Feb. 25, 2011
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Navy women's basketball team will close its regular season Saturday at Colgate in a 2 p.m. game at Cotterell Court in Hamilton, N.Y.
The Mids enter Saturday's game as one of three teams perched atop the Patriot League standings. Navy, American and Lehigh all have compiled 9-4 records entering Saturday's final day of the regular season. However, Navy holds tiebreakers over both other programs by virtue of its 63-56 victory over American Wednesday night. That means regardless of what happens in any other game in the league on Saturday, a Navy victory would earn the Mids the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Patriot League Tournament.
A loss by the Mids to the Raiders would result in Navy being seeded anywhere from first to third for the tournament.
Colgate recorded a 59-55 victory over Navy when the two teams met earlier this season in Annapolis. Navy entered the game with a 6-0 record in league play while Colgate had posted a 1-5 mark. The Mids seemingly were in control of the game at halftime as they took a 27-19 lead at intermission. But the Raiders shot 62.5 percent from the field and made 5 of 7 three-point field goal attempts in the second half to erupt for 40 second-half points. Though the Mids did shoot a healthy 37.5 percent from the floor after halftime, Colgate held a 19-12 advantage over Navy on the glass during the final 20 minutes of play to come away with the victory.
Navy had a very balanced offense in the game as four Mids scored in double figures. Pacing the team was Cassie Consedine (Sr., Bartlesville, Okla.) with 14 points, while Jade Geif (Fr., Lakeview, Minn.) added 11 points and eight rebounds and Audrey Bauer (Fr., Lake Zurich, Ill.) contributed 10 points and seven boards.
Colgate's Tayler Wejnert led all players in the game with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
The Mids and the Raiders met three times last season. Colgate won a 56-54 decision over Navy in Hamilton (to improve to 11-8 al time against the Mids on Cotterell Court), while the Mids posted a 60-50 victory in Annapolis. One week after the playing of the latter game, the two teams squared off again in Worcester, Mass., in the quarterfinal round of the Patriot League Tournament. Navy emerged with a 69-57 victory that day.
Last year's scenario could play itself out once again this season. Colgate is locked into the No. 8 seed in the Patriot League Tournament with its 2-11 record in league play. If the Mids defeat the Raiders Saturday, Colgate would travel to play at the top-seeded Mids March 5 in Annapolis in the opening round of the tournament.
A live video stream of the game will be available to Navy All-Access subscribers, with live statistics from the game being offered free of charge. Fans can visit www.NavySports.com to access either multimedia offering.
The Mids are assured of playing host to the quarterfinal round of the Patriot League Tournament on March 5, regardless of what takes place Saturday in any league game. Tickets ($8 for adults, $4 for youth) for the game can be purchased by through the Navy Ticket Office either by phone (1-800-US4-NAVY) or by visiting www.NavySports.com and clicking on "TICKETS."
Patriot League Standings (Saturday Opponent)
T1. 9-4 Navy (at Colgate)
T1. 9-4 American (Lafayette)
T1. 9-4 Lehigh (Holy Cross)
4. 7-6 Army (Bucknell)
T5. 6-7 Bucknell (at Army)
T5. 6-7 Holy Cross (at Lehigh)
7. 4-9 Lafayette (at American)
8. 2-11 Colgate (Navy)
