Box Score

ITHACA, N.Y. – Colgate dug a first-half hole and never recovered, dropping a 76-62 decision Friday night in the season opener at Cornell.

The Raiders shot just 22 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes and trailed 45-25 at halftime. A crucial stretch was Cornell's 12-0 run during a 5½-minute segment still early in the game.

Lauryn Kobiela's 3-pointer with 17:26 remaining in the first half tied the score at 7-7. But the Big Red scored the next 12 points and held Colgate without a point until Missy Repoli made a pair of free throws with 11:54 showing.

"Cornell capitalized on all its opportunities and we didn't," Raiders head coach Nicci Hays Fort said. "They didn't miss a layup."

Cornell shot better than 53 percent from the floor in the first half, making 17 of 32 attempts to Colgate's seven of 32. For the game, Cornell shot 45.6 percent from the field to Colgate's 33.3.

After trailing by as many as 22 early in the second half, Colgate rallied to outscore the hosts 37-29 the rest of the way. The Raiders drew as close as 13 points on a couple of occasions but couldn't trim the deficit any further.

"We actually won the second half," Hays Fort said. "We worked on a few things in those last 20 minutes and that was a positive. Everyone contributed tonight, and Paige had some great minutes off the bench."

Quick Turnaround
Sophomore reserve Paige Kriftcher led the Raiders with 13 points in 14 minutes played, including a perfect 3-of-3 from long range. Kriftcher's 13 points tied her career high.

Kobiela added 12 in her first game action since injuring her ankle in preseason practice. She missed last week's exhibition win over St. Lawrence.

Kelly Reid was Colgate's rebounding leader with nine, followed by Carole Harris with seven.

Colgate outrebounded Cornell 41-39, and both teams finished with 17 assists against 17 turnovers. Points in the paint were 40-20 in favor of the Big Red, while the Raiders held a 31-26 edge in bench scoring. Cornell in the game made 20 of 22 free throws to Colgate's 7 of 10.

It's a quick turnaround for Colgate, which hosts St. Bonaventure in the Cotterell Court opener Sunday at 2 p.m. The Bonnies lost 70-47 Friday night at N.C. State.