HAMILTON, N.Y. (02/01/2006)—Colgate University senior Megan Ballard (Atlanta, Ga.) scored a career-high 28 points and had seven steals and two assists to lead the Raiders to a thrilling 71-69 overtime win over Lehigh University in women’s basketball action on Cotterell Court. Colgate overcame an 11-point deficit late in the second half to force overtime and grab its second consecutive victory.

Trailing by seven at the break, Lehigh used a pair of big runs in the second frame to take its largest lead at 61-50 with 3:58 left. Colgate freshman Katherine McGarry (Poland, Ohio) knocked down a pair of free throws on the next possession to cut the lead to nine with 3:38 on the clock and then Ballard took over from there.

The senior guard knocked down a jumper off a missed Lehigh free throw to make it a 61-54 game. The next possession, Ballard scored the old fashioned three-point play after picking up a steal and converting on the fast-break layup and ensuing free throw to push the Raiders to within four at 61-57 with 2:52 on the clock.

Lehigh’s Sara Ellis hit a pair from the charity stripe to go ahead six, 63-57, but the Raiders would not go away, getting a three-pointer from freshman guard Gretchen Polinski (Mansfield, Ohio), pulling Colgate to within three, 63-60.

Lehigh missed the front end of a one-and-one and Ballard laid the ball in the bucket to cut the Mountain Hawk lead to one, 63-62. Lehigh continued its struggles from the free throw line, missing three straight free throws before hitting the final freebie to grab a two-point edge, 64-62.

Ballard got the ball and drove the length of the floor drawing a foul as she went for the tying layup with eight seconds left. She stepped up to the line and hit the bottom of the net on both free throws to force overtime at 64-64.

Sophomore guard Shevorne Martin (Bronx, N.Y.) knocked down a 12-foot jumper from the wing to put the Raiders ahead for good at 66-64. The Mountain Hawks continued to struggle at the free throw line in the overtime session, making just 2-of-4.

Martin finished with eight points and a career-high matching five rebounds.

Lehigh cut the lead to one twice, but the Raiders made their shots when it counted, scoring the two-point overtime win. This marks the first time this season Colgate has posted consecutive wins and pushes its record to 5-15 and 3-4 in Patriot League play.

The first half featured a lot of back and forth action with the lead changing seven times with four ties in the opening 20 minutes. Ballard scored 12 of Colgate’s first 14 points.

Polinski finished with her second straight double-double with a quiet 10 points and 11 rebounds, while sophomore Melanie Cargle (Trotwood, Ohio) also got in double figures with 11 points and six boards. The Raiders shot 34.2 percent for the game, but outrebounded the league-leading Mountain Hawks 46-45.

Lehigh (5-15, 3-4 PL) was led by Jenny Callan’s 19 points, while Adrienne Blount had a good outing with 18 points and 11 caroms. Emily Geosits scored 10 points for the Mountain Hawks. Lehigh shot 44.1 percent for the game and just 53.8 percent from the charity stripe in the loss.

Colgate continues its four-game homestand on Feb. 4, hosting Bucknell for alumni weekend at 4 p.m., at Cotterell Court. The game will be broadcast by WKXZ 94 FM/99.3 FM.