Jan. 28, 2005

Box Score

WORCESTER, Mass. (www.lafayette.edu) - Holy Cross led from start to finish and used a stifling pressure defense that forced 27 Lafayette turnovers in a 70-48 win over the Leopards in Patriot League women's basketball action on Friday.

While the Crusader defense was forcing 16 first-half turnovers by Lafayette, the one-two punch of Lisa Andrews and Maggie Fontana scored 26 of their 30 combined points before the break as Holy Cross took a 35-22 lead into halftime.

Lafayette was poised to climb back into the ballgame, scoring on three straight possessions early in the second half to pull within nine, 37-28. Over the next 11 minutes, however, Holy Cross out-scored the Leopards 27-8 to build a 28-point lead. Included in the run was a 71-second burst that saw the Crusaders bury triples on three consecutive possessions.

Both offenses struggled early, as the teams combined for just four field goals in the game's first seven minutes. Lafayette trailed by just seven, 27-20, with under four minutes to go, but Holy Cross (11-8 overall, 6-0 Patriot League) out-scored the Leopards 8-2 after the final media timeout to take the 13-point lead and momentum into the locker room.

Andrews finished with 16 points, six rebounds, three assists and three blocks, while Fontana nearly matched her with 14 points, six rebounds and three assists. Fontana tallied all 14 of her points in the first half. Jessica Conte chipped in nine points and four steals as 11 different players cracked the scoring column for Holy Cross.

Sophomore guard Kara Stetler led Lafayette (3-16, 1-4) with 12 points. She also handed out a career-high six assists. Michelle Hunter added a career-high 11 points in the loss.

Lafayette senior center Brianne Welte left the game with just over 13:00 left with a right knee injury. The co-captain will undergo further evaluation on Saturday.