Instead of recharging for the new semester, five sports teams spent their winter breaks on campus to compete. Here’s everything you might have missed during the downtime.
Men’s basketball
The men’s basketball team (3-6 Patriot League, 6-16 overall) went 3-8 over the break. After a 79-71 win over Mercyhurst University (10-11 overall) on Dec. 5, the Leopards dropped four straight games, including an 85-77 Patriot League slate opener against Colgate University (7-2 Patriot League, 13-9 overall) on New Year’s Eve.
Sophomore guard Caleb Williams and freshman forward Shareef Jackson each chipped in 20 points to secure a 79-64 win over Loyola Maryland University (4-5 Patriot League, 8-14 overall) on Jan. 3, the Leopards’ first conference victory of the season. Following a three-game skid in which the Maroon and White shot a combined 28.4% from 3-point range, a defensive clinic paved the way for a 74-55 win over Holy Cross (3-6 Patriot League, 8-14 overall) on Jan. 17.
Williams, who averaged 16.4 points per game across the 11-game stretch, tied his career-high with 24 points in a 77-73 overtime loss to Boston University (3-6 Patriot League, 8-14 overall) on Jan. 21.
Women’s basketball
The women’s basketball team (4-5 Patriot League, 8-12 overall) finished 3-6 over the break, picking up its first conference win 63-52 over Loyola Maryland University (5-4 Patriot League, 9-11 overall) on Jan. 3 following a streak of three close losses. Freshman guard Haylie Adamski scored a career-high 24 points and shot 6-of-9 from beyond the arc in the win over the Greyhounds.
Junior guard Teresa Kiewet and Adamski each eclipsed 20 points against Boston University (3-6 Patriot League, 7-13 overall) to edge out a 65-64 victory for the Leopards on Jan. 7. A defensive masterclass also helped the Maroon and White pounce Bucknell University, as the Bison were held to 17-of-63 from the field to clinch the 62-49 victory.
The Leopards ended their break on a two-game losing skid, dropping double-digit losses to Holy Cross (6-3 Patriot League, 12-8 overall) and Boston.
Track and field
The track and field team kicked off its indoor season with four meets over break, producing numerous all-time performances across the action. Junior Ivan Tejada took first place in the weight throw at Lehigh’s Fast Times Before Finals hosted by Lehigh University on Dec. 5 (51’ 9”). At the same meet, freshman Brooklyn Genduso earned second in the pole vault and third all-time (11’ 11.75”).
Senior Quinn Worrell went on a tear throughout the early stages of the season, first jumping to second all-time with a winning performance in the 1000-meter run at the TCNJ Holiday Invitational on Dec. 6 (2:26.30) before breaking the school record in the mile on Jan. 16 at the Wesley Brown Invite (4:07.98), finishing third.
Fencing
The fencing team competed in two meets across the break. Sophomore foil Zoe Lenz led the way in the women’s-only invitational hosted by Fairleigh Dickinson University on Dec. 7 with a 10-2 record as the Leopards managed a 14-11 win over Yeshiva University.
Both the men’s and women’s teams competed in the Philadelphia Invite hosted by the University of Pennsylvania on Jan. 17. While both squads went winless in their first meet without head coach Dayn DeRose — who resigned the day after the FDU Invitational — epees sophomore Hilla Wetherill and junior Tyler Morse each compiled double-digit victories.
Swimming and diving
After coming home from its annual training trip to Plantation, Florida, the swimming and diving team competed in two home dual meets.
Both the men’s and women’s squads came out on top against Mount St. Mary’s University on Jan. 19, winning 174-120 and 177-120, respectively. Junior Mia Guster broke the school record in the one-meter dive (271.35) while classmate Alexander Riehl claimed first-place all-time in the 100-yard individual medley (51.09), each collecting first-place finishes.
The Leopards split Rider University on Jan. 22, garnering a 179-116 victory for the women and a 165-134 defeat for the men. Freshman Justin Tucker broke two pool records, claiming first in the 1650-yard freestyle (15.58.60) and 400-yard IM (4:01.36).