1/8/2005 - Women's Basketball
Mids End Skid; Win League Opener
Abi Campbell recorded the first double-double of her career against the Leopards |
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Navy used a late 8-0 run to break open a one-point game, then converted 5-of-6 free throws down the stretch to seal a 59-46 victory over Lafayette, Saturday afternoon in Alumni Hall in the Patriot League opener for both women's basketball teams. The win ends a three-game slide by the Mids and improves Navy's record to 5-8 on the season, while Lafayette falls to 2-10 on the year with its seventh-straight loss.
The second half featured five ties and five lead changes and saw neither team able to hold more than a five-point lead until Navy's 8-0 run gave the Mids a 51-42 advantage with 4:17 left on the clock. The Mids came away with points on four of their six possessions during the spurt, while the Leopards recorded three turnovers and two missed shots during the same span.
Point guard Lauren Skrel (Jr., Walnut Creek, Calif.) keyed the Navy run with a pair of free throws, a layup and an assist during the streak, then sank 4-of-4 free throw attempts during the final two minutes to help seal the victory.
The Leopards were 0-of-7 from the field, did not grab an offensive rebound and turned the ball over six times during the final eight minutes of the contest. Navy limited Lafayette to just four field goals (on 19 attempts, 21.1-percent) and three offensive rebounds during the entire second half, while the Mids shot 47.8-percent (11-of-23) from the field and tallied 20 rebounds to Lafayette's 11 over the game's final 20 minutes.
"We were not as good offensively as we can, or will be, but our defense was very, very good," said Navy head coach Tom Marryott. "Lafayette forces you to play 30 seconds of defense on every possession. I thought we did a very good job of doing just that. Kate Hobbs (So., Wexford, Pa.) was absolutely outstanding on defense. She was like a traffic controller for us out there.
"We are still struggling offensively, but if you play good defense good things can still happen for you."
The two teams went into the locker rooms at halftime knotted at 23. Both teams made 10 field goals in the first half and shot roughly the same percent from the field -- 33.3-percent for Lafayette, 31.3-percent for Navy. The first half featured five ties and six lead changes.
For the game, Navy shot 38-percent from the field, hauled in 40 rebounds and turned the ball over 19 times, while Lafayette shot 28.6-percent from the field, grabbed 36 caroms and committed 24 turnovers.
Navy's Carly Meyer (So., Orlando, Fla.) and Abi Campbell (Sr., Richmond, Va.) both recorded the first double-doubles of their respective careers in the game. Meyer led all players with 14 points and tied Campbell (11 points) for rebounding honors with 10 caroms. The 10 boards are also career highs for both players. Skrel totaled eight points, five assists and five steals in 33 minutes of playing time for the Mids.
Navy will continue its Patriot League season Wednesday when the Mids play at American in a 7 p.m. contest.
