Lehigh University Athletics
Friday, November 8
Niagara University, N.Y.
7:00:00 PM
Lehigh University
at
Niagara
Lehigh opens season at Niagara Friday
11/7/2013 9:37:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Game Notes | Live Stats | Listen Live
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh women's basketball team will begin its season with a trip to Niagara University on Friday for a 7 p.m. matchup with the Purple Eagles inside the Gallagher Center. The Mountain Hawks will be searching for their first season-opening win since a 2009 victory over Lipscomb.
The Mountain Hawks' 6-8 Patriot League record last season earned them a No. 5 seed in the Patriot League Tournament, which led to a matchup with No. 4 Holy Cross in Worcester. Lehigh lost a hard-fought 64-59 battle, as the Crusaders went on to make a championship appearance where they eventually fell to Navy.
The Mountain Hawks return four starters and nine letterwinners from last year's campaign as head coach Sue Troyan enters her 19th season at the helm. Becky Guman is the lone lost starter, but the Allentown native has stayed to take on a new role with the team as Director of Basketball Operations.
Sophomore Kerry Kinek was one of five players to be named to the Preseason All-League team. As a freshman, Kinek was Lehigh's leading scorer and rebounder tallying 12.8 points per game and 8.3 rebounds per game. The impressive numbers placed Kinek fifth and second in the league, respectively, and led to first team All-Patriot League and All-Rookie Team honors.
In addition to Kinek, the Mountain Hawks return last year's second-leading scorer in junior Katie O'Reilly. O'Reilly averaged eight points per game and scored in double-figures ten times. Lehigh returns players who made up 73.3% of its total points during last year's campaign and 77.5% of last year's rebounds.
Niagara ended the 2012-13 campaign with 15 wins, which were the most victories for the Purple Eagles since 2004-05 when they recorded 17. The team made it to the MAAC Tournament Semifinals for a second-straight year for the first time in program history. The No. 5 Purple Eagles fell to the No. 1 seeded Marist Red Foxes, 61-36.
Meghan McGuinness is the top returning offensive player. As a sophomore, the guard finished with 9.6 points per game overall and 11.3 points per game in MAAC contests. She also finished with a 35 percent success rate from beyond the three-point line and an 86.7 percent rate from the charity stripe. Chanel Johnson is the only senior on the squad after she wrapped up 2012-13 averaging 19.8 minutes and 5.2 points per game.
Niagara loses star Lauren Gatto, who sunk 14.0 points per game and average 6.2 rebounds per contest a season ago. The Purple Eagles were projected to finish eighth in the 2013-14 MAAC Preseason poll. Marist, Iona and Quinnipiac were tabbed to finish first through third.
Friday's contest will be just the third-ever meeting between Lehigh and Niagara. Each team has won a contest, with Lehigh coming out victorious in the most recent game on Dec. 8, 2012.
Four Mountain Hawks scored in double figures, while four other Lehigh players set career highs when Niagara came to Stabler Arena last December. O'Reilly led the way with 16 points, while Kelly Peterson (13), Kinek (10) and Alexandra Yantzi (10) each scored in double digits.
Lehigh outscored Niagara 47-27 in the second half and out-rebounded the Purple Eagles 56-39. The brown and white's major difference in the game was points in the paint as Lehigh held a 28-8 advantage in that category and 39-16 from the bench. The Purple Eagles turned the ball over 20 times during the match.
Following Friday's game, the Mountain Hawks will return home to play their home-opener against NJIT on Monday before hosting Villanova on Education Day Thursday.
Like Lehigh women's basketball on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh women's basketball team will begin its season with a trip to Niagara University on Friday for a 7 p.m. matchup with the Purple Eagles inside the Gallagher Center. The Mountain Hawks will be searching for their first season-opening win since a 2009 victory over Lipscomb.
The Mountain Hawks' 6-8 Patriot League record last season earned them a No. 5 seed in the Patriot League Tournament, which led to a matchup with No. 4 Holy Cross in Worcester. Lehigh lost a hard-fought 64-59 battle, as the Crusaders went on to make a championship appearance where they eventually fell to Navy.
The Mountain Hawks return four starters and nine letterwinners from last year's campaign as head coach Sue Troyan enters her 19th season at the helm. Becky Guman is the lone lost starter, but the Allentown native has stayed to take on a new role with the team as Director of Basketball Operations.
Sophomore Kerry Kinek was one of five players to be named to the Preseason All-League team. As a freshman, Kinek was Lehigh's leading scorer and rebounder tallying 12.8 points per game and 8.3 rebounds per game. The impressive numbers placed Kinek fifth and second in the league, respectively, and led to first team All-Patriot League and All-Rookie Team honors.
In addition to Kinek, the Mountain Hawks return last year's second-leading scorer in junior Katie O'Reilly. O'Reilly averaged eight points per game and scored in double-figures ten times. Lehigh returns players who made up 73.3% of its total points during last year's campaign and 77.5% of last year's rebounds.
Niagara ended the 2012-13 campaign with 15 wins, which were the most victories for the Purple Eagles since 2004-05 when they recorded 17. The team made it to the MAAC Tournament Semifinals for a second-straight year for the first time in program history. The No. 5 Purple Eagles fell to the No. 1 seeded Marist Red Foxes, 61-36.
Meghan McGuinness is the top returning offensive player. As a sophomore, the guard finished with 9.6 points per game overall and 11.3 points per game in MAAC contests. She also finished with a 35 percent success rate from beyond the three-point line and an 86.7 percent rate from the charity stripe. Chanel Johnson is the only senior on the squad after she wrapped up 2012-13 averaging 19.8 minutes and 5.2 points per game.
Niagara loses star Lauren Gatto, who sunk 14.0 points per game and average 6.2 rebounds per contest a season ago. The Purple Eagles were projected to finish eighth in the 2013-14 MAAC Preseason poll. Marist, Iona and Quinnipiac were tabbed to finish first through third.
Friday's contest will be just the third-ever meeting between Lehigh and Niagara. Each team has won a contest, with Lehigh coming out victorious in the most recent game on Dec. 8, 2012.
Four Mountain Hawks scored in double figures, while four other Lehigh players set career highs when Niagara came to Stabler Arena last December. O'Reilly led the way with 16 points, while Kelly Peterson (13), Kinek (10) and Alexandra Yantzi (10) each scored in double digits.
Lehigh outscored Niagara 47-27 in the second half and out-rebounded the Purple Eagles 56-39. The brown and white's major difference in the game was points in the paint as Lehigh held a 28-8 advantage in that category and 39-16 from the bench. The Purple Eagles turned the ball over 20 times during the match.
Following Friday's game, the Mountain Hawks will return home to play their home-opener against NJIT on Monday before hosting Villanova on Education Day Thursday.
Like Lehigh women's basketball on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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