Colgate Holds Off Women's Basketball in Overtime

Colgate guard Gretchen Polinski scored a game-high 19 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to help lead the host Raiders to a 62-57 overtime victory Tuesday night over Canisius College in Hamilton, N.Y. The win was Colgate's first of the season and improved the team to 1-1, while the Golden Griffins slipped to 1-1 with the loss.

The Griffs forced 30 Colgate turnovers and placed four players in double figures in the scoring column, but the Blue and Gold shot just 26.7 percent from the field and 11.5 percent from 3-point range in the loss. Senior forward Megan Lyte (right) led all Canisius scorers with 16 points.

"It's hard to win when you don't shoot well from the field," Canisius head coach Terry Zeh said. "We had open looks all night and we didn't convert."

Canisius trailed 51-48 with 2:16 left to play in regulation time before freshman guard Brittane Russell drained a pair of free-throws to get the Griffs within one at 51-50. Both teams traded missed field goal chances before Lyte sunk one of two charity tosses with 1:46 to knot the game at 51-51. Both teams had a chance to win the game in regulation time, but Canisius missed a layup and Colgate's Shevorne Martin missed two free-throws with 1.7 seconds left to push the game to an extra session.

In the overtime, Colgate scored first, but sophomore Amanda Cavo put the Blue and Gold in the lead at 54-53 with a 3-pointer from the right corner with 3:44 left on the clock. Russell gave the Griffs their last lead of the night at 56-55 with a jumper from just outside the lane with 3:12 remaining, but the Raiders closed out the scoring with five-straight points, highlighted by three free throws by Polinski.

Colgate held a 26-24 advantage in points scored in the paint and was able to convert 16 Canisius turnovers into 20 points, while the Griffs could only muster 13 points off Colgate's 30 turnovers. Canisius did a good job of sharing the basketball in the loss, earning 14 assists on 20-made field goals, with guard Jessie Lamparski handing out a game-high nine, which ties her career-best effort.

Abby Radunske scored 12 points in the loss, her second-straight game with double figures in the scoring column. Cavo and sophomore JJ Williams had 10 points each in the loss, with junior center Laura Granzow pulling down a team-high 10 rebounds for the Blue and Gold.

The Griffs will return to action Friday, Nov. 17, when the team plays host to Maryland Eastern Shore in the Koessler Athletic Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. The game will be the first meeting between the two schools.

Game Notes: Canisius has played more overtime games against Colgate (six) than any other non-conference opponent... The loss makes Canisius 0-3 in its last three overtime contests... Russell was credited with six of Canisius' 15 steals, the most for a Griff since J?nel Stevens had seven steals against Manhattan Jan. 6, 2002... Williams' 10 points in the losing effort is a new career high... The game featured 22 lead changes and the score was tied 12 different times.

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Players Mentioned

#12 Amanda Cavo: G; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#23 Jessie Lamparski: G; 5' 9"; Senior

#44 Megan Lyte: F; 6' 0"; Senior

#11 Abby Radunske: F; 5' 11"; Senior

#31 JJ Williams: C; 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#12 Amanda Cavo
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: G

#23 Jessie Lamparski
: 5' 9"; Senior
: G

#44 Megan Lyte
: 6' 0"; Senior
: F

#11 Abby Radunske
: 5' 11"; Senior
: F

#31 JJ Williams
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore
: C