Lehigh University
Navy
Lehigh hangs on for a 54-53 win at Navy
2/11/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Lehigh once again called on its defense as it held off Navy 54-53 Thursday evening in Alumni Hall. Sophomore Alexa Williams took a charge with 48 seconds left to give the Mountain Hawks possession of the ball and after a missed shot by Lehigh, the Midshipmen were forced to rush a layup at the end of regulation. Senior Tricia Smith secured the game with a rebound and helped the Brown and White improve its record to 21-3 (8-1). It was the Mountain Hawks eighth straight win and they remain in a first place tie with American in the league standings. Navy drops to .500 on the season (12-12) and 4-5 in Patriot League play.
“It was a great effort on the defensive end,” head coach Sue Troyan said. “I was a little frustrated that we couldn’t finish around the basket and we didn’t start the game well going 0-for-8. When we’ve had an off night on the offensive end it’s become characteristic of this team to find a way to win.”
Troyan continued on the seniors being able to lift the team in tough games. “Our seniors have come up big when we’ve been in games like this. Alex (Ross) had a nice run and was able to hit some big shots. I don’t know if Tricia will be able to walk tomorrow after this game (commenting on her tough, physical defense all game).”
Two Mountain Hawks finished in double figures as Williams had 11 and Ross dropped in 10. Smith just missed double digits as she had nine points to go along with her eight rebounds. Lehigh forced 24 Navy turnovers and had a season-high 16 steals. Junior Erica Prosser and sophomore Emily Gratch each had four thefts. The Brown and White improved on its three-point shooting as it finished 4-for-16 (25%). The Mountain Hawks struggled from the free throw line hitting a season-low six shots (6-for-17).
Junior Angela Myers contributed a game-high 12 points and three other Midshipmen finished in double figures: junior Cassie Consedine (10), freshman Chey Arvin (11) and senior K.C. Gordon (11). Navy out-rebounded Lehigh 33-29 and shot 49 percent in the game.
Navy jumped out to a 5-0 lead to start the game, but the Mountain Hawks came storming back going on a 13-2 run to take a 13-7 lead. Consecutive three-pointers by the Midshipmen tied the game at 13 and the two teams traded baskets to bring the score even at 17. Navy pulled ahead by two and wouldn’t trail the rest of the half. An uncontested layup by Prosser at the end of the half brought the score to 27-25. The score was tied five times in the half and there were four lead changes.
Williams led the Mountain Hawks on both ends of the floor as she had seven points and seven rebounds. Lehigh shot 39 percent in the half, but couldn’t find its touch from beyond the arc as it shot 14 percent (1-for-7).
Navy had three players score at least five points in the first half and was led by Arvin who had six points and four rebounds. The Midshipmen were tough on the glass as they edged Lehigh in rebounds 18-16.
The Mountain Hawks opened up the second half strong as Williams hit a quick layup to even the score at 27. The two teams went back and forth for the majority of the half and with 10:10 left in the game the score was tied at 42. A three-pointer by Ross followed by a Prosser free throw gave Lehigh its largest lead of the game, 52-46 with 4:02 left. Navy pulled to within four off a layup by Myers, but Williams answered right back scoring the Mountain Hawks final basket of the game with 2:17 left. Consedine drilled a three with 1:32 left to bring the score to 54-53, but Navy was shutout for the rest of the game as the Brown and White held on for the win.
Lehigh will stay on the road and play Army Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. in West Point, N.Y. The game was originally scheduled for Saturday, but was moved to Sunday to allow the Mountain Hawks to have an extra day in between games. You can hear all the action live on WLVR-FM (91.3) and Lehighsports.com with Jeff Tourial on the broadcast.
Photos provided by Jeff Tourial
Lehigh Mountain Hawks Post-Game Extra
Lehigh - Navy Blizzard Report
