Monday, November 29
Philadelphia, Pa.
07:00 PM

Lehigh University

68
at
66

St. Josephs

DePalo tops 1,000 point mark; Lehigh edges St. Joseph's

11/29/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Philadelphia, PA – Sara Ellis sank two free throws with 4.9 seconds remaining to break a 66-66 deadlock as Lehigh let a 15-point second half lead get away, and then hung on for the two point win at St. Joseph's on Monday night.  In the process, senior captain Jessica DePalo became the 11th player in Lehigh women’s basketball history to score 1,000 career points.  DePalo finished with a season-high 28 on 14-of-23 shooting in the win.

 

The 68-66 victory improves Lehigh’s record to 3-1, while Saint Joseph’s drops to 2-5 with the defeat.

 

The Mountain Hawks came out strong in the first half, and Lehigh built a 13-point lead in the first half, thanks to some sizzling shooting from the floor.  The Mountain Hawks took advantage of some opportunities in the post to grow the lead.  The Brown and White went up 31-18 with 4:41 to go in the half after an Adrienne Blount jumper.  However, St. Joseph’s closed the half with a 10-2 run to trim the Lehigh lead to five at the break, at 33-28.

 

In the first half, Lehigh scored 16 points in the paint and seven on second chance opportunities.

 

Jessica DePalo led Lehigh’s first half efforts with ten points and five boards.  Carli Toliver knocked down two three’s to finish with six.

 

DePalo was stellar in the second half, as the Mountain Hawks rebuilt their lead.  She connected on her first six field goal attempts of the half as Lehigh went up by 15.  St. Joe’s cut the Lehigh lead to two, at 62-60, and then tied the game on a layup with just seven seconds left.  On the entry, a Whitney Ffrench foul sent Ellis to the line late, and her two free throws helped the Mountain Hawks escape with the win.

 

DePalo’s 28 led Lehigh, giving her 1,005 career tallies.  Ellis was 4-of-5 at the free throw line down the stretch to finish with 12.  Mary Hynoski added nine points and a personal best 12 rebounds in the win.  Saint Joseph’s had four players in double figures, led by Erica Pollock’s 15.

 

Lehigh returns to action on Saturday, when the Mountain Hawks head to Providence to take part in the Brown Classic.  Lehigh will take on Bowling Green in the opening round.  Saturday’s tip is set for 3:00, with live radio coverage beginning at 2:45 on WLVR-FM (91.3) and lehighsports.com.

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