Lehigh University Athletics
Freshmen lead the way to victories over Army
2/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Bethlehem, PA – Both basketball teams picked up crucial Patriot League wins Friday night at Stabler Arena, with the women blowing out Army 83-53, and then men winning 68-63. The women stayed within a game of first place with their victory, and the men moved into a tie for first with
The Mountain Hawk women made just about everything they threw at the rim, shooting a Lehigh-record 70.2% from the field in the rout of Army. Lehigh improved to 10-14, 7-4 in the Patriot League as they maintained their grip on second place in the league standings. The team got production out of every player in the lineup, as eleven different players made baskets for the team.
In the first half, Lehigh came out smoking, shooting 15-of-22 from the field (68.2%) while holding Army to 13-31 (41.9%). The Black Knights kept it close though, as the half saw seven ties and seven lead changes before Lehigh closed the half on an 11-4 run. Lehigh’s guards shot particularly well, as Sara Ellis and Dawn Gorynski both made two-of-three from behind the arc as they combined for 14 first-half points, helping the Mountain Hawks to a 39-32 lead.
In the second half, the Mountain Hawks started to pour it on, firing on all cylinders as they doubled the score of the visiting Black Knights, outscoring them 44-21 in the final period. Army got back within nine at 56-47 on a basket by Shavonne Holden with 9:36 left, but then Lehigh pulled away, holding Army to only two field goals and six points the rest of the way.
Amazingly, Lehigh shot better in the second stanza, hitting 18-of-25 shots (72%). Reserve guard Emily Geosits punctuated the team’s offensive performance late in the game, hitting a three from the corner that hit the rim, bounced up and hit the top of the backboard twice, then dropped through the net.
For the game, Ellis led four Mountain Hawks in double figures with 18 points on the evening. Jessica DePalo chipped in with 16, and Gorynski had 10 points and 6 assists. Jana Ransom had a double-double, finishing the night with 10 points and ten rebounds. Katie Macfarlane led Army (13-11, 5-6) with a double-double of her own, scoring 15 points to go along with a game-high 11 rebounds.
In a men’s game that was closer than Lehigh fans might have liked, Army refused to go away but Lehigh kept their home record perfect in Patriot League play with a 68-63 victory. Freshman Jason Mgebroff had a career-high 25 points to lead the team to their ninth win in league play (16-8, 9-2). Army falls to 6-17, 3-8 with the loss. With the win and a
Lehigh jumped out to a 19-9 lead, but Army doggedly came back as they would the whole game. Every time Lehigh appeared ready to open it up, the Black Knights countered, and Lehigh led by only four at the break 32-28.
Army would then take the lead in the second half, using a 10-0 run to turn a 38-34 deficit into a 44-38 lead with
Frustrated with his team’s efforts, Coach Taylor pulled all of his starters off the floor to see if the bench could give a spark.
And spark they did, as the reserves played stifling defense against the Black Knights, creating turnover after turnover during a 13-0 run that saw the team reclaim the lead 51-44 before Austen Rowland and Jose Olivero came back in. In total, the Mountain Hawks scored 16 unanswered points to reclaim the lead for good.
Mgebroff shattered his previous career high of 15 against
“Jason had an incredible game, and he is playing so well right now. He forces teams to double him in the post, and we have been trying to take advantage. Tonight Austen did a great job of getting him, and everyone else the ball. He is so unselfish, he is just as happy setting up his teammates as scoring.”
Josh Wilson led Army with 19 points and 5 boards.
The win sets up what could be one of the biggest home games in Lehigh history Sunday, as
