PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Taylor Golembiewski and Alexa Brodie combined for 30 points as Colgate advanced to the Super Sixteen of the WNIT after a 54-41 win over Providence on Monday night at Alumni Hall.

After Providence cut the Raider lead to just five, Sophia Diehl and Madison Schiller drilled 3-pointers sandwiched between an Ella Meabon jumper pushing the Colgate advantage to 15 and securing the Raiders first win over a Big East opponent in program history.

Golembiewski netted 17 points, three rebounds, and three steals while Brodie added 13 points, six rebounds, and three steals.

The win secures Colgate's first 20 win season since the 2003/2004 season. The Raiders are also the first Patriot League team to advance to the Super Sixteen of the WNIT in conference history.

COACH ADEDUNTAN'S COMMENTS

"Couldn't be prouder of our team right now in the way they just keep showing up. We played hard, we played tough, we competed and did everything I asked them. I'm elated with joy and it's just awesome to see their faces. But they had to work for this one. 

Yeah, we'll celebrate this one tonight. Got a long bus ride back. Turn the page and get ready for the next opponent. The focus has been just on feeling really good about playing Colgate basketball. We feel really great about how we showed up tonight,we executed, and took care of the things that we felt like we could control."

HOW IT HAPPENED

Brodie dropped four straight points and Tiasia McMillan added a jumper in the first three minutes but the score remained tied at 6-6. McMillan hit a layup with just over 30 seconds left giving the Raiders a 10-9 lead after the first 10 minutes.

Providence was able to take a 17-16 lead with 3:59 left in the first half but that would be the last Friar lead of the game. Golembiewski nailed a triple before hitting two free throws giving Colgate a 21-17 lead with 2:51 left. The Raiders ended the half on a tough old-fashioned three pointer from Brodie after getting fouled during a layup high off the glass. The Raiders took a 24-21 lead into the break.

Diehl hit a jumper with 5:52 left in the third quarter to give Colgate a 30-24 lead but was also given a technical foul during the play. Providence hit both free throws and scored on the ensuing possession cutting the lead to just two with 4:46 to play in the third frame. 

The Raiders went on an 8-2 run in the final four minutes of the third, highlighted by a Golembiewski steal that fell to Meabon who decided to reward Golembiewski with a silky pass through a sea of hands, who finished beautifully with a layup under the basket. Colgate remained in front 38-30 heading into the final 10 minutes. The Raiders held Providence to just 11.1 percent (1-for-9) from the floor in the third quarter.

Colgate pulled away thanks to Diehl and Schiller's triples in the middle of the fourth quarter before Golembiewski netted the final six Raiders points giving Colgate a comfortable 13 point victory, 54-41.

Colgate held Providence to just 28.6 percent (14-for-49) from the field and 20 percent (3-for-15) from three. The Raiders shot 38.9 percent (21-for-54) from the floor and 25 percent (3-for-12) from deep.

UP NEXT
Colgate (20-13) advances to the Super Sixteen of the WNIT and will travel to Vermont to take on the Catamounts on Friday, Mar. 29 at 6 p.m.