December 29, 2010 PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The Quinnipiac University women's basketball team lost to Lafayette, 56-54, in its first game of the Hawk Classic on Tuesday evening. With the loss, the Bobcats fall to 3-8 on the year, while the Leopards improve to 6-6 overall.

Senior center Courtney Kaminski (Dudley, Mass.) led the Bobcats with a game-high 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Freshman forward Brittany McQuain (Independence, Mo.) scored eight points and pulled down four rebounds against Lafayette, while junior Jacki Mann (Rutherford, N.J.) recorded seven points and six rebounds. Despite the defeat, the Bobcats outrebounded the Leopards, 55-48, and collected 14 steals. LaKeisha Wright led Lafayette in the victory with a team-high 12 points.

In the first half, Kaminski led Quinnipiac with nine points, while Felicia Barron (Springfield, Mass.) scored seven points in the half. In addition, Jacinda Dunbar (Edison, N.J.) pulled down five rebounds in the first twenty minutes of play. Sarah McGorry compiled seven points for the Leopards in the first half.

After the Bobcats tied the game 7-7, less than three minutes into play, the team went on an 8-0 run, as the score read 15-7 with 11:18 on the clock. Quinnipiac went ahead by eight points, its biggest lead of the game, for a second time as Mann completed a shot from behind the arc to make the score 18-10 with 7:50 left in the first half.

The Leopards went on a 6-0 run down the stretch, but the Bobcats were able to remain ahead by three points, 30-27, as the first half came to a close.

Both teams battled in the first ten minutes of the second half, however Lafayette was able to take back the lead by one point, 44-43, as Ashley Springer hit a three-pointer with 10:50 remaining. Ellen Cannon responded with a three-point field goal, as Quinnipiac would take its last lead of the game, 46-44.

With five minutes left to play, Lafayette found itself ahead by five points, 55-51. Kaminski finished three free-throws to help Quinnipiac come back within one point, 55-54, with 1:37 on the clock. With one second left to play, Madeline Fahan collected another point for the Leopards from the foul line, ending the game ahead by two points, 56-54.

Quinnipiac returns to action as it faces New Hampshire in the Hawk Classic's consolation game on Wednesday, Dec. 29 at 2:00 p.m. at the Hagan Arena in Philadelphia, Pa. Live audio and stats will be available by clicking on the appropriate links on the women's basketball schedule at www.quinnipiacbobcats.com.