Women’s Basketball Falls to Lehigh, Bucknell

Womens+Basketball+Falls+to+Lehigh%2C+Bucknell

Women’s basketball took another two-game blow this weekend as they were toppled in the face of both Lehigh and Bucknell with final scores of 72-65 and 79-64, respectively.

In the game against Lehigh, the Raid­ers maintained the lead throughout most of the game, but the team, disappoint­ingly, was unable to secure the victory. Colgate put up the first tally of the match-up at the 19:06 mark, just two seconds before the Mountain Hawks evened the score. The teams continued to trade baskets and possessions, but by the 14 minute mark, Colgate had extended the Raider lead to 9-4. Lehigh fought back with three quick points to decrease the deficit, but Colgate’s ensuing offen­sive rampage took them on an 11-2 run over the next five minutes to set the score at 20-9 at the 7:27 mark. Naturally, the threatening Colgate surge put the Moun­tain Hawks back in gear and they began to tighten up screws in both their defense and offense. As time ran out, both teams continued to play well, but it was Col­gate that ended the half with a one-point lead at 27-26.

Rolling into a new bout of play with equal momentum, the Raiders and Moun­tain Hawks continued to spark. Colgate got on the board first with a 6-2 run less than a minute into play. Lehigh, with the prospect of loss at its feet, picked up with pace and began to take advantage of every Colgate mistake. With a three-pointer at the 14:46 mark, the Mountain Hawks took the lead for the first time in the game at 42-41. Unfortunately, this would not be the last of Lehigh dominance and the game ended as they secured the win at 72-65.

Three days later, the women were on the road again, this time at Bucknell in Lewisburg, PA. This time, the Bison hit the scoreboard first after a minute and a half of play. Colgate quickly responded, and both teams traded baskets as they warmed up to the competition. As the battle progressed, Colgate never fell out of a 4-point margin from the Bisons, but the half ended with Bucknell on top with 39 points to Colgate’s 27.

In the second half, it was clear that the Raiders were out for blood, but even their desperation would not be enough to will them into victory. By the 12:25 mark, Bucknell had established a 53-36 advan­tage. Colgate attempted to make a come­back in the remaining time and picked up the pace, but their efforts proved to be too little too late and Colgate fell yet again to the tune of 79-64.

“The battle of the boards went to Bucknell,” stated coach Pamela Bass. “We played hard but could not convert on some key possessions.”

The Raiders will continue play when they travel to Holy Cross on Wednesday, February 23 at 7 p.m. in Worcester, Mass.