HAMILTON – Colgate somehow willed its way into overtime here Saturday, and then the Raiders found a higher gear to complete an important 73-64 victory over Loyola.
 
The outlook wasn't brilliant when Loyola's Hannah Niles bounced her 8-footer around the rim and down with just 6.2 seconds remaining for a 60-59 Greyhounds lead. Colgate was out of timeouts and would have to go the full 94 feet.
 
But Haley Greer on the run found Rachel Thompson streaking for the basket. Thompson went up for the layup and was fouled by Loyola's Isabella Therien with 1.2 seconds showing. Thompson made the first and missed the second of her two-shot foul attempt, and the teams were headed to overtime at 60-60.
 
That's when the Raiders played their best ball of the night. Colgate scored the first 13 points to the delight of its annual Pink Game crowd. Loyola was scoreless in overtime until the final 50 seconds.
 
Thompson finished with a career-high 30 points and added 15 rebounds, six assists and four steals. It was Colgate's first 30-point scoring game since 2005, which was also the last time the Raiders were at least .500 in Patriot League play through eight games.
 
Colgate with Saturday's victory surpassed its overall and Patriot League victory totals from last season, improving to 8-10 and 4-4. That's good for solo fifth place with one game left in the first half of the round-robin conference schedule.
 
The Raiders started fast, jumping out to 8-2 and 13-4 leads in the opening six minutes. The margin swelled to 16-6 on Keelah Dixon's three-point-play and then Thompson found the range in the closing seconds to make it 20-9 Colgate at the end of one quarter.
 
Colgate kept applying the pressure and boosted its lead to 29-13 on Nia Ahart's 3-pointer with 8:52 remaining. Chelsey Koren's free throw with 5:58 showing made it 30-15 as the Raiders were having their way.
 
But Loyola found a spark and the Greyhounds finished the half on an 18-6 run. Thompson scored 10 in that quarter for Colgate but Therien had 13, five of those in the last minute to cap a stretch of six straight scoring possessions for the Greyhounds.
 
It was 36-33 Colgate at halftime.
 
Scoring was scarce to start the third quarter, with Mylah Chandler finally breaking the drought for both teams on a reverse layup with 7:39 showing. But Loyola scored the next 10 points, capped by Bri Betz-White's inside basket to put the visitors in front 43-38 with 3:52 remaining.
 
Colgate then held Loyola scoreless the rest of the quarter, and Abby Schubiger knocked down a pair of big buckets to lift the Raiders back into the lead at 44-43 heading to the fourth.
 
Seemingly just like that, Loyola slipped in front 56-51 just past the midway point of the fourth. Therien's basket with 4:07 remaining made it 58-54 Loyola, but that was her final bucket of a 27-point afternoon.
 
Colgate took advantage and the Raider defense held Loyola scoreless on its next seven possessions. Thompson found her way for a hoop with 3:53 showing to narrow the lead to 58-56, and then she made one of two free throws with 1:39 to play to pull Colgate within 58-57.
 
Summer King grabbed a huge offensive rebound and was fouled with 18 seconds remaining. She went to the line and sank both ends of the two-shot foul to give Colgate a 59-58 edge, setting the stage for the late-game heroics.
 
Bottom Line
• Colgate 73, Loyola 64 (OT)
 
Won-Lost Records
• Colgate improved to 8-10 overall and 4-4 in the Patriot League, exceeding its win totals from a year ago in both categories.
• Loyola dropped to 2-17 and 1-7. The Greyhounds were picked third in the Patriot League preseason poll but haven't yet been able to put it all together.
 
Stats of the Game
• Thompson's 30 points are the most in a Patriot League game this season. Four Patriot Leaguers have scored at least 30 points, but all of those came in nonconference matchups.
• Emily Braseth scored 35 points at Lafayette on Jan. 23, 2005, for Colgate's most recent 30-point scoring game.
• The 2004-05 Raiders under head coach Kristin Hughes were the last Colgate squad at .500 or better through eight Patriot League games. That team was 4-4 on its way to 6-8.
• The Raiders were 0-8 a year ago on their way to 3-15. They finished 7-23 overall.
• Only six Colgate teams in 28 years of Patriot League play have been .500 or better through eight conference games.
• This was Thompson's second game of 15 or more rebounds this season. She had a career-high 19 in November against Columbia.
• Colgate improved to 5-0 this season when scored at least 70 points.
• This was Colgate's first overtime win since knocking off Boston University 96-88 two years ago in Hamilton. The Raiders lost twice in OT last year and were playing their first extra session of this season.
• Colgate's eight third-quarter points were a season low.
• This was Colgate's 18th game of the season and Saturday marked the first time both teams finished with more assists than turnovers. Colgate was 18 to 15, Loyola 17 to 12.
• Last year's defensive player of the year, Stephanie Karcz, did not start but came off the bench to contribute 13 rebounds and seven steals in 32 minutes. That's the most steals against Colgate this season.
• Loyola lost Betz-White to an injury with 1:13 remaining in the third quarter. The Greyhounds dressed only nine players for the game, and both Karcz and Therien fouled out.
 
From the Sources
• Head Coach Bill Cleary (On the overtime) "We were fortunate; they were tired. We wanted to run on them and get them tired, and you could see the effect that had on them at the end of the fourth quarter and into overtime.
 
"But we took advantage and I'm really happy with our resilience, our passion and our energy. We made it a focal point to get off to a good start and we did that today. When we bring a lot of energy and a lot of passion, you can see the results."
 
(On Chandler) "Her value to this team, I'm not sure people really understand. What she does for us defensively is huge. She picked up her second foul in that second quarter and we had a 13-point lead. She comes out and they close the half 18-6."
 
(On Thompson) "We can talk about her 30 points but I want to talk about her defense down the stretch. She is becoming more disciplined defensively, which leads to more steals. She was terrific for us today."
 
Gate Grab Bag
• Attendance at Cotterell Court 450.
• As part of the annual Pink Game and National Girls and Women in Sport Day, Colgate held a postgame all-sports clinic in the Starr practice facility that drew more than 120 participants.
• Cleary pledged $2 for every Colgate point scored and $10 for every 3-pointer to the Kay Yow Cancer Foundation Inc. His total for the game adds up to $186. Donate HERE.
 
Up Next
• Colgate hits the road Wednesday to take on Army.
• The Black Knights are 3-5 in the Patriot League and 8-11 overall after Saturday's 73-50 home loss to Lehigh.
• Start time is 7 p.m. from West Point, with the Patriot League Network carrying all the action.