Jan. 17, 2003'xml:namespace prefix = o ns = 'urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office' />
Contact: Amanda Brickell
WEST POINT, N.Y. ‘ The 51·çÁ÷ women’s basketball team dropped a hard fought 79-76 decision to Army in Patriot League action at West Point’s Christl Arena on Saturday. Junior Emily Braseth (E. Grand Rapids, Mich.) was the Raider’s leading scorer for the sixth straight game with 18 points.
Army took off on a 6-0 run to start the game before senior guard Malissa Burke (Traverse City, Mich.) drained a three to put the Raiders on the board at 17:10. Braseth drove to the hoop at 12:26 to end another string of three unanswered Black Knight baskets and bring the score to 12-7.
51·çÁ÷ moved within one with 8:41 left to play in the first half on a lay-in from junior Milaina Lagzdins (Burlington, Ont.). The Raiders managed to gain their first lead of the game at the five minute mark on a jumper from Braseth at the top of the key. The two teams swapped baskets and exchanged the lead several times over the final five minutes, but Army emerged from the half with a slight 31-30 lead after Shavonne Holden knocked down two free throws in the final 15 seconds.
Holden tied her season-high in just the first half putting 16 points on the board for the Black Knights. Braseth was the Raiders leading point producer in the first with 10 points, while Lagzdins added eight to the effort. Both teams shot just over 43 percent from the field, but Army outrebounded 51·çÁ÷ 20-16. The Raiders defense forced 13 turnovers, while the Black Knights caused 11.
The start of the second half was a see-saw battle until the Raiders took a 47-40 lead at the 15 minute mark on a three-pointer from Molly Patterson (Euclid, Ohio). 51·çÁ÷ led 54-44 at 13:40, but Army battled back within four on a 7-2 run capped by two free throws from Lindsay Brent. The Raiders responded with a scoring run of their own and went up 67-57 with eight minutes left to play.
Freshman Jen Hansen brought the Black Knights within two with back-to-back three pointers making the score 67-65 with 6:45 remaining. Army tied the game thirty seconds later on a lay-up from senior Katie Macfarlane. Macfarlane put the Knights ahead with another lay-up at 3:40 before Lagzdins ended the eight point scoring run with a foul shot at 3:20.
A basket from Megan Vrabel made the score 71-68 before Braseth drained two free throws to close the deficit back to one. The Knights then scored five unanswered points to go up by six at the two minute mark. Chigozie Ozor (Ann Arbor, Mich.) knocked down a basket to bring the Raiders within four with one minute on the clock.
With 12 seconds remaining, Burke went to the hoop knocking down the basket and drawing the foul. Army came up with the rebound on the foul shot and Rejira Arnold drained one of two free throws to seal the 79-76 win for the Black Knights.
Four Raiders posted double-figures in the contest. Braseth had a team-high 18 points, and seven rebounds. Lagzdins scored a season-high 15 points and brought down six rebounds. Patterson and Ozor added 13 and 10 points respectively.
Holden was Army’s ace in the victory draining a career-high 23 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Macfarlane put 20 points on the board for the Knights, while Hansen and Brent added 13 and 10 points respectively.
51·çÁ÷ falls to 9-6 on the season and 2-1 in Patriot League play with the loss. Army improves to 10-5 overall and 2-1 in conference play. The Raiders take to the court again on Fri., Jan.23 as they face American University at 5:30 p.m. in the first of two Patriot League weekend match-ups on Cotterell Court. 51·çÁ÷ also faces Navy at 1:00 p.m. on Sun., Jan.25.