HAMILTON, N.Y. (02/21/2006)—Colgate University senior Meghan Curtin (Bronx, N.Y.) knocked down a career-high matching five three-pointers and finished with a team-high 17 points to lead the Raiders to a thrilling 79-71 victory over Patriot League rival Holy Cross in women’s basketball action on senior day. Fellow senior Megan Ballard (Atlanta, Ga.) also chipped in 17 points and picked up five steals to break the single-season steals record in her final game on Cotterell Court.
This win over the Crusaders is Colgate’s first since Jan. 13, 2004 and third all-time and pushes the Raiders’ record to 8-18 overall and 6-7 in league action. Holy Cross falls to 13-13 overall and 9-4 in conference play.
The Crusaders led for much of the first half and used a 12-4 run that spanned five minutes to take its biggest lead of the game, 22-13. Colgate rallied back with an 11-2 run to tie the game at 24 at the 6:39 mark. Ballard made a steal on the next possession and finished the fast-break layup to give the Raiders their first lead of the game, 26-24.
Holy Cross would tie the game two more times, but could not regain the advantage as Colgate went into the locker room up 35-33. The Raiders forced Holy Cross into 13 first-half turnovers.
The Crusaders hit a three coming out of the break to go back ahead by one, 36-35. The teams traded baskets on the next two possessions leaving Holy Cross up 38-37.
Colgate sophomore Caitlin Gillard (Vestal, N.Y.) knocked down a jumper on the next possession to give the Raiders a 39-38 advantage with 15:11 left on the clock. Holy Cross guard Laura Alosi connected on the second of two free-throws to tie the score, but Colgate ran off 16 of the next 24 points for a 55-47 lead at the 10:10 mark.
The Raiders pushed their lead to 14 points over the next five minutes with a pair of threes from Curtin. She connected on 5-of-8 from long range and 5-of-10 overall from the field for the game.
Holy Cross climbed back within four late in the game, but the Raiders iced the victory down the stretch, making 6-of-8 from the charity stripe.
Gillard matched her previous career-high with 16 points, while freshman Gretchen Polinski (Mansfield, Ohio) added 11 points and a career-high 13 rebounds to post her fourth career double-double.
Kaitlin Foley and Shannon Bush paced the Crusaders with 18 points apiece, while Jessica Conte knocked down 15. Ashley McLaughlin led all rebounders with six boards.
Colgate shot 46.7 percent from the floor for the game, while Holy Cross knocked down 50 percent of its chances. The Raiders dominated the boards, outrebounding the visiting Crusaders 37-24.
Colgate closes out its regular-season schedule on Feb. 25, at Navy. The game is schedule to tip off at 12 p.m., in Annapolis.
