WEST POINT, N.Y. (03/02/2006)—Colgate University senior Megan Ballard (Atlanta, Ga.) scored a game-high 17 points and picked up five rebounds to lead the fifth-seeded women’s basketball team to a 60-55 victory over fourth-seeded Navy in the Patriot League Tournament Quarterfinals at Christl Arena. The Raiders will face the winner of the No. 1 seed Army vs. No. 8 Lafayette game in the semifinals on Saturday, March 4, at 1 p.m.
The Raiders made 26-of-32 shots from the charity stripe to earn their first win over Navy in the Patriot League Tournament. The Midshipmen only went to the line 13 times, knocking down just six free throws. Navy swept the season series with the Raiders as the two squads faced off for the third time in 12 days.
“The theme for us this season has been to get defensive stops and grab rebounds," head coach Kristin Hughes said. "I thought Navy made a great run at the end. But, I think our kids did a good denying them good looks."
The opening half featured seven ties and six lead changes as both teams struggled from the floor. Navy and Colgate traded baskets in the early going and neither team led by more than two in the opening seven minutes.
The Raiders jumped back in front 8-7 with a pair of free throws from freshman Katherine McGarry (Poland, Ohio), but the Midshipmen responded with a 6-0 run to take its largest lead of the half 13-8.
Sophomore Melanie Cargle (Trotwood, Ohio) came down on the next possession and hit a three to cut the lead to two and Ballard added a pair from the free throw line to tie the game at 13 with 9:18 remaining.
There would be four more ties and three lead changes in the final nine minutes with Colgate closing the half with an 8-0 run to take a 30-24 lead into the break. Sophomore Caitlin Gillard (Vestal, N.Y.) and Ballard sparked the run with a six of the eight points.
Colgate closed the first half with an 8-0 run to take a 30-24 lead into the break and never trailed in the second half,
Colgate scored the first two baskets of the second frame to take a 10 point lead, 34-24, but Navy stormed back to within two with an 8-0 run. The Raiders responded right away with a 12-2 run that spanned over seven minutes to take its biggest lead of the game at 46-34 with 8:14 left on the clock.
Navy went on another big run, scoring 10 of the next 12 points for a four-point game, 48-44. The Raiders went ahead again by nine, 53-44, with a three-pointer by senior Meghan Curtin (Bronx, N.Y.) and a layup by Ballard. Curtin finished with eight points for the Raiders.
With 3:42 left on the clock, the Midshipmen chipped away at the Colgate lead and cut it to two, 57-55 with 28 ticks remaining. That’s when Ballard stepped up and made a pair of free throws to seal the five-point victory. The senior captain scored eight of the team’s final nine points.
Cargle contributed 13 points for Colgate, while freshman Gretchen Polinski (Mansfield, Ohio) chipped in nine points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Gillard also had nine points and a pair of blocks.
Kate Hobbs led Navy with 14 points and a game-high 16 rebounds, while Ashley Pelzek and Kalen Kropa had 11 points apiece. The Midshipmen knocked down 32.8 percent of their chances for the contest.
