HAMILTON – Eight games. Seven different leading scorers.
 
Mackenzie Carroll took her turn at the forefront Thursday night, scoring a career-high 19 points – 16 in the fourth quarter – to help Colgate knock off Towson 76-71.
 
The Raiders led 38-25 at halftime behind Katie Curtis' big second quarter. The senior guard picked up right where she left off Sunday at Purdue by scoring 15 first-half points, including 11 in the second period as Colgate outscored Towson 23-10.
 
But when Curtis went down late in the third quarter with an injury, Carroll took over the point and took over the Raider scoring. The sophomore guard accounted for 16 of Colgate's 23 points in the period to hold off a determined Towson team that entered the game 6-2.
 
Carroll finished 6-of-10 from the floor, including 5-of-8 from 3-point distance. She entered Thursday's game 5-of-15 for her career from downtown, having scored two total points this season and 22 total for her career.
 
Curtis finished with 17 points and Mylah Chandler tied for game rebounding honors with 11.
 
Raven Bankston scored a game-high 24 points for Towson.
 
Bottom Line
• Colgate 76, Towson 71
 
Won-Lost Records
• Colgate improved to 2-6.
• Towson is now 6-3.
 
Quick Recap
• Towson's largest lead of the game was 15-10 on Bankston's 3-pointer with 2:03 left in the first.
• But Chelsey Koren knocked down a 3-pointer and Tegan Graham scored on a twisting layup to pull the Raiders even at 15-15 by quarter's end.
• After a few ties and a couple of early lead changes, Colgate took control in the second quarter.
• Curtis scored eight straight Raider points and then Haley Greer's 3-pointer capped an 11-3 run that made it 31-23 Colgate with 4:11 showing.
• Greer's second three of the game followed by consecutive layups from Koren and Chandler pushed the Raiders in front 38-25 at intermission.
• But less than three minutes into the second half, Towson had that lead whittled to 41-36 on Bankston's 3-pointer with 7:18 remaining.
• Two Bankston free throws narrowed the gap to 50-46 before Carroll's first 3-ball of the night helped Colgate take a 53-48 lead into the final period.
• Carroll made a jumper and then nailed three 3-pointers in a four-attempt stretch to push the Raiders in front 66-59 with 3:38 remaining.
• The Tigers pulled within three points on three separate occasions, including 66-63 with 2:04 showing and then 74-71 with 11 seconds to play.
• But Colgate connected on just enough free throws to claim its first home victory of the season.
 
Facts & Figures
• Colgate shot a season-high 50.9 percent from the floor, going 27-of-53.
• Included were a season-high 11 threes on 21 attempts for 52.4 percent – also a season best.
• The free throw line was a different story, although Colgate did manage to make 7-of-8 down the stretch when the outcome was in jeopardy.
• For the game, the Raiders were 11-of-21 at the stripe.
• The Raider bench outscored Towson's bench 45-5.
• Chandler's 11 rebounds tied her career high and marked her fourth game out of eight in double figures. She leads the team at 7.3.
• Curtis took over the team scoring lead at 12.0. This was her sixth game in double figures.
• The Raiders blocked six shots but topped 20 turnovers for the fourth straight game, finishing with 22.
• Greer is second on the team in 3-pointers made with 10. She and Kateri Stone just missed double figures in scoring with eight.
• Rachel Thompson led with four assists, adding seven points.
• Thompson is the only Raider to have led the team in scoring twice this season. Other scoring leaders have been Curtis, Chandler, Greer, Koren, Stone and now Carroll.
 
From the Sources
• Colgate assistant coach Mahogany Green: (On the game) "We knew we were right there on the cusp of getting a win for our program. We've been working really hard and the kids have been picking up on the defense, really trying to do what we've been asking them to do. Our offense has been clicking pretty well but our defense has been coming along. In the Purdue game, we made some great defensive strides.
 
"Today, we pulled it together offensively and defensively. It was a good win. We needed it and they've been working hard for it."
 
Listen to the rest of Coach Green's comments HERE.
 
• Colgate guard Mackenzie Carroll: (On her performance) "On our team, we have a standard that we set. No matter who is called on, everyone is ready to play. So it was my time to be called on when Katie went down.
 
"Katie helped me out a lot. In practice every day, I practice against her. She pushed me really hard and I like to think I push her hard. That's why I was ready – we go hard in practice every day."
 
Listen to the rest of Carroll's comments HERE.
 
Gate Grab Bag
• Attendance at Cotterell Court was 472.
 
Up Next
• Colgate continues a two-game home set with a Saturday encounter against LIU Brooklyn.
• It's the second game of a doubleheader that starts with the Colgate-Albany men's game at 2 p.m.
• The Raiders and Blackbirds met last season and Colgate won 63-53 in Brooklyn. Colgate leads the series 8-3.
• LIU Brooklyn enters 1-7 after Wednesday's 77-59 loss at Seton Hall.

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