LOWELL, Mass. – An explosive third quarter gave the Colgate women's basketball team a commanding lead that it did not surrender Friday afternoon at Costello Athletic Center in a 65-45 rout over UMass Lowell.
COACH ADEDUNTAN'S COMMENTS
"We did a great job of responding in the third quarter after a slow start on both ends of the floor. Despite the slow start our intensity defensively in the third quarter is what really got us going. That was one of our best quarters to date. We had a balanced scoring attack and I am especially pleased with our toughness on the boards. Multiple players contributed and it was a difference maker in this game. This team is nowhere close to its potential and that's what makes me really excited about practice tomorrow."
HOW IT HAPPENED
The River Hawks took a 26-23 lead into the halftime break, but the Raiders pounced right from jump street in the third. After Tiasia McMillan made a layup just 25 seconds in to bring the margin down to one, Sophia Diehl made a layup of her own on the next possession to mark the final lead change of the game. Colgate ended up scoring 10 unanswered to bust open a 33-26 lead, then it closed the quarter on a 19-3 run to put the game away.
Scoring depth was a major factor in the Raiders' massive third quarter, as seven separate players scored, including Diehl, who had 12 points in the quarter alone on the way to 14 points for the game. Taylor Golembiewski led all scorers with 15 on the afternoon and Alexa Brodie also reached double figures with 10 points.
Before the dominant close to the game, the Raiders found themselves in a seesaw battle with their host. The Raiders took an 11-10 lead through one quarter of play, but the River Hawks utilized an 8-0 run late in the first half to stake themselves to a three-point halftime lead that did not stand up for long.
Colgate's lead grew to as many as 27 points in the fourth quarter, as the visitors scored 10 of the first 13 points before the River Hawks brought the margin back down to 20 to conclude the contest.
Christina Midgette put in possibly the best defensive effort of her collegiate career. She corralled a career-high 10 rebounds to lead all players and disrupted the River Hawks with a pair of steals. She also added two assists and two points on the offensive end.
Madison Schiller knocked on the door of a double-double once again with nine rebounds and nine points. She also dished out a game-high five assists and did not turn the ball over once.
Diehl's big performance included a perfect 2-for-2 shooting from behind the three-point arc, six rebounds and an assist. Her 14 points were also just one shy of tying her season-high.
McMillan led all players with a pair of blocks and continues to lead the Raiders with 13 on the season, which also ranks her fifth in the Patriot League.
Colgate ends its non-conference slate with a 7-4 record, which marks the most victories outside of conference play in a season since the 2019-20 campaign.
UP NEXT
Conference play awaits Colgate, as it begins Patriot League play after the New Year on Jan. 3 with a road contest at Loyola Maryland. Tip time is set for 7 p.m.
