Lehigh University Athletics
DePalo and Ellis earn All-League honors
3/3/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Bethlehem, PA – Lehigh junior forward Jessica DePalo has been named to the All-Patriot League First Team, and guard Sara Ellis was selected to the league’s All-Freshman Team. The all-league teams, voted on by the Patriot League’s eight coaches, were announced Wednesday.
DePalo immediately stepped up this season as one of the leaders on the floor, and quickly emerged as a bona-fide Player of the Year candidate. The co-captain led the team in scoring 18 times this season, averaging a school record 18.6 points per game. She leads the team in rebounding (7.7 boards per game) and blocked shots (53), and is tops in the Patriot League at 21.3 points per league game.
Along the way, DePalo set several personal milestones. She became just the fourth Lehigh player to score 30 or more points in a game (33 at Navy on Feb. 7), and she became the fourth player in school history to score 500 or more points in a single season (currently 502). The junior was also recognized for her hard work in the classroom. A marketing major with a 3.23 grade point average, DePalo earned CoSIDA Academic All-District II honors.
“Jess has been the model of consistency all season for our program, and is very deserving of this honor,” said Lehigh head coach Sue Troyan. “She stepped in this year and filled the void of losing a 4 time all-league performer in the graduation of Anne Tierney, and she has played a significant role in our Patriot League success this season by guiding a very young squad with her leadership and strong play."
DePalo’s play suggests she’s not quite finished yet. She enters the Patriot League tournament needing only six field goals to establish a new Lehigh single season record. Additionally, 36 more points would set a new single season school mark as well.
Meanwhile Ellis didn’t take very long to adjust to basketball at the collegiate level. She started in the team’s first seven games, and 20 of 27 overall. Not afraid to shoot from long range, Ellis quickly established herself as a three-point threat. Once Patriot League play began, her level of play rose along with the competition. Ellis finished in a second place tie with teammate Dawn Gorynski with 31 three-point field goals in league play. Against Patriot League opposition, Ellis averaged 10.6 points per game and 3.6 assists per game (tops on the team). At one point, she established new career scoring highs in three consecutive games en route to being named the league’s Freshman of the Week twice.
“Sara has improved game by game this season, and played a big role in our turnaround as we began Patriot League play,” Troyan points out. “As her confidence has grown over the course of the season, her play has become more consistent and our team's performance has improved. She has developed into a consistent threat from 3 point range, as well as a great passer with her ability to read the court in transition."
Lehigh begins its quest for a Patriot League title on Friday when the third-seeded Mountain Hawks (12-15, 9-5 PL) take on No. 6 Army (14-13, 6-8 PL) in a quarterfinal match-up. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 from The Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. The game will be broadcast live on WLVR-FM and on the Lehigh web site at lehighsports.com. Tickets for the tournament can be purchased through the Lehigh Ticket Office at (610) 7LU-GAME.
2004 All-Patriot League First Team
Name | School | Class | Position | Hometown |
Desire Almind | Bucknell | Sr. | Forward | Blairstown, NJ |
Emily Braseth | Colgate | Jr. | Forward | Grand Rapids, MI |
Courtney Davidson | Navy | Sr. | Guard | New Oxford, PA |
Lehigh | Jr. | Forward | Rumson, NJ | |
Katie Macfarlane | Army | Sr. | Forward | Clarence, NY |
2004 All-Patriot League Second Team
Name | School | Class | Position | Hometown |
Lisa Andrews | Holy Cross | Jr. | Center | Concord, MA |
Malissa Burke | Colgate | Sr. | Guard | Traverse City, MI |
Maggie Fontana | Holy Cross | Jr | Guard | Palatine, IL |
Chanel Hunt | American | Jr. | Forward | Raleigh, NC |
Chanel Spriggs | American | Sr. | Guard | Sunderland, MD |
2004 All-Patriot League Freshman Team
Name | School | Class | Position | Hometown |
Lehigh | Fr. | Guard | Bellefontaine, OH | |
Jen Hansen | Army | Fr. | Guard | Seminole, FL |
Kate Hobbs | Navy | Fr. | Forward | Wexford, PA |
Lindsey Hollobaugh | Bucknell | Fr. | Guard | Loganton, PA |
Brittany Keil | Holy Cross | Fr. | Guard | Sparta, NJ |
Player of the Year: Katie Macfarlane, Army
Freshman of the Year: Lindsey Hollobaugh, Bucknell
Coach of the Year: Beth Combs, Colgate
