Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh begins Patriot League play with a trip to Holy Cross
1/10/2013 7:11:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Riding a three-game winning streak, the Lehigh women's basketball team will begin Patriot League play with a trip to Worcester, Mass. for a Saturday showdown with the Holy Cross Crusaders at 1 p.m. The Mountain Hawks finished up non-league play on Monday with a 58-33 victory over Columbia and will be looking for their second straight league opener win over the Crusaders after a 75-60 win a season ago.
The Mountain Hawks saw three players reach double figures against Columbia, led by sophomore Katie O'Reilly's 15 on 4-of-6 shooting from the field and a 6-of-8 effort from the free throw line. The win over the Lions was Lehigh's eighth of the season, putting the Mountain Hawks over the .500 mark for the first time this season as they will enter Saturday's game with an 8-7 mark. Monday's game was in front of the largest crowd all season as over 3,500 students and teachers turned out in support of Lehigh on its third annual Education Day.
Lehigh will now set its sights on league opponents for the rest of the season, beginning with Saturday's game against Holy Cross. The Crusaders hold a 37-15 advantage in the all-time series, but the Mountain Hawks have been winners of nine straight over Holy Cross. Last season, the Mountain Hawks opened their Patriot League slate with a 75-60 victory over the Crusaders inside Stabler Arena. Hilary Weaver was the Mountain Hawks' leading scorer, totaling a career-high 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field including going 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. Along with Weaver, both Alexa Williams (14) and Aly Byorick (10) each eclipsed double figures in the 15-point win.
This season, Lehigh will put its three-game winning streak on the line when the ball is tipped at 1 p.m. inside the Hart Recreation Center. The Mountain Hawks have knocked off Mount St. Mary's, NJIT and Columbia in succession to conclude non-league play and string together the season's longest winning streak to this point.
Lehigh is led by freshman forward Kerry Kinek who earned her third Patriot League Anaconda Rookie of the Week honor this past week after putting together two double-digit scoring performances on the road against Mount St. Mary's and NJIT. Kinek is averaging 11.6 ppg and 8.7 rbg to pace the Mountain Hawk paint presence. The 6-3 freshman also leads the team with 22 blocks over her 15 starts throughout her inaugural collegiate season.
Also making major contributions to the offense as of late is sophomore guard Katie O'Reilly. The Colts Neck, N.J. native has scored in double figures five times over her last seven games, averaging 11.0 ppg throughout those seven contests. O'Reilly also leads the team with 39 made free throws on the season, none bigger than her foul shot with four seconds to play to give Lehigh a 46-45 victory over NJIT last Saturday.
Holy Cross will enter Saturday's game with an identical 8-7 record. The Crusaders led by seven at the half and outscored Brown by 10 over the final 20 minutes to pick up their eighth win of the season. Three players top double digits in points, led by Alex Smith with 20 over her 32 minutes on the floor. Raquel Scott and Amy Lepley added 11 and 13, respectively.
The Crusaders have now won four of their last six games after snapping a two-game skid with a two-point victory over Bryant on December 21. Holy Cross is 2-1 in 2013, while the Mountain Hawks will be in search of a perfect 4-0 record since the New Year when the two teams tip at 1 p.m.
Holy Cross is led by junior Alex Smith as she is tops on the team in scoring, averaging 14.6 ppg. Senior Amy Lepley follows with 11.0 ppg, while juniors Brisje Malone and Christine Ganser each average over nine points per contest (9.5 and 9.2, respectively). Smith leads the team and the league with 47 made three pointers on the season after knocking down six against Brown on Tuesday en route to her game-high 20 points.
Following Saturday's Patriot League opener, Lehigh will return home on Wednesday, January 16 for a 7 p.m. tip with American which will be the team's Patriot League home opener.
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*Photo credit: Rebecca Gillard and Erin Iwaskiewicz*
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Date:
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January 12, 2012
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Opponent:
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Holy Cross
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Tip-off:
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1:00 PM
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Arena/Capacity:
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Hart Recreation Center/3,600
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Location:
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Worcester, Mass.
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Lehigh's Record:
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8-7 overall, 0-0 Patriot League
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Holy Cross's Record:
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8-7 overall, 0-0 Patriot League
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Series:
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Holy Cross leads, 37-15
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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 1:45 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
