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HAMILTON, N.Y. (11/16/09) - The Colgate women’s basketball team is off to a 2-0 start after defeating Rider University, 72-65, in the final minutes of play on Monday evening. Freshman
Jhazmine Lynch (San Diego, Calif.) had a stellar performance for the Raiders scoring a career-high 25 points to lead all scorers.
Lynch was aided by junior Kendra Brim (Buffalo, N.Y.) with 14 points while junior Sami Kozlowski (New Market, Md.) contributed 10. Sophomore Tricia Oakes (Evergreen, Colo.) led the Raiders in rebounds with seven, while Tayler Wejnert (Ramsey, N.J.) pulled down six boards.
After a slow start to the first half, the Raiders picked up the momentum, gaining an eight point advantage, 16-8 by the nine minute mark. The Broncs however, would not back down easily, going on a 20-11 run in the final minutes of the first half.
Amanda Sepulveda knocked down a three-pointer with exactly 2:00 left on the clock to bring the Broncs within one, 27-26. After missing a three on the Colgate end of the court, the Raiders fouled Rider’s Caitlin Bopp, sending her to the line. Bopp connected on both free throws, sending the Broncs into the half-time break with a one point lead, 28-27.
Both teams shot under 30 percent in the first half, with the Raiders going 8-29 from the field and the Broncs 9-38. Rider led in rebounding 30-24 in the first half.
The Raiders regained the lead in the second half, earning a seven point advantage, 35-28, just three minutes into the half. The Broncs cut that lead to two, 37-35, just two minutes later but Brim put the Raiders back on top, scoring seven consecutive points, including a shot from behind the arc.
With less than five minutes remaining in the game, Sepulveda hit her third three of the night to give the Broncs a two point lead 63-61. Kozlowski made one of two free throws, while Candice Green (East Brunswick, N.J.) added two more to give Colgate a one point lead, 64-63. Lynch went one-for-two from the line to make it 65-63, but Tammy Meyers connected on both shots from the charity stripe to make it a tied game, 65-65 with just 1:22 on the clock.
Lynch hit a three to give the Raiders a 68-63 lead and grabbed the defensive rebound after Meyers missed a three-pointer on the other end. Kozlowki cut into the paint for a lay-up to make it a five point game, 70-65. Lynch forced Meyers to turnover the ball in the final seconds and added one last basket for the 72-65 victory.
Meyers and Sepulveda led the Broncs with 15 points apiece while Meyers had 11 rebounds to lead all players on the boards.
The Raiders will be back in action Wednesday when they host Alabama State at 7 p.m. on Cotterell Court.