplar Grove, Ill.) scored eight. Garman also led the way in rebounds, with seven boards on the afternoon.
Colgate dominated the early going. With the score tied 2-2 early, Garman scored five straight points. Freshman Lulu Brase (Lake Wylie, S.C.) followed that up with a layup of her own to put Colgate up 9-2 with 15:30 left in the first half. After Army hit a foul shot to cut the lead to 9-3, Garman scored again. This time she got a layup in spite of a foul, and nailed the free throw to complete the three point play. After Garman's basket, Colgate continued to dominate, going on a 9-2 run. Junior Sami Kozlowski (New Market, Md.) had four points on the run, while Green scored three, and sophomore Tricia Oakes (Evergreen, Colo.) added two. The run put the Raiders up 22-5.
After Army cut the lead to 24-12, Colgate got five straight points from sophomore Kelly Korkowski (Williamsburg, Va.) to up their advantage to 17. Green then put the Raiders lead up over 20, as she hit a three to stake Colgate to a 32-12 advantage. Colgate's lead got all the way up to 23, thanks to a layup and a one for two trip to the foul line from Lynch. Army would get the half's final basket, but Colgate still went to the locker room with a commanding 35-14 lead.
Lynch opened up the second half with a layup to put the Raiders up 37-14, but after that Army dominated the early portion of the second frame. After Lynch's layup Army went on 12-1 run, before Green nailed a three with the shot clock running down to give the Raiders a 41-26 lead.
However, Army gradually chipped away at the lead, and with exactly three minutes left the Black Knights got a three point play from Nalini Hawkins to cut the Raider advantage to 55-45. After a Colgate turnover Hawkins came up huge again, nailing a jumper to cut the Raider advantage to eight. It was the first time Army was within single digits since the opening minutes of the first half. After the basket Army came at Colgate with a press, but the Raiders were able to beat it and get the ball up to Brase who laid it in to give Colgate a 57-47 advantage. On the ensuing Army possession Garman came up with a steal, which would lead to a trip to the free throw line for Lynch. Lynch nailed both her shots to give Colgate a 12 point lead. After Army missed a three on the other end, Brase made a running hook shot from just inside the three point arc to give the Raiders a 61-47 lead. 61-47 would hold up to be the final score.
Army got a stellar performance from Hawkins who scored 27 points, 21 of them coming in the second half. She did not get much help though, as no one else on Army had more than nine points. With the win Colgate improves to 8-14 overall and 3-5 in the Patriot League, while Army drops to 9-13 overall and 3-5 in League.
Next up for the Raiders is another home contest. They play host to Lafayette Wednesday at 7:00. Colgate beat the Leopards earlier this year on the road by a score of 71-63.
