Lehigh University Athletics
Mountain Hawks set for trip to Loyola (Md.)
12/2/2012 7:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh women's basketball team will make its third trip in program history to Loyola (Md.) on Monday to face off against the Greyhounds inside Reitz Arena at 7 p.m. The Mountain Hawks will be in search of their fifth consecutive victory over Loyola, a streak dating back to the 1982-83 season.
Lehigh (2-4) holds a 4-1 advantage in the all-time series, including a 70-60 win over the Greyhounds a season ago inside Stabler Arena. In that game, Kelly Peterson set a then career-high with 16 points, going 4-for-8 from beyond the arc and scoring 11 second half points en route to the 10-point win. Lehigh shot 47 percent from the field in the victory, as the win was the second straight in the midst of a season-high five-game winning streak.
In the two prior road games against the Greyhounds, Lehigh won the match up in the 1984-85 season 83-51, but the only loss to Loyola came in the series opener during the 1981-82 season in which Lehigh fell 81-47. The Mountain Hawks will also be looking to extend their streak to six-straight victories over MAAC (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) opponents, as the brown and white has gone 2-0 this season and 5-0 since the 2010-11 campaign.
In Lehigh's last game, sophomore Sarah Williams scored 10-consecutive points through a three minute span to end the first half, but 10 Wildcat treys led to a 66-49 loss to Villanova on Thursday night. Williams tied a career-high with 14 points, while freshman Kerry Kinek scored 10 and pulled down nine boards, but Villanova proved to be too much for the Mountain Hawks to handle. Freshman Elizabeth Jordan scored her first collegiate points via a trey late in the second half as a part of Lehigh's 44.4 shooting percentage from beyond the arc. It was the Mountain Hawks' second-straight loss this season, as Lehigh will be hoping to halt that two-game skid tomorrow night against Loyola.
Kinek continues to lead the Mountain Hawks with 12.7 points per game, while senior Kelly Peterson is averaging 9.2 ppg. Kinek also leads Lehigh with 9.8 boards per contest and nine blocks this season, as the freshman has consistently demonstrated her presence in the paint. Senior Marybeth Egan has run the point guard position for the brown and white, dishing out a team-best 17 assists this season, averaging 2.8 per game. After her 14-point outburst on Thursday, Williams now ranks third in the Patriot League with a 43.8 percent clip from beyond the arc after going off for 13 first half points against Villanova including a 3-for-3 effort from downtown.
The Mountain Hawks are shooting 34.5 percent from the field and 23.5 percent from three-point land this season. Lehigh is averaging 42.7 boards per game, out-rebounding its opponents by 2.7 per contest, while blocking 3.8 shots per game. The brown and white is shooting 69.4 percent from the charity stripe to aid its average of 55.8 points per game.
Loyola (3-4) will enter Monday's game fresh off a 55-53 victory over American on Saturday afternoon. Kara Marshall and Katie Sheahin combined for 35 points, 22 of which coming from Sheahin's career-high performance. Sheahin and Nneka Offodile each pulled down a team-high nine boards in the contest as the Greyhounds hung on for the two-point victory after taking a one-point lead into halftime (20-19). The Greyhounds shot 75 percent from the line (18-of-24), taking advantage of the 22 fouls committed by the Eagles.
Sheahin leads the Greyhound offense, averaging 15.0 ppg, followed by Marshall who is turning in 8.1 per contest. Sheahin also leads the rebounding game, averaging 5.4 boards per game, while Offodile grabs 5.1. Sheahin has also registered a team-best 26 assists and posted 16 steals, while Marshall and Alyssa Sutherland are also in double-digit steals for the season with 11 and 10, respectively.
The Greyhounds are shooting 35.7 percent from the field as a team and 32.8 percent from beyond the arc, while posting a 73.5 percent clip from the charity stripe. Loyola is -5.4 in the rebounding margin and -6.9 in scoring margin as the Greyhounds average 52.4 points per game. Loyola has been stronger in the second half, scoring 175 points during the first half of game this season, but 192 in the final 20 minutes. The Greyhounds are also averaging 17.7 turnovers per contest, but just 9.6 assists.
After Monday night's game, Lehigh will return home on Thursday, December 6 for a 7 p.m. tip against Fairfield, before hosting Niagara on Saturday, December 8 which is also scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
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Date:
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December 3, 2012
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Opponent:
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Loyola Greyhounds
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Tip-off:
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7:00 PM
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Arena/Capacity:
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Reitz Arena/2,100
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Location:
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Baltimore, Md.
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Lehigh's Record:
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2-4 overall, 0-0 Patriot League
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Loyola's Record:
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3-4 overall, 0-0 MAAC
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Series:
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Lehigh leads, 4-1
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Radio:
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Live on WLVR 91.3 and Lehighsports.com with Matt Markus Pregame coverage gets underway at 6:45 PM
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Television:
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None
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Internet Video:
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Behind Enemy Lines:
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MHT EP10 - Women's Basketball
Friday, February 27
Lehigh Sports Central: Women's Basketball
Tuesday, February 17
Interview after win vs Colgate 1/10
Saturday, January 10
Interview after Bucknell win 1/3/25
Saturday, January 03
