Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh looks to rebound at Sacred Heart Wednesday
11/15/2011 2:57:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Lehigh dropped its first two games of the season to a pair of tough A-10 teams over the weekend, but the Mountain Hawks will look to rebound as it travels to take on Northeast Conference opponent Sacred Heart Wednesday at 7 p.m. Not only will Lehigh be looking for its fourth straight win against the Pioneers, but the Mountain Hawks are hoping for their 11th straight victory over NEC opponents.
Lehigh is 4-2 all-time against Sacred Heart with the most recent game taking place on November 25th, 2008 in which Lehigh edged out a 77-75 victory. In the game, the Mountain Hawks had a 12-point lead at halftime and led by nine with 1:54 to go, but the Pioneers went on an 8-1 run to cut Lehigh's lead to two with just 50 seconds left. With the Mountain Hawks still clinging to a two-point lead with 10 seconds to go, Lehigh hit a pair of clutch free throws to finally put the game away.
The Mountain Hawks have had success against NEC opponents with a 36-22 all-time record. Lehigh has faced every team in the NEC at least twice. Wednesday's game will be the first of three against NEC opponents this season for Lehigh as it will take on Monmouth in Easton, Pa. on November 25th and will travel to Staten Island, N.Y. to take on Wagner on November 27th.
Lehigh's last loss against an NEC team was LIU 53-49 at Stabler Arena on December 5th, 2007.
Lehigh will look to keep that streak going as it hopes to pick up its first win of the season Wednesday night. The Mountain Hawks fell 63-43 to La Salle in their opener Friday and 66-48 to Saint Joseph's on Sunday. Lehigh has been led in the early going by senior co-captain Alexa Williams as she is averaging 15 points and eight rebounds while shooting 87.5 percent from the free-throw line (14-for-16).
For her efforts, Williams was recognized by College Sports Madness as the Patriot League's Women's Basketball Player of the Week. Williams ranks third in scoring and rebounding in the Patriot League and fifth in free-throw percentage (87.5%).
Junior Sarah Pearce is second on the team in scoring and rebounding (8.5 ppg, 5.5 ppg) and she also leads the team and ranks fourth in the Patriot League in three-point shooting (75 percent) and fifth in three-point field goals made (1.5 per game).
The Mountain Hawks played its best half of basketball in the second half at Saint Joseph's on Sunday and they will look to build off of that momentum as they take on a Sacred Heart team that is off to a 2-0 start after defeating Siena 62-45 Friday and Columbia 60-42 Sunday.
The Pioneers are led by senior forward Callan Taylor who is averaging 14 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Taylor had a double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds in the season opener and she had 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks vs. Columbia. For her efforts, Taylor was named the NEC Player of the Week.
Sacred Heart has two other players averaging double digits in freshman Gabrielle Washington (14.5 ppg) - who was named NEC Rookie of the Week - and sophomore Ericka Norman (12.0 ppg).
Taylor - who was the team's leading scorer last year - was named to the Preseason NEC All-Conference Team while the Pioneers were tied with Monmouth for fourth place in the NEC preseason coaches' poll and received two first-place votes. Since entering the NEC in 1999-2000, Sacred Heart has never finished lower than a tie for third place.
Wednesday night marks three straight road games for Lehigh as the Mountain Hawks return to Stabler Arena on Saturday, November 19th vs. Saint Peter's at 7 p.m. Tickets for all home games are now on sale and may be purchased on Lehighsports.com or by calling the ticket office at (610)-7LU-GAME.
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Date:
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November 16, 2011
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Opponent:
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Sacred Heart Pioneers
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Tip-off:
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7:00 PM
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Arena/Capacity:
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William H. Pitt Center/2,062
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Location:
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Fairfield, Conn.
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Lehigh's Record:
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0-2 overall, 0-0 Patriot League
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Sacred Heart's Record:
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2-0 overall, 0-0 NEC
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Series:
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Lehigh leads, 4-2
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Radio:
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WLVR 91.3 with Matt Markus beginning at 6:45 p.m.
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Internet Radio:
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Lehighsports.com
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Internet Video:
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Live Stats:
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Television:
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None
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Behind Enemy Lines:
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Not by a computer?
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Follow http://twitter.com/LehighSports for updates
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