Bears Nip Bulldogs 51-47
Jan. 14, 2006
NEW HAVEN, CONN. - Junior captain Chinenye Okafor (Rolla, Mo.) scored a team-high 17 points and sophomore Sara McCollum (Old Lyme, Conn.) had 14 points and a career-high 15 rebounds, but it wouldn't be enough to overcome 32 turnovers as Brown held off Yale 51-47 on Saturday evening in Ivy League play. Senior Colleen Kelly had a game high 18 points to lead the Bears who turned those 32 turnovers into 25 points.
The team's felt each other out during the opening minutes, with Yale taking a three point lead at 13-10 midway through the half on an Okafor lay-up. Kelly then converted a three point play to tie the contest. After a series of lead changes Yale once again took a three point advantage at the 4:51 mark when McCollum followed a missed Erica Davis (Columbus, N.J.) shot with a lay-up of her own to put the Bulldogs up 19-16.
Brown then used an 8-4 run to end the half, taking a 24-23 lead into the locker room.
Yale matched its largest lead early in the second stanza thanks to Julie Mantilla (Arlington Heights, Ill.) and Kaitlyn Lillemoe (Minnetonka, Minn.) hitting jumpers in the opening minute of the half. Brown then went on an 18-3 run over the next five minutes to take control of the contest at 42-30.
Yale countered the Brown run with a 12-2 run of their own to get to within a pair at 44-42. Okafor scored eight of her points during the run.
A top of the key trey from Lena McAfee ended Yale's momentum and gave Brown some breathing room at 47-42 with 4:49 left.
Yale cut it to a one possession game on a Davis free throw with 1:31 left, but the Bears would hit enough free throws to keep the Bulldogs at bay for the duration, hanging on for a 51-47 win.
The loss drops Yale to 0-1 in Ivy League play and 1-14 overall. Brown improves to 1-0 in League play and 6-7 overall.
The rivals will renew acquaintances in Providence, R.I. on Friday, Jan. 20.
