HAMILTON, N.Y. (Interstat) — In a high-octane offensive showdown at Cotterell Court on Monday, the Colgate Raiders remained undefeated, outlasting the New Hampshire Wildcats 89 to 79 in a non-conference women’s basketball game.

Colgate, now 3-0, was propelled by a spectacular 35-point performance from sophomore guard Ella Meabon of Fairport, New York. Meabon was efficient and relentless, setting the tone early and often for the Raiders. New Hampshire, which fell to 1-2, countered with a stellar 31-point effort from junior forward Eva DeChent of Westchester, New York, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Colgate’s consistent firepower.

The game was a tale of contrasting offensive styles. While both teams finished with an identical 72 possessions, Colgate’s superior shooting efficiency proved decisive. The Raiders shot a blistering 55 percent from the floor, converting 33 of their 60 field goal attempts. The Wildcats were less accurate, making 27 of 58 shots for a 46.6 percent clip. From beyond the arc, the teams were even, each hitting five three-pointers, though New Hampshire attempted more, going 4 for 15 compared to Colgate’s 5 for 15.

The first quarter set the stage for a back-and-forth battle. Colgate jumped out to an early lead, finishing the period with a 22-13 advantage, largely behind Meabon’s quick eight points. New Hampshire, however, responded with a strong second quarter, outscoring the Raiders 22-20. DeChent and senior forward Elizabeth Lavoie of Derry, New Hampshire, who finished with 17 points, led the charge as the Wildcats chipped away at the deficit, heading into halftime down 42-35.

The third quarter was where Colgate created the separation that would ultimately secure the victory. The Raiders erupted for 28 points, their highest-scoring period of the night, while holding New Hampshire to 21. Meabon continued her scoring barrage, but she received crucial support from sophomore guard Tatiana Matthews of Dunnellon, Florida. Matthews came off the bench to provide a significant spark, scoring 16 points, with 10 of them coming during the pivotal third-quarter run that stretched Colgate’s lead to 14 points.

New Hampshire refused to go quietly, mounting a challenge in the final frame. The Wildcats posted their best scoring quarter with 23 points and managed to cut the lead to single digits on several occasions. A driving layup by Lavoie with just over a minute remaining brought the Wildcats within seven points, but Colgate closed the game out at the free-throw line, making key shots to seal the 10-point victory.

Beyond the standout scorers, other key contributors shaped the outcome. For Colgate, sophomore forward Christina Midgette of Princeton, New Jersey, added seven points, while sophomore guard Amarah Streiff of Syracuse, New York, chipped in nine, including two three-pointers. Defensively, the Raiders recorded six steals and five blocks, with freshman guard Laila Hankerson of Charlotte, North Carolina, tallying five assists and two blocks.

For New Hampshire, junior forward Camryn Fauria of Foxboro, Massachusetts, provided a solid interior presence with 10 points and two blocks. Senior guard Maggie Cavanaugh of Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, facilitated the offense with a team-high three assists to go with eight points.

A key differentiator was the performance at the charity stripe. Colgate was nearly flawless, converting 18 of their 22 free throw attempts for an 81.8 percent success rate. New Hampshire, by contrast, struggled, making only 21 of 29 attempts, leaving valuable points unclaimed in a tight contest.

The game was relatively clean, with Colgate committing 11 turnovers to New Hampshire’s nine. Both teams were even in points off turnovers and offensive rebounds, but Colgate’s ability to convert their possessions into points at a higher rate, evidenced by their offensive rating of 122.8 compared to New Hampshire’s 110.1, was the ultimate decider.

Colgate looks to continue its winning streak on the road against Cornell on Tuesday, Nov. 18. New Hampshire, meanwhile, will seek to return to the win column quickly as they travel to face Green Bay on Thursday, Nov. 13.