Jan. 10, 2009

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EASTON, Pa. - A slow start by the Lafayette women's basketball team led to a 60-45 loss to Holy Cross in the team's Patriot League season opener. The Leopards, who scored just 12 first-half points to drop their first home game of the season, were led in scoring by LaKeisha Wright, who finished with a team-best 15 points.

The Leopards did manage to chip into Holy Cross's double-digit lead in the second half to pull within five, but they could not come all the way back. Lafayette (6-10, 0-1) held a 38-35 edge in rebounds, including a career-tying 12 from Emily Garner, who also chipped in 11 points for her first double-double of the season.

Lafayette shot less than 21 percent (5-of-24) in the opening period and under 28 percent for the game. The Crusaders (6-10, 1-0) countered with a 42 percent showing for the afternoon, including an 11-of-25 performance from three-point range.

Wright scored the team's first six points of the half but the Leopards found themselves trailing 9-6 after eight minutes of play and the Crusaders led 11-6 with 11:21 on the clock. Nearly four minutes elapsed without a basket by either team before Jessica Pearson's jumper at 7:43 made it 13-6.

Lafayette went more than six minutes without a point before Wright's free throw at 5:22 made the score 13-7. Holy Cross upped its edge to double figures (19-7) after Pearson's three with 3:03 remaining. Garner's jumper at 1:41 ended an 11-minute stretch without a field goal by the Leopards and made the score 21-9, but the Crusaders went into halftime with a 26-12 advantage.

Holy Cross maintained a 15-point edge (28-13) five minutes into the second half. A steal by Jessica Spicer and subsequent layup made it 32-21 with 12 minutes to play, and Wright's fifth basket of the afternoon brought the Leopards back within single digits (32-23).

Garner's three-point play at 11:07 cut the Crusaders' lead to six (32-26). The Leopards briefly pulled within five (34-29) after Spicer's basket with 9:42 on the clock, but Holy Cross built its lead back to double figures (42-31) after a layup by Kathy Gruzynski at 7:43. Lafayette fell behind 54-41 after two free throws by Briana McFadden at the 2:33 mark that sealed the double-digit win for the Crusaders.

The Leopards take to the road on Wednesday to face league opponent Colgate. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Postgame Notes:
- The 12 first-half points scored by Lafayette in the first half were the fewest scored by the Leopards in any half this season.
- Today's game was the 900th in program history.