Box Score

WORCESTER, MASS. (2/23/11) – Junior Kelly Korkowski recorded her first double-double of the season with 10 points and a game-high 10 rebounds as the Colgate women's basketball team fell to Holy Cross 74-59 on Wednesday night.

Senior Tayler Wejnert led the team in scoring with 15 points and five rebounds while sophomore Jhazmine Lynch contributed 10 points and a team-best five assists. Korkowski also had three blocks and two steals in the game.

Colgate (7-20, 2-11 PL) got on the scoreboard first at the 19:18 mark with a jumper followed by a free throw in the first 90 seconds of play to take the 3-0 lead. The Crusaders responded with a 7-2 run over the next minute to take the 7-5 lead at the 17:16 mark. As the half progressed, Holy Cross began to extend its lead as the Raiders struggled to sink a basket and by the 13:34 mark, the Crusaders had given themselves a 16-7 advantage. The teams continued to play hard, making some strong defensive plays and forcing turnovers on both ends, but by the 11:27 mark Holy Cross had increased the scoring margin to 10 points. Colgate then found its rhythm, going on a 7-2 run to put the score at 25-20 with 7:34 left in the half. However, despite making some much needed baskets in the closing minutes of the half to keep the score within seven points, a series of strong plays from the Crusaders resulted in them taking the 39-30 lead at the end of the half.

The second 20 minutes of play started even between the two teams. The Raiders opened scoring once again with a jumper from Korkowski but then Holy Cross answered back with a three pointer to increase its lead. The teams continued to trade baskets and by the 14:48 mark, Colgate had managed to reduce the scoring margin to seven points with the score at 48-41 in the Crusaders' favor. Determined to maintain its comfortable lead, Holy Cross struck back with a series of three point shots,and by the 9:25 mark, the team had given itself a 63-49 lead. Over the next four minutes, both teams hit a bit of dry spell, only scoring two points each to put the score at 65-51 with less than five minutes left to play. As the game came to a close, the Raiders attempted to make a comeback, making some aggressive plays on both ends of the court. However, despite its renewed energy, the team could not catch up to the Crusaders, who eventually won the game 74-59.

“For the second game in a row, we had a positive assist-turnover ratio,” stated head coach Pamela Bass. We struggled from behind the arc on some key penetrate and pitch opportunities, which could have made a major difference. In the first half we gave up too many offensive boards to Holy Cross and they converted. Although we improved in the second half, we could not convert on key possessions. Kelly did a great job holding the leading player in the conference (Whitney Fremeau) to just 11 points and two boards.”

Colgate had a 40.3 percent field goal percentage, going 13-32 in the first half and 12-30 in the second. The team also shot 60 percent from beyond the arc while the Crusaders, who had a 39.4 field goal percentage, shot 75 percent from distance.

The loss to the Holy Cross gives the Raiders a definite No. 8 seed going into the Patriot League tournament that will begin next weekend. The team will conclude its regular season this weekend when it hosts Navy on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. on Cotterell Court. Colgate will honor its five seniors in their last home game of their collegiate careers.