Lehigh University
Holy Cross
Defending league champs too much for Lehigh
1/28/2006 6:26:00 PM | Women's Basketball
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Thanks to Colgate’s win over Army, Holy Cross now finds itself with a half game lead over the Black Knights atop the Patriot League standings.
The Crusaders came out gunning, as the visitors ran out to a 12-2 lead just 5:11 into the contest. The Mountain Hawks rallied and got to within three, but Holy Cross built a seven point halftime lead.
Foley scored 13 points in the first half to lead all scorers. Lehigh freshman Melissa Rich paced the Mountain Hawks, matching her career high of 5 points over the first 20 minutes of play.
Holy Cross was 0-for-10 from three-point range in the first half, but the Crusaders found the hot hand from beyond the arc early in the second. Holy Cross knocked down its first three attempts from long range in the second half, building a game-high 14 point lead with 18:33 remaining.
Lehigh slowly whittled the lead as the second half wore on, thanks to strong inside play from the duo of Blount and senior captain Jenny Callan. Geosits sunk a three-pointer with 8:23 to play, drawing the Mountain Hawks to within two at 49-47, but Lehigh could get no closer.
“We battled hard in the second half, and even though we’re not getting wins, we remain confident,” Callan said after the game. “There’s still a long way to go, and we have a lot we can improve on.”
Foley’s 23 points were a game-high, and she was one of only two Crusaders (Brittany Keil, 12 points) to reach double figures on the night. The Crusaders shot 43% for the game, committing only 11 turnovers.
Blount’s 20 paced the Mountain Hawks. Callan and Geosits scored 12 apiece in a losing effort. Callan grabbed a game-high nine rebounds and Blount pulled down six for Lehigh, who out-rebounded the visitors 39 to 35. Lehigh shot 42% overall, including better than 48% in the second twenty minutes.
The Mountain Hawks wrap up the first half of Patriot League play on Wednesday, when Lehigh visits Colgate. Game time is set for 7:00 pm from
