After dropping five of their first six games, the Raiders faced off against the University of New Hampshire Wildcats on Saturday, December 1. Despite rookie Sami Koslowski’s career-high 23 points the Raiders fell to the Wildcats, 75-70. UNH had 3 players in double digits, 75-70. Four days later, Colgate played the 14th ranked Auburn Tigers. Although they fought valiantly, the Raiders were simply unable to compete and lost 99-45. The Raiders welcomed 7-2 St. Bonaventure into town three days later. Colgate senior Shevorne Martin led all scorers with a career-high 22 points, but it was not enough as the Raiders fell to St. Bonaventure 64-41.

After taking a break for final exams, the Raiders tipped off against the nearby Binghamton Bearcats on Sunday, December 16. In one of their most disappointing performances of the season, the Raiders shot 17 percent (9-of-53) for the game, while Binghamton hit 46.4 percent (26-of-56) from the floor. The Bearcats’ bench alone outscored the Raiders, who fell 74-26. The Raiders then returned home two days later to face perennial rival Cornell. Home cooking couldn’t even help them, as the Raiders lost again 82-47. Next up came the 5-5 Cleveland State Vikings four days before Christmas. Cleveland State’s Kailey Klein and Brittany Korth combined for 31 points to lead the Vikings to a 60-34 victory. Martin led the Raiders with nine points.

One week later, Colgate traveled to bucolic Chestnut Hill, Mass to face the 10-3 Boston College Eagles. Unfortunately, a change of scenery did not help as the Raiders lost, 75-45. The Raiders celebrated New Year’s Eve in Brooklyn when they faced the St. Francis Red Flash. After a 63-40 loss, Colgate had a spell at Hamilton before traveling to Vermont on the second day of the New Year. They were unable to get any momentum going as they fell 78-41 to finish their non-conference schedule with an abysmal 1-14 record.

Colgate started its Patriot League schedule on the road against the Army Black Knights on Friday, January 12. The Raiders got the opening bucket and forced an Army turnover on its first possession, but Army tied the game on a pair of free throws to spark a 15-3 run over the next seven minutes. The Raiders scored the first basket of the second half and held the Black Knights without a point for their first four possessions, but the Army defense held the Raiders to just three points over the next eight minutes to push its lead to 20 points with 10:26 left on the clock. Colgate would never get closer than 17 points, falling 65-40.

Four days later, Colgate traveled to Pennsylvania to face the Lafayette Leopards. The Raiders started the game off slow and fell behind early in the first half. In the second half, Kozlowski and Martin led the team to a nice 35-point half. Furthermore, Colgate scored off of a nice screen with five seconds left to narrow the score to 55-52. The Raiders immediately fouled Lafayette forward Emily Garner, who proceeded to miss both free throws. Unfortunately, Lafayette’s Meaghan Malone picked up the loose ball and hit two free throws to ice the 57-52 victory for Lafayette. Kozlowski topped her previous career-high with 24 points, and Martin recorded a double-double in the hard-fought loss.

The first home Patriot League game of the year matched the Raiders against the American Eagles, who were riding a seven-game losing streak into Hamilton. Although the Raiders kept it close until the opening minutes of the second half, the Raiders fell big 88-58. Martin had 16 points, four rebounds and four assists.

Although Colgate is encountering some trouble this season, the presence of seniors Shevorne Martin and Caitlin Gillard will most certainly leave the litany of first-years on this team with knowledge and experience that they can use for the rest of their careers.

The Raiders will travel to Bucknell on Saturday and Holy Cross on Wednesday.