Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh to face American in Patriot League home opener
1/15/2013 2:16:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – After a dramatic last second victory on Saturday over Holy Cross, the Lehigh women's basketball team will look to push its unbeaten streak to five games when it welcomes the American Eagles into Stabler Arena for the Patriot League home opener on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. Lehigh will be searching to start Patriot League play with two straight wins for the first time since the 2008-09 season.
Lehigh picked up its 10th consecutive victory over Holy Cross on Saturday and began Patriot League play with a win over the Crusaders for the second straight year. With seven seconds to play, senior co-captain Becky Guman took the inbound pass and found sophomore Katie O'Reilly under the basket with less than a second to play to break a 65-65 tie and give Lehigh its first Patriot League of the season. O'Reilly tallied career-highs in points (17) and rebounds (12), giving her a double-double for the first time in her career.
O'Reilly has now registered two game-winning shots on the season, the other a clutch free throw with four seconds remaining to give Lehigh a 46-45 victory over NJIT on January 5. She is now the second leading free throw shooter in the Patriot League (80.7 percent) and is averaging 11.8 ppg over her last eight contests, scoring in double figures six times.
Freshman Kerry Kinek continues to pace the Lehigh offense, averaging 11.7 ppg and 8.6 rbg, as she registered 13 points and six boards in her Patriot League debut. O'Reilly's play of late has improved her season average to 8.7 ppg. Over the four-game winning streak, the Mountain Hawks are averaging a 9.25 win margin, but have won three games by single digits (nine, one and two points). Lehigh has also locked down defensively this season and will enter Wednesday's tilt as the second leading scoring defense in the Patriot League, allowing just 56.0 ppg.
The Eagles hold a 19-11 all-time mark over Lehigh and are currently riding a three-game winning streak against the Mountain Hawks after sweeping the season series a year ago. The last time Lehigh defeated American was a 57-46 win in Washington, D.C. on February 5, 2011.
The Mountain Hawks have also dropped three straight to American inside Stabler Arena, the last home win against the Eagles coming in the Patriot League Championship game on March 13, 2010 which ended in a 58-42 victory for Lehigh.
American is also 1-0 in Patriot League play this season after a 54-45 victory over Colgate on Saturday. The Eagles placed three players in double figures, led by junior Alexis Dobbs (12). Also aiding the Eagle offense was sophomore Jen Dumiak and junior Geleisa George with 10 points apiece.
The Eagles feature two prolific Patriot League scorers in Dumiak and Dobbs, both ranking in the top 10 of the league. Dumiak is the Patriot League's fourth leading scorer, averaging 12.8 ppg and is second in three-point shooting percentage at 38.0 percent. Dobbs is ninth in the league in scoring (11.6 ppg) and leads the Patriot League in steals (2.1), three-point shooting percentage (38.6) and assist/turnover ratio at 1.4.
The Eagles' win over Colgate snapped a two-game skid for American after previously falling to Fordham and Hampton. As a team, American in third in the Patriot League in three-point shooting percentage at 33.3 percent and in steals per game with 8.0. The weakness of the Eagles is their rebounding as American ranks last among Patriot League squads in rebounding margin at -1.9, averaging just 35.6 boards per game while allowing 37.5.
After Wednesday's game, Lehigh will hit the road for a trip to Colgate on Saturday, January 19 which will tip-off at 4 p.m. before returning home on Wednesday, January 23 when the Mountain Hawks will welcome Bucknell to Bethlehem for the first time in 2013 to tip at 7 p.m.
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*Photo credit: Rebecca Gillard and Brent Hugo*
*Photo credit: Rebecca Gillard and Brent Hugo*
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Date:
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January 16, 2012
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Opponent:
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American
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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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9-7 overall, 1-0 Patriot League
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American's Record:
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8-7 overall, 1-0 Patriot League
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Series:
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American leads, 19-11
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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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Service Electric 2 Sports
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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
