Wednesday, January 3
Stabler Arena
07:00 PM

Lehigh University

56
vs
66

Yale

Lehigh upended by Yale in final non-league game

1/3/2007 8:30:00 PM | Football

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh looked to get its first win over an Ivy League school in the 2006-07 season on Wednesday night, but was unable to do so as Yale defeated the Mountain Hawks 66-56.  It was the first time Lehigh has lost to Yale at Stabler Arena since the 1997-98 season.   Sophomore Melissa Rich and senior Sara Ellis led Lehigh (5-9) in scoring, recording 14 and ten points, respectively.

 

Lehigh scored the game’s first points off a layup by senior Adrienne Blount, but it was all Yale from there as the Bulldogs took an early 13-4 lead less than four minutes into the game.  Lehigh, who was held scoreless for nearly three and a half minutes, began to cut into Yale’s lead and eventually tied the game at 19-19 off a jumper by Rich at 8:19.  Chinenye Okafor’s jumper at 7:58 would spark a 9-0 scoring run for the Bulldogs. Sophomore Haly Crites ended Yale’s run as her layup at 4:34 brought the Mountian Hawks to within six.  Yale would hold Lehigh off for the remainder of the half as the Bulldogs went into the break with a 31-28 lead.

 

Lehigh stayed close to Yale in the beginning part of the second half, only allowing the Bulldogs to have a six-point lead in the first ten minutes.  With Lehigh trailing 48-47 with 6:50 remaining, Crites tied the game at 48-48 from the free throw line.  She would then go on to sink another free throw 39 seconds later to give the Mountain Hawks a 49-48 lead—their first lead since 19:29 in the first half when Lehigh was up 2-0.  Melissa Colborne would score four straight points off free throws for Yale to give the Bulldogs command of the lead for the rest of the game.

 

Crites had a career-night with nine points, which was more than double that of her previous career-high.  Meanwhile, Ellis tied her career-high assist total for the fifth time in her career as she dished off seven on the evening. 

 

Colborne led the Bulldogs with 20 points, shooting 5-for-11 from the field and 7-for-7 from the foul line.  Erica Davis scored ten points and pulled down a game-high ten rebounds en route to the game’s only double-double, while Stephanie Marciano had a game-high ten assists.

 

Lehigh returns to action on Saturday evening when the Mountain Hawks open Patriot League play against American at 5:05 pm at Stabler Arena.  Tickets are available prior to tip-off at the Stabler Arena box office. 

 

On Thursday, January 4, fans are invited to meet Lehigh head coach Sue Troyan and senior Sara Ellis at the monthly Lehigh basketball luncheon.  The event will take place at Starters Restaurant on Route 378 in Bethlehem and will begin at 12:00 pm, running until 1:00.  Coach Troyan and Ellis will field questions from fans and alumni.  Cost of the all-you-can-eat buffet is $11.  The event will also be streamed on Lehigh’s website at lehighsports.com later that afternoon, for those who cannot make it to Starters.

Photos (c) 2006, Jeffrey A. Camarati. Used with permission.

 

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