EASTON, Pa. – Colgate found the focus here Wednesday night to complete its best regular season since the mid-2000s with a 77-67 triumph over Lafayette.
Already locked into the No. 6 seed in the upcoming Patriot League tournament and facing a last-place team riding a 10-game losing streak, Colgate used a 24-point third quarter to withstand Lafayette's upset bid.
The Raiders improved to 12-16 for the program's best win total since the 2004-05 squad finished 12-18. Colgate also jumped to 8-10 in the Patriot League for its highest victory total and best winning percentage (.444) since 2003-04.
That Raiders team of destiny finished 10-4 and swept the regular season and tournament championships on its way to the NCAA tournament.
Rachel Thompson started fast Wednesday and carried that to a 22-point game to lead the Maroon. She also paced the team with eight rebounds, four assists and five steals.
Tegan Graham scored 20 for her third straight 20-point game. The junior knocked down a career-high five 3-pointers and added another collegiate best with three blocked shots.
She added seven rebounds in a team-best 34 minutes to continue her superb play of late.
Colgate scored the game's first six points but then the rest of the opening quarter belonged to Lafayette. Olivia Martino scored 11 and the Leopards were 5-of-7 from downtown to lead 23-15 at the first break.
Haley Greer tallied seven points in the second quarter and Graham's 3-pointer handed Colgate a 37-34 lead with 1:44 left before halftime. But Lafayette scored the last seven points and went to the locker room in front 41-37.
It was still 50-46 Leopards when Colgate caught fire over the last four minutes of the third. Graham cashed in a 3-ball and then Thompson went coast to coast for a layup that put the Raiders in front 51-50 with 3:15 left.
Mackenzie Carroll swished a 3-pointer before Thompson scored the last seven to push the Raiders ahead 61-50 heading to the fourth.
Colgate upped the lead to 65-52 before Lafayette made one last charge, scoring 11 straight to narrow the margin to a bucket with still 5:52 remaining.
Colgate's Best Patriot League Records
By Winning Percentage By Victories
Season W-L Pct. Season W-L
2003-04 10-4 .714* 2003-04 10-4*
1994-95 9-5 .643 1994-95 9-5
1990-91 6-6 .500 2018-19 8-10
1999-2000 6-6 .500 2001-02 7-7
2001-02 7-7 .500 2014-15 7-11
2018-19 8-10 .444 2016-17 7-11
* Won Patriot League regular season and tournament championships.
Thompson's jumper halted the Colgate scoring drought at 4 1/2 minutes and then Graham rattled home her fifth 3-pointer for a 70-63 cushion with 4:38 showing.
Lafayette's Natalie Kukowski made four straight free throws and the Leopards regained possession at the 2-minute mark. But Greer picked Kukowski's pocket and then Graham on the other end had a big offensive board and putback to make it 72-67 Raiders with 1:41 remaining.
Colgate clamped down on defense and
Summer King iced it with a 4-of-4 free throw effort over the final minute.
Bottom Line
• Colgate 77, Lafayette 67
Won-Lost Records
• Colgate won three of its last four to finish the regular season 12-16 overall and 8-10 in the Patriot League.
• Lafayette dropped to 7-22 and 2-16.
Stats of the Game
• Graham is the first Raider in at least a decade to score 20 or more points in three straight games.
• Thompson with five steals missed her career high by one but she moved into a tie for 10th on the Colgate all-time season chart with 72.
• Colgate finished 5-4 on the road in the Patriot League.
• Head coach
Bill Cleary and staff in their third season have now won in eight Patriot League venues, missing only American and Bucknell.
• Colgate is now 8-0 this season when scoring at least 70 points.
• Lafayette's Martino posted career highs with 22 points on 6-of-9 from 3-point distance. Kucowski added 23 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and three steals.
• Colgate has won eight of its last 10 against Lafayette and trails 37-36 in the series. Both losses in those 10 meetings came the last two seasons in Easton.
From the Sources
•
Head Coach Bill Cleary (On the halftime talk) "We said we have to get after it. After a quick start, we were very passive in the first quarter. We lost their shooters, lack of communication, then they end the half on a 7-0 run. They wanted it more in the first half.
"Our kids came out in the second half very focused and played a terrific third quarter. Then we were really poised when it counted at the end. We were getting stops and kept the focus on what we do."
(On eight PL wins and 12 overall wins) "I'm happy for our players. I hope people realize the work they have put in and just how they kept believing. We've had highs and lows this year but this team believes in what we are doing and the foundation we are laying. It's great to see it paying off in these wins."
(On Graham and Thompson) "Tegan is peaking at the right time. I didn't know what to say to her and Rachel after the game. They are just playing at another level. And we had a lot of contributions tonight. You can go through every one because they all contributed to this victory.
Nia Ahart didn't score tonight but she's just a presence on our defense, and
Alexa Naessens was playing Kucowski tough.
(On playing Lehigh) "The Lehigh Valley was good to us tonight. Let's make it continue."
Gate Grab Bag
• Attendance at the Kirby Sports Center was 347.
Up Next
• Colgate opens Patriot League Tournament play Monday at third-seeded Lehigh.
• The Mountain Hawks swept the season series against Colgate, winning 86-58 in Bethlehem and 75-63 in Hamilton.
• Lehigh capped its regular season Wednesday with a 79-74 overtime victory at Holy Cross to finish 20-9 in the Patriot League and 12-6 overall.
• Tip time from Bethlehem is 6 p.m., with the Patriot League Network and 94 WKXZ-FM are carrying all the action.
