HAMILTON, N.Y. (1/28/09) -   Briana McFadden scored 18 points, while Whitney Fremeau and Jessica Merrihue each added 12 to lead Holy Cross to a 72-52 win against the Colgate women's basketball team at Cotterell Court Wednesday evening.

The Crusaders improve to 9-11 overall and 4-2 in the Patriot League, while Colgate falls to 4-17 overall and remains winless in the league at 0-6.

Sophomores Tayler Wejnert (Ramsey, N.J.) and Sami Kozlowski (New Market, Md.) led the Raiders in scoring.  Wejnert led Colgate with 15 points five assists and nine rebounds followed by Kozlowski who added 14 points, two assists and three steals.

Freshmen Candice Green (East Brunswick, N.J.) and Holly Havenstein (Mt. Airy, Md.) put up eight points each, a career-high for Havenstein, who also had five boards.  Senior Gretchen Polinski (Mansfield, Ohio) pulled down seven rebounds for the Raiders.

The Raiders jumped out to an early lead in the first half, 16-8, after knocking down four three-point baskets in the opening seven minutes.  Wejnert and Kozlowski each had one of those three's, with Green putting in two back-to-back. Kozlowski followed with another three a minute later to put the Raiders up 19-10 with 12:11 left in the half.  

Holy Cross responded by going on an 11-2 run to tie the game at 21 with just under seven minutes remaining.  McFadden scored seven more points before the end of the half to help lead the Crusaders to a 12 point lead, 37-25, at the break.

Colgate shot 38.5 percent (10-26) in the first half and went 5-15 (33.3 percent) from behind the arc.  Holy Cross finished the half on 50 percent (12-24) shooting from the floor and 84.6 percent (11-13) from the free throw line.  The Raiders edged out Holy Cross in rebounding, 16-15.

The Crusaders were able to build their lead up to 16, after starting the second half off with a 12-4 run.  Kozlowski hit a three to cut the Crusaders advantage to 11, 48-37 with 12:13 left in the half.  Colgate would not come any closer however, as Holy Cross built up a 22 point advantage, finishing the game with a 20 point lead, 72-52.

The Crusaders held Colgate to just 21.9 percent (7-32) shooting in the second half, while Holy Cross went 13-21 (61.9 percent) from the field.  The Crusaders finished the game on 55.6 percent shooting while the Raiders shot 29.3 percent overall.  Colgate had the advantage on the boards 36-31.

The Raiders will take to the road this weekend when they face Navy this Saturday in Annapolis, Md.  Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

Box Score