Box Score

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. – Niagara won a squeaker against Colgate for the second year in a row, claiming a 66-63 overtime decision here Sunday night.

Colgate fought from behind to force the extra period, but then scored only one point in the five-minute extra session. The Raiders' offense managed only two made free throws and zero field goals the last 6:45 of the game counting regulation and overtime.

“We couldn't score, but that's a function of us not focusing on details that we work on every day,” Colgate head coach Nicci Hays Fort said. “It's why we have to work on those details every single day because we don't always do the right things when we get in the games.

“That's what got us – we didn't focus on details and we had some turnovers and some missed layups.”

A year ago, Niagara scored on a last-second shot to win 61-60 in Hamilton. Sunday, one more field goal in regulation play again would have made the difference.

“We watched last year's game for a reason,” Hays Fort said. “Everyone remembers the last play of the game, but what they don't realize is there are all of those little things that led to the last play.

“It's a tough, tough ending. Definitely.”

Halftime Lead Lost
Colgate (4-6) lost for the first time this season when leading at halftime. The Raiders were on top 36-32 at the break after an even first half that saw four ties and one big lead change.

Defensive pressure was effective for Colgate, which had five steals the first half.

The Raiders used that pressure to go ahead for the first time thanks to a 10-0 run that turned an 18-14 deficit into a 24-18 advantage on Missy Repoli's 3-pointer with 8:39 left. Kelly Reid also was putting together her best offensive game of the season, scoring six first-half points on her way to 11.

“Our guards did a really good job getting us the ball inside when we were open,” Reid said. “We worked a lot on drawing the defense out so they would have a great angle to get the ball back inside.

“I finished well tonight and that's a result of our post defense in practice.”

Second-Half Burst
The game's leading scorer, Niagara's Lauren Gatto with 18, fought foul trouble in the first half and was held to six points. But the Illinois-Chicago junior transfer got going to start the second, scoring six of the Purple Eagles' first 10 points and eight of 15 as Niagara regained the lead at 47-46 with 10:24 to play.

Balance was the Colgate hallmark throughout. Reid was the first Raiders player in double figures when she scored in the paint to cut Niagara's advantage to 56-54 with 4:50 left.

The game see-sawed from tie scores to a Niagara lead, and the Purple Eagles on three occasions built four-point cushions only to watch the Raiders rally. The last four-point spread came at 62-58 with 2:27 remaining.

But Colgate's Carole Harris sparked one final comeback with a pair of huge offensive rebounds, two of her game-high 11 boards for the night. Her second carom led to Catherine Lewis blistering a 3-pointer from the top of the key to make it 62-61 with 1:45 left.

After a Raiders defensive stop, Reid somehow was left all alone under the basket on the ensuing trip down the floor. She missed the layup but was fouled on the attempt, and sank one of two free throws with 26 seconds left for the 10th tie score of the game at 62-62.

No Second Miracle
Niagara's Kayla Stroman – who hit the winning shot in last year's thriller – tried to be the hero again but misfired on a 3-point attempt with four seconds left. The first overtime game this season for both teams was the result.

Overtime was scoreless until Gatto hit a jumper with 2:47 left to make it 64-62. That bucket ended a 4:30 Purple Eagles drought, during which time Colgate managed to score just four points.

Harris made one of two free throws with 53 seconds left, and the Raiders regained possession with 27 seconds showing but turned it over and were forced to foul. Meghan McGuinness made two free throws for Niagara with nine seconds to play and Colgate's Jhazmine Lynch got off only a desperation 3-pointer that missed everything at the buzzer.

“It stinks because we had a lot of close games last year, and I thought we might have gotten over the hump a little bit with the Saint Francis win,” Hays Fort said. “But this is life on the road. You've got to be able to take care of the ball, finish plays and get big rebounds.”

In addition to Reid's 11 points, Catherine Lewis added 11 to lead the Raiders' scoring. Repoli and Lynch had eight points each and Harris seven to go with her 11 boards, which were a career high.

“I'm really proud of my team,” Harris said. “We just have to learn how to dig in till the end and pull it out. I wish we could have gotten that one. We just need to learn from this and keep going.”

More Bench Work
Colgate's bench again came through in a big way, outscoring Niagara's reserves 34-12. For the year, Colgate's bench players have outscored their opposition 257-150.

“Look at our bench stats – that's just huge once again,” Hays Fort said. “Jhaz has a solid night with eight, five (assists) and four (steals). Catherine Lewis has 11 points and seven rebounds. Carole Harris hasn't practiced all week and she comes in and gets a career high in rebounds.

“We've still got to get healthy; we're pretty banged up. We've just got to fix Colgate.”

The Raiders were trying for their first three-game winning streak since Dec. 1-5, 2010. Instead, Colgate lost its sixth straight overtime game dating to a Nov. 23, 2010, win over Wagner.

Niagara (5-5) was led by its two overtime scorers, Gatto with 18 points and McGuinness with 15. The Purple Eagles held a slight edge in rebounding, 45-42, and both teams committed 21 turnovers.

Colgate plays again Friday at Iona in a 2 p.m. start.

“Every game we play, we've been getting better,” Reid said. “And it all gives us valuable experience for the Patriot League, which is all you can ask of the non-conference games.