Lehigh University
Navy
33 from No. 30 gives Lehigh a road win at Navy
2/7/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Annapolis, MD – Junior Jessica DePalo established a career high with 33 points on 12-of-17 shooting, including nine-of-nine from the free throw line, and Lehigh snapped its two game losing streak with a 77-53 victory over Navy on Saturday afternoon. The Mountain Hawks’ victory keeps Lehigh in a tie atop the league standings with a 6-2 record against league opponents.
The Lehigh victory marked the Mountain Hawks seventh straight win over Navy (10-13, 3-5 Patriot League). Lehigh is now 4-0 on the road in league play.
After a quick Navy bucket to start the game, Lehigh responded and ran out to an 18-9 lead with 13:55 still remaining in the opening period. By that point, DePalo had already netted eight points en route to a 23-point first half performance. As a team, the Mountain Hawks shot 62% from the floor (16-of-26) in the first stanza. Lehigh went into intermission with a 39-27 advantage. Navy came out strong in the second half, quickly reducing the Lehigh advantage to single digits, but the Mountain Hawks once again had an answer. Lehigh used an 11-0 run over the next 6:15 to build the bulge to 19 points at 54-35. The Midshipmen could not make enough of a push, as Lehigh rolled to the 24-point victory, by far its largest margin of victory all season. Although DePalo grabbed most of the attention on the afternoon, several of her teammates had afternoons to remember as well. Junior point guard Chantal St. Laurent set a new personal best with seven assists on the day. Freshman Sara Ellis matched her career high with six assists, while pulling down five boards. After Jana Ransom got in quick foul trouble, sophomore Jenny Callan came in and once again made the most of her time on the floor. Callan scored eight points while pulling down a career best 12 rebounds. Ransom – who played only 14 minutes – was stellar as well, scoring 12 points including a perfect four-of-four from the stripe. “My teammates were absolutely awesome today,” DePalo pointed out on the radio postgame show. “They did a great job of distributing the ball – both the guards and the posts – and this was a great effort from our entire team.” Lehigh head coach Sue Troyan understandably gave DePalo her due. “I can’t say enough good things about Jess,” Troyan said. “She’s shown that she’s a pretty versatile player. She’s so strong on the block, and she jumps well, too, making her extremely tough to defend.” DePalo’s 33 points left her just four shy of the Lehigh school record of 37 points in a game (Liz Feeley in 1986). Lehigh (9-12 overall) returns to action Wednesday, when the Mountain Hawks visit Bucknell. Game time is set for 7:00 from Sojka Pavilion in Lewisburg. Radio and Internet broadcast coverage will get underway at 6:45.
