Lehigh returns to action with road trip to NJIT

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh returns to the hardwood Thursday after an 11-day hiatus when the Mountain Hawks square off with the NJIT Highlanders at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Lehigh comes into the game with a 6-3 record after losing its last game to the Villanova Wildcats, 58-52 on Dec. 7 at the Pavilion. In that game, the Mountain Hawks struggled offensively in what was their lowest point total of the season. Lehigh will be looking to rebound against the Highlanders, who have never beaten the Brown and White in school history.

For the second time in the week Lehigh dug itself a big first-half hole against Villanova, falling down 12-3 in the opening minutes. The Mountain Hawks clawed back to within three points in the second half but could never make up the deficit completely. Courtney Dentler made her first career start for the Brown and White and scored a career-high 15 points and added five rebounds.

NJIT comes into the game with a 2-5 record, but its two wins have come in the last three games. The Highlanders knocked off Maine and Albany on the road while dropping a game in the middle to Lehigh’s archrival Lafayette, 70-49, on Dec. 5. Sophomore guard Jessica Gerald continues to lead the Highlanders with 17.3 points per game.

The Highlanders are now in their third year of Division I competition. The first season was a rough introduction to the top tier of NCAA basketball, as NJIT went 4-24 in its inaugural campaign. But the second season showed much promise for the Highlanders as they earned a 10-19 record.

When NJIT finishes its transition to full Division I status in the 2009-10 season, it will be competing in the Great West Conference. NJIT will be the second team Lehigh has played this season that is going through a reclassification – The Mountain Hawks defeated the Bryant Bulldogs in Stabler Arena, 68-55, on Dec. 5.

The Mountain Hawks and Highlanders have squared off twice – in each of the last two seasons – with Lehigh claiming victory in each of those meetings. The Mountain Hawks cruised to margins of victory of 26 points and 15 points in the only two games against NJIT. The last time the squads met on the hardwood was on Dec. 8, 2007, when Lehigh rolled to a 73-58 win at Stabler Arena. The teams have never matched up at the Prudential Center before, with the only meeting at NJIT coming at the Fleisher Center on Dec. 9, 2006.

Fans that can’t make it out to Newark can listen to the game live on WLVR 91.3 (FM) or Lehighsports.com. Jeff Tourial will be calling the action live from the Prudential Center with pregame coverage beginning at 6:45 p.m.

Date:	December 18, 2008
Opponent:	NJIT Highlanders
Tipoff:	7:00 p.m.
Arena:	The Prudential Center (18,500)
Location:	Newark, N.J.
Lehigh’s record:	6-3 overall, 0-0 Patriot League
NJIT’s record:	2-5 overall, Independent
Series:	Lehigh leads, 2-0
Streak:	Lehigh won last two meetings
Television:	None
Radio:	WLVR-FM (91.3) with Jeff Tourial beginning at 6:45 p.m.
Internet broadcast:	Live audio at Lehighsports.com
Behind enemy lines:	http://www.njithighlanders.com/

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