HAMILTON, N.Y. (02/04/2006)—Bucknell University freshman Lauren Schober scored a game-high 21 points to lead the first-place Bison to an 81-63 victory over Colgate University in Patriot League women’s basketball action on Cotterell Court. The Raiders had three players finish with 13 points.

The Raiders fall to 5-16 overall and 3-5 in Patriot League play, while Bucknell stays atop the conference standings with a 14-7 mark and 7-1 league record.

Bucknell raced out to an early 9-3 lead, but Colgate went on a 10-4 run to the tie the score at 13 at the 15:02 mark. The Bison jumped back in front by six, 20-14, but the Raiders responded with 14 of the next 20 points to take a two-point lead, 28-26 with 4:31 left to play in the opening stanza.

The final 3:55 seconds was a flurry of action featuring three ties and four lead changes. Junior guard Lindsey Hollobaugh knocked down a pair of free throws with six seconds on the clock to put the Bison ahead by two, 34-32. Colgate senior guard Meghan Curtin (Bronx, N.Y.), however, put the Raiders back in front with a three-pointer at the buzzer, giving the Raiders a 35-34 halftime advantage.

Both teams struggled from the floor in the first half, making just 31 percent of their shots. Bucknell held a slight 25-24 advantage on the boards.

Colgate opened the second frame with the first five points on a basket from senior Devon Warwick (Amesbury, Mass.) and a three-pointer from freshman Gretchen Polinski (Mansfield, Ohio) to take its largest lead of the game at 40-34.

The Bison responded right away, scoring the game’s next 13 points to grab a seven-point advantage, 47-40, at the 14:39 mark. Bucknell continued to stifle the Colgate offense for the next nine minutes, going on a 25-10 run for a 71-50 lead, its largest advantage of the game, and the 18-point victory.

Bucknell held Colgate to just 27 percent shooting in the second half and 29 percent for the game, while it knocked down 43.1 percent of its shots from the floor, including a blistering 56.7 in the second frame.

Polinski, Curtin, and sophomore Melanie Cargle (Trotwood, Ohio) all finished with 13 points. Polinski just missed recording her third consecutive double-double with a team-high nine rebounds. Sophomore guard Shevorne Martin (Brooklyn, N.Y.) collected a career-high six rebounds for the Raiders.

Hollobaugh chipped in 18 points and six rebounds, while Amanda Brown had 17 points for the Bison. Hope Foster pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds.

The Raiders close out their four-game homestand on Feb. 7, hosting Lafayette at 7 p.m., on Cotterell Court.