The women’s basketball team wrapped up its regular season with a pair of Patriot League opponents, losing in a blowout to Army and defeating Colgate University. The Leopards earned a top-six spot in the conference standings, avoiding a postseason play-in game.
Saturday’s contest against Army (14-4 Patriot League, 23-6 overall) saw the Leopards (7-11 Patriot League, 11-18 overall) hit the road against a formidable Black Knights’ squad that they lost to 62-50 in February. Outside of junior guard Teresa Kiewiet, the Maroon and White found minimal offense, scoring just six points in the opening quarter.
“They brought more pressure than I think we were ready for,” Kiewiet said. “I think I was able to get to my spots and knock down shots, but one person can’t win a game.”
As the offense found its rhythm, Kiewiet scored nine of the Leopards 17 points in the second quarter. Guards sophomore Talia Zurinskas and freshman Haylie Adamski contributed with perimeter shooting, including a downtown hit for Adamski to set the all-time single-season record for 3-pointers for the Pards.
“I didn’t even know going into it, so I was just excited to see it after the game,” Adamski said. “Even if my shot’s not on, people know they have to get out on me.”
Offensively, it remained Kiewiet against the world in an overall stagnant outing, as she scored five of the Leopards’ only seven points in the final frame, sealing the 61-42 loss. While Kiewiet poured on 24 points on 11-of-22 shooting, the rest of the team shot 5-of-30.
Wednesday night provided the Leopards a chance to flip the script at home, taking on Colgate University (2-16 Patriot League, 6-23 overall). Heading into the night as the seventh seed, with a win and a Bucknell University (7-11 Patriot League, 11-18 overall) loss, the Leopards would avoid the play-in game.
“I think there might be pressure, but pressure doesn’t really exist,” Zurinskas said. “You got to have the will and the want. And I think we really, really wanted it today.”
Looking to impose their will, the Leopards jumped out to a 15-8 lead following a series of 3-pointers from junior guard Rosie Scognamiglio, who finished the contest with 11 points on three-of-four shooting from downtown.
“My teammates had some great passes, so it’s always helpful when we can have a little breathing room,” she said.
Colgate picked up the tempo, pouring on 22 points in the second quarter, cutting the Leopard lead to 35-33 at halftime.
While the visitors took an early second-half lead, the Leopards responded with a late quarter scoring run to take a double-digit lead into the final frame.
“Really proud of the way that we were able to penetrate, get them to gap and spray it to our shooters,” Kiewiet said.
The Leopards absorbed every blow, punching back to every Raider response to hold on to a double-digit lead en route to a 66-55 win. Paired with Bucknell’s loss, the Leopards earned the sixth seed in the Patriot League postseason.
Zurinskas led the way for the Leopards, putting up a career high in points with 21, and boasting a six-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio.
“My teammates were really helping me get open,” Zurinskas said. “I’ve got to give props to them, like they were rolling really hard, which was opening me up on the wing for the threes.”
The Leopards will match up against Army in the postseason on Monday, taking on a Black Knights team that’s bested them twice this year.
“They’re really physical,” Zurinskas said. “We got to play more physical, can’t get bullied around.”