Basketball teams anxious to host defending league champs
1/29/2004 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Lehigh’s basketball teams return to Stabler Arena to wrap up the first half of Patriot League play with a pair of home games this weekend. Friday night, the Mountain Hawks play host to defending league champions, Holy Cross. On Sunday, the Lehigh hoopsters host Colgate in another critical Patriot League doubleheader.
On the women’s side, Lehigh maintains sole possession of first place in the league thanks to a pair of road victories last weekend. On Sunday, the Mountain Hawks rolled out to a 20-point second half lead, and then held on for a seven point win at Army. Three Lehigh players scored in double figures in the win, led by a 19-point effort from Dawn Gorynski.
For Holy Cross, the desire to show they are still the team to beat in the league should provide all the motivation necessary to make Friday night’s game a good one. Last weekend, the Crusaders split a pair of games at home. “It’s great to be in first place and 5-0 in the league,” sophomore guard Dawn Gorynski cautions. “But we know Holy Cross is hungry and they’re the defending league champs. This will be a good test for us to see how we stack up against the best.” Holy Cross has dominated the all-time series between the two schools, winning 28 of the first 31 meetings. However, Lehigh has split with the Crusaders in each of the last two seasons. Two years ago, the Mountain Hawks won a double-overtime thriller at Stabler Arena, and last year, Lehigh ended Holy Cross’ 55 game home winning streak against Patriot League opponents with a thrilling 58-56 buzzer-beating victory. Crusaders head coach Bill Gibbons – who has led his team to 10 postseason appearances – expects Friday night’s contest to be a great one. “Lehigh is playing the best basketball in the league right now," Gibbons said. “They are defending, rebounding, and on offense they are playing with a lot of balance. We have to play very well to beat Lehigh at Stabler Arena.” The Lehigh men are off to a 4-1 start in the Patriot League, which puts the team in a tie for second place. With these two games this weekend, the Mountain Hawks will wrap up the first half of their league schedule. Lehigh is led by senior guard Austen Rowland, the reigning Patriot League Player of the Week, who is averaging 16.2 points per contest, and freshman Jose Olivero, who is hitting for 13.2 tallies per night. Rowland has been especially hot of late, averaging 23 points and five assists in his last six contests. In Lehigh’s game with Lafayette, Rowland poured in a career high 35 points and Olivero hit for 17. This will be the first time that Rowland gets a chance to go up against Holy Cross point guard Jave Meade, the preseason Player of the Year. Meade also moved into sole possession of first place in league history in assists as he passed Navy’s Brian Walker with 538. Rowland is excited about the chance to play against Meade and the rest of the three-time defending league champions. “Obviously, they are a very good team, they are the champs and will be in that position until someone knocks them from it. We have to bring our “A” game and really be prepared on Friday evening.” Head Coach Billy Taylor is looking forward to this weekend’s showdown with the Crusaders, as he seeks his first career win against the New England school. “We have been playing so well of late, but they are still Holy Cross. We need a solid effort from each one of our guys and we have to execute.” Taylor adds, “Holy Cross is not going to come in here and give us anything, we’ll have to earn everything we get.” Holy Cross comes to Bethlehem on a rare cold streak, having lost three of its last four games. American defeated the Crusaders on January 25 in Washington, D.C. as they gave up a ten-point lead late in the second half. No player on Holy Cross averages double figures in points, but as always, the trademark defense of Head Coach Ralph Willard is as tenacious as ever. Holy Cross leads the Patriot League in scoring defense, allowing only 57.8 points per night and in steals at 11 per contest. Doubleheader action gets underway at 5:30 on Friday night with the women’s game. The men will follow at 7:30. Sunday’s doubleheader is scheduled for 12:30 and 2:45. Tickets for either day of basketball excitement are just five dollars and can be purchased through the Lehigh Athletics Ticket Office at (610) 7LU-GAME, or on-line via the link above.
