2/13/2002 - Women's Basketball
First-Half Lead Holds Up for Navy in Win
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Navy scored a season-high 51 points in the first half, then hit free throws down the stretch in an 81-73 victory over Colgate, Wednesday night at Alumni Hall in Annapolis, Md.
Navy's (11-13, 3-8 Patriot League) offense was clicking from the start, quickly taking a 19-5 lead less than six minutes into the game. Colgate (11-15, 5-6) narrowed the Navy lead to just five points at 31-26, but the Midshipmen closed the half on a 20-5 run to head into the locker rooms with a 51-33 lead.
Courtney Davidson (So., New Oxford, Pa.) scored 12 first-half points to lead the Midshipmen. The Mids used a balanaced attack, however, as nine of the 10 players who took to the floor in the first half scored points. The Mids shot just under 56 percent from the field in the first half (19-of-34) and outrebounded the Raiders, 26-15. Navy's 51 points marked the first time in three seasons the Mids totaled over 50 points in a half (50, Feb. 27, 1999 vs. Army).
Navy's lead remained in double digits for the first 16 minutes of the second half. Then Colgate closed an 8-2 run with a three-pointer from Allison Lipinski at the 3:28 mark to cut the lead to 72-63. The Mids converted 9-of-12 free throws in the final three minutes to hold off Colgate for the victory.
The Midshipmen shot a season-high 51.9 percent from the field and made five three-pointers. Colgate shot just 36.9 percent from the field, but fought their way back into the game by making 13-of-28 three-pointers. The 13 treys left the Raiders just one away tying from the Alumni Hall record of 14, set by Navy against Bucknell during the 1992 season.
Four players scored in double figures for Navy, with Davidson leading the team with 22 points. Joining her in double figures was Maile Shimoda (So., Orange, Calif.) with 12 points, and Adrienne Roseti (So., Williamsville, N.Y.) and Lisa Steinmetz (So., Mount Vernon, Ohio) with 11 points apiece. Steinmetz played another strong game, totaling 11 points (season best), eight rebounds (ties season best), six assists (season best) and just one turnover in 31 minutes of court time.
Navy's bench of Lauren Zapf (So., Cumberland, Md.), Elaine Jensen (Sr., Coarsegold, Calif.), Abi Campbell (Fr., Richmond, Va.), Kate Maslowski (So., Hopkins, Minn.)<.b> and Bryanna Herring (So., Columbia, Md.) combined to score 16 points and was a perfect 7-of-7 from the field.
"Everyone who came into the game tonight contributed," said Navy head coach Joe Sanchez. "The bench really sparked us. They all played well and had a hand in the win."
"Our offense really got into a flow and moved the ball well," said Steinmetz. "Our inside people had a great game tonight, both with shooting and with passing. It all was beautiful to watch."
The victory snaps a four-game losing skid for the Mids and comes just four days after a disappointing loss at Lehigh last Saturday.
"Tonight was important for us to put the Lehigh game behind us," said Davidson. "We really wanted to bounce back from that loss."
Colgate was led by Malissa Burke who scored 22 points and made five three-pointers.
Navy will be back in action Saturday when the Mids play at Lafayette in a 1 p.m. game. It can be heard live on WNAV-AM 1430, as well as through www.navysports.com(.)
