If there was any time for the AU Women's Basketball team to break its seven-game losing streak, it was Saturday at lowly Lafayette, which has had a record of 9-89 over the last four years.
The Eagles (6-9, 1-2 Patriot League) did that Saturday, but just barely. Senior Joanna Barnes hit two free throws with 11.8 seconds left to top the Leopards, 49-47, in AU's first win since Nov. 28. After Lafayette's Kristin Doherty converted a one-and-one to tie the game at 45, Barnes ran the ball through full-court pressure toward an open layup, forcing Lafayette to commit the foul that sent her to the line.
Lindsay Myers had a chance to tie the game for Lafayette in the final seconds, but her layup attempt bounced out. Shannon Dorsey's put-back attempt came just after the buzzer.
AU senior Chanel Hunt scored most of her game-high 17 points in the final 10 minutes. She outscored Lafayette 8-5 late in the second half to give the Eagles the small lead they would never relinquish. Game-saver Barnes finished with 13 points, and senior Jenyce Woodruff grabbed 10 rebounds, including five on the offensive end.
Doherty led Lafayette with 14 points.
Neither team held a clear advantage in an afternoon when Lafayette's brief six-point leads in the second half were the game's largest. The Leopards (2-13, 0-3) led 25-24 at halftime and were helped by shooting a season-high 48.6 percent from the field. AU, already second to last in the PL in shooting, had a below-average outing from the field at 33.9 percent, but still managed the victory.
The team now turns its attention to this weekend's home stand, which includes bouts with Army and first place Holy Cross. The Eagles last season swept the Black Knights (9-7, 2-1), who are off to a winning start despite the loss of two-time PL Player of the Year Katie McFarland.
But AU is 1-5 against perennial league favorite Holy Cross (8-8, 3-0) since joining the PL. AU can't afford to let its opponents shoot as well as Lafayette did last week. The Crusaders shoot better than 37 percent from three-point range, good for best in the league and 19th in the nation.
