Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh welcomes in Niagara for Saturday showdown
12/7/2012 6:02:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Fresh off a comeback victory over Fairfield on Thursday night, the Lehigh women's basketball team is set to host Niagara on Saturday evening at 7 p.m. for the third-consecutive match-up against a MAAC opponent. Lehigh trailed by as many as 15 on Thursday, but rallied to hold the Stags to just 12.1 percent shooting in the second half en route to the 47-42 win.
The Purple Eagles hold a 1-0 edge in the all-time series, the only meeting between the two institutions coming during the 1998-99 season in which Niagara took home a 70-58 victory on a neutral court. Saturday night will be the first time either team will hold a home court advantage when the ball is tipped at 7 p.m. under the Stabler Arena lights.
In their last outing, the Mountain Hawks fell into a 10-0 hole over the first three minutes of action against Fairfield and eventually into deficits of 17-2 and 20-6, before starting a 19-8 run to close the gap to just four points entering halftime, 30-26. Both teams started the second half struggling offensively as a free throw by sophomore Katie O'Reilly started the scoring at the 13:44 mark.
Lehigh tied the game at 33, but a trey by the Stags pushed Fairfield back on top at 36-33. From there, the Mountain Hawks began a 12-0 run that helped them open up a nine-point lead at 45-36 with 2:30 to play. After two clutch three-pointers by the Stags within 45 seconds of each other to close the gap to three points at 45-42, O'Reilly connected on a layup to put Lehigh up by five and ice the game for Lehigh.
The win was the Mountain Hawks' first on their home court and third of the season, as Lehigh will now look for its first back-to-back wins tomorrow night when Niagara takes the court to face off against the brown and white at 7 p.m.
Freshman Kerry Kinek continues to lead the Lehigh offense, averaging a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds per contest. She is followed by senior Kelly Peterson who is averaging 8.0 ppg. Peterson needs just eight points to eclipse the 400-point plateau for her career in Bethlehem. Senior guard Marybeth Egan continues to lead the Mountain Hawks with 19 assists, averaging 2.7 per tilt, but junior Hilary Weaver has racked up 11 this season, including a season-high six against Loyola last Monday.
The Purple Eagles will enter Saturday's game winners of two-straight after snapping a three-game skid. Niagara has not played since Saturday, December 1 as the Purple Eagles have had a full week to prepare for their trip to Bethlehem. The trip will be a homecoming for senior Jessica Flamm who played at Allentown Central Catholic and grew up in nearby Allentown, Pa.
Saturday's game will be the second Patriot League opponent the Purple Eagles will have faced this year after dropping to Bucknell on November 21 by a final score of 77-69 in Lewisburg, Pa. On the season, junior center Lauren Gatto leads the offensive attack for the Purple Eagles, averaging 12.8 ppg and 7.0 rbg, while fellow junior Chanel Johnson averages 10.8 ppg as a guard.
Niagara ranks first in the MAAC in scoring offense, averaging 67.8 ppg and shoots a league-best 41.5 percent from the field. With their offense, the Purple Eagles lead the league with a +4.5 scoring margin over their six games and hold opponents to a 38.2 shooting percentage.
After Saturday's game, the Mountain Hawks will take a 12-day hiatus before taking to the Stabler Arena court on December 20 for a tilt against Sacred Heart scheduled to tip at 7 p.m. After that, Lehigh will host the annual Christmas City Classic from December 29-30 in which the Mountain Hawks will welcome Binghamton, Boston and Fairleigh Dickinson to Bethlehem, Pa.
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Date:
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December 8, 2012
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Opponent:
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Niagara Purple Eagles
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Tip-off:
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7:00 PM
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Arena/Capacity:
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Stabler Arena/5,600
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Location:
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Bethlehem, Pa.
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Lehigh's Record:
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3-5 overall, 0-0 Patriot League
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Niagara's Record:
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3-3 overall, 0-0 MAAC
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Series:
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Niagara leads, 1-0
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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
