Box Score

HAMILTON – What a difference a year makes.

Jhazmine Lynch scored 17 points, while Missy Repoli and Josie Stockill reached double figures for the second game in a row leading Colgate past Robert Morris 71-55 here Sunday afternoon.

The Raiders (1-1) needed 11 games last season to grab their first victory, but reached the win column in the opening weekend to begin this second year under head coach Nicci Hays Fort. 

“I never thought it would happen that my first team here would be 0-10,” said Hays Fort, whose team lost by just four Friday night to Cornell. “But to be able to get this first win in our second game – that's great for our team's confidence.

“They can see now that their hard work is paying off. We've just got to keep buying in and keep getting better.”

Colgate poured in 43 first-half points to take a 43-34 advantage into the locker room. The Raiders shot 56.7 percent (17 of 30) from the field in the opening half while clamping down on Colonials center Artemis Spanou.

“On defense, we were all about limiting 15's (Spanou) touches,” Hays Fort said. “She had 30 on Friday night (vs. Niagara), and today was a great team effort on our part. Carole Harris and Randyll Butler both had the task of guarding her one-on-one, but it was all about our team and how we were going to help on her.

“We did a really good job of putting a lot of pressure on 15 and eliminating her from getting the ball.”

Spanou finished with 13 points on just 6-of-18 shooting. The Colgate defense limited Robert Morris (0-2) to just 36.5 percent from the field, including a paltry 9 of 32 in the second.

Up-Tempo Sighting
Meanwhile, Hays Fort liked what she saw as her up-tempo game plan found some traction in the opening half.

“Absolutely; we're looking to attack like that,” Hays Fort said. “We got a lot of great open looks and had 13 assists in the first half. We shot well because we were taking good shots.”

Colgate survived a 6-0 deficit to start the game but quickly tied it at 6-6 on a pair of 3-pointers from Rapoli. There were six ties in the opening eight minutes and the pace was fast and furious.

Robert Morris used an 8-2 run to go on top 26-20 with 11:14 to play in the half, but Colgate answered with nine straight points of its own to regain the advantage. The Raiders then charged in front 39-32 on the strength of a 10-2 spurt, and they carried that momentum to the nine-point edge at halftime.

Both teams were sluggish after the break, with only two points a side over the first four minutes. But then Mariah Jones busted a huge 3-pointer and Lynch answered with a driving layup to make it 50-36 with 15:24 to play.

Good Advice
Lynch credited her bounce-back game to some perfectly timed advice and a little extra work in the gym.

“I was frustrated in that first game – I think I was 1-for-11 from the field,” Lynch said. “My grandpa is here visiting and he sat me down for a pep talk. He said I was going too deep – 'You're going into the trees.'

“So I just focused on taking the short jumpers and letting the game come to me. I was forcing the issue in the last game, so I got in early Saturday and worked with the coaches on the right shot and better decision-making.”

Lynch was 6-of-13 from the field and 2-of-6 from 3-point distance. She contributed four assists and four steals against only three turnovers.

“I'm still working on it because I'm still forcing the issue a little bit, but it wasn't as bad as against Cornell,” Lynch said. “I want to share the ball when I'm not open for the shot – I don't have to score all the time. I'm just trying to get that mindset right now.”

Scoreless Run No Problem
From there, not even a scoreless drought of 3 minutes and 50 seconds could keep this game out of the Colgate win column. The Raiders led by as many as 21 points before coasting to the finish.

“We were stuck on 59 for a really long time – that's not good,” Hays Fort said. “But at least we were able to snap out of it.”

Repoli (11) and Stockill (10) both matched their scoring numbers from Friday's opener, with the New Zealand freshman Stockill added six key defensive rebounds. Lulu Brase had four of her five rebounds from the offensive glass, contributing mightily to her seven points.

Harris added eight points and Jones seven.

Colgate continued its fine shooting at the free-throw line. The Raiders made 11 of 12 attempts Sunday and are 25 of 28 for the season – an 89.3 percent clip.

The Raiders now face five consecutive games away from Cotterell Court, beginning Friday at St. Bonaventure in a 7 p.m. start.

“We've got a lot of road games in a row,” Hays Fort said. “We've got a tough one at St. Bonaventure; they went to the Sweet 16 last year. Then we go to LIU Brooklyn to play in a tough tournament, and then, obviously, we go to UConn and to Sacred Heart. Those are both good teams as well.”