Late Run Gives Lafayette Win

Feb. 10, 2007

EASTON, Pa. - Jessica Spicer tossed in a 22-foot jumper as the shot clock was expiring with 45 seconds left in the game to help the Lafayette women's basketball team rally and defeat Navy, 68-65, Saturday afternoon at the Kirby Sports Center in Easton, Pa.

"You can't let a team shoot nearly 55 percent from the field and expect to win, especially when you are giving up inside shots for most of the game," said Navy head coach Tom Marryott. "This was a disappointing loss for us."

The first 30 minutes of the game was very close with a number of ties and lead changes, but the Mids (10-14, 4-6 Patriot League) slowly built an eight-point lead with 8:36 left in the game. The Leopards (6-19, 4-6) would score the next nine points, however, to take a 58-57 lead with 5:44 left on the clock.

The lead would change hands three more times until Lafayette's Kara Stetler converted an old fashioned three-point play to tie the game at 63-63 with 3:30 left in the game.

Both offenses struggled over the next few minutes with the Mids turning the ball over on each of their next three times down the floor, while Lafayette missed shots on their ensuing two possessions.

That led to Spicer's aforementioned three-point field goal that broke the tie with under one minute to play.

Navy's next possession saw Carly Meyer (Sr., Orlando, Fla.) sink a pair of free throws to pull Navy to within one point with 33 seconds remaining.

Forced to foul as there was less than a three-second difference between the two clocks, the Mids finally sent Stetler to the line with 19 seconds remaining. She made both foul shots to increase the margin back to three points. The Mids rushed the ball down the floor and Kalen Kropa (So., Reidsville, N.C.) drove the lane, but her shot was off and the Spicer grabbed the carom and was fouled with eight seconds left to play.

Spicer missed the front end of the bonus, but grabbed the loose ball to secure the Lafayette victory.

Lafayette shot 54 percent from the field in the game, with Navy shooting 50 percent. Navy dominated the boards by a 29-18 count, but the Mids turned the ball over 19 times to 11 for Lafayette.

Meyer paced the Navy offense with 21 points and she was joined in double figures by 15 points from Margaret Knap (So., Chicago, Ill.) and 13 from Kate Hobbs (Sr., Wexford, Pa.)

Navy will open a three-game homestand Tuesday when the Mids face Holy Cross at 7 p.m. in Alumni Hall.

Print Friendly Version