IRVINE, Calif. — Lara Cook and Laila Hankerson's career-high performances were not enough as the Raiders fell 82-48 to UC Irvine to close out the ZotGiving Tournament.
The Raiders were steady at the free-throw line, shooting 8-for-11 for a .756 team percentage. Cook went 2-for-3, Ella Meabon was 2-for-2, and Grace Klag finished 4-for-6.
From the field, Colgate shot 32.7 percent (16-for-49), with eight of those makes coming from beyond the arc. Hankerson hit three three-pointers, while Cook added two.
COACH BUSH'S COMMENTS
"We played two very talented west coast opponents this weekend and will take a lot of positive lessons and opportunities for growth back with us to Hamilton.Â
"We are looking forward to getting back to work. "
HOW IT HAPPENED
Colgate couldn't find early points as UC Irvine opened with a 70 run. Hankerson and Meabon combined for a five-point burst to cut the deficit to two. The Anteaters answered with five straight points to take a 12–5 lead. Tatiana Matthew's jumper narrowed the gap, but the Raiders went scoreless over the final two minutes and trailed 24–10 at the end of the quarter.
Cook and Meabon accounted for all 13 of Colgate's points in the second. Meabon knocked down a pair of free throws before UC Irvine put together another 7-0 run. Cook halted the surge with a driving layup and later buried a three-pointer to make it 35–18. UC Irvine responded with five quick points off a three and a fast break, but Cook added a jumper and a free throw to spark the offense. Meabon closed the half with a three-pointer in the final seconds as Colgate entered halftime trailing 45–23.
UC Irvine kept its momentum after the break with back-to-back layups and a 12-0 mid-quarter run to stretch the lead to 64–30. Meabon assisted Abbey Ferguson on a three-pointer at 8:27, and Hankerson added a late three at the buzzer, but Colgate still faced a 64–35 deficit entering the fourth.
Hankerson opened the final frame with a block that helped spark a 6-0 Colgate run. Cook drilled a three, and Klag went 3-for-4 at the line. Hankerson later hit her third three of the night, but the Raiders couldn't close the gap and fell 82–48.
UP NEXT
The Raiders wrap up a three-week road stretch and return to Hamilton, N.Y., to host the University of Delaware on Friday at 6 p.m. on Cotterell Court.Â
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