Wednesday, January 22
7:00:00 PM
Lehigh University
9-9, 2-5PL
61
vs
73
Navy
15-3, 7-0PL
1
2
F
Navy
37
36
73
Lehigh
31
30
61
Lehigh drops 73-61 contest to first-place Navy
1/22/2014 9:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh women's basketball team fell 73-61 to undefeated and three-time defending Patriot League champion Navy on Wednesday evening inside Stabler Arena. The Mids shot 47.8 percent (11-for-23) from three-point range, compared to Lehigh's 5.6 percent (1-for-18), to cruise to their eight straight win. With the loss, Lehigh falls to 2-5 in league play and 9-9 overall, while Navy improves to 15-3 overall and 7-0 in the league.
"We're disappointed with the loss, but Navy has a lot of seasoned players and is a good team," said head coach Sue Troyan. "We didn't do a good job of limiting their second-chance opportunities and there's some defensive aspects we need to work on."
Junior Katie O'Reilly led the Mountain Hawks with a career-high 19 points, while classmate Sarah Williams tallied 11. Sophomore Kerry Kinek was held to seven points, bringing her 19 game double-digit scoring streak to a halt, but recorded a team-leading nine rebounds. Williams led the team with five steals, while sophomore Amina Affini snatched three steals.
"I thought Katie played great on both ends of the ball," said Troyan. "She really had a great game. Amina provided a good spark that helped build a strong run."
Five Midshipmen scored in double-digits, led by Alix Membrano with 18 and Kara Pollilnger with 16.
Lehigh finished the game shooting 35.7 percent (25-for-70) from the field, compared to Navy's 47.5 percent (29-for-61). The Mids held a 45-40 rebound advantage, but Lehigh forced 18 Navy turnovers compared to its own 15.
Navy got on the board first, but an O'Reilly layup sparked a 7-0 run for the Mountain Hawks that was capped off with a layup from sophomore Elizabeth Sharlow with 17:06 on the clock. A Kinek three-pointer was in the middle, Lehigh's only made trey of the night. Navy's Pollinger stopped the Mountain Hawk streak with a three-pointer and began an 11-4 Navy run. The Mids' Sarita Condie hit another shot from downtown as Navy was able to take a lead for the first time in the contest, 14-13 with 10:49 left in the half.
Navy was able to extend its lead to six at 24-18 and the Mountain Hawks couldn't get closer than four for the remainder of the opening term. The teams exchanged five baskets apiece leading into halftime, as Navy headed for the locker room with a 37-31 lead.
The Mountain Hawks got on the board to begin the second half, but Navy quickly took a commanding 53-39 lead, due in part to a 13-4 run that spanned three minutes, with 13:41 on the clock. Lehigh fought back with an 8-3 run that was fueled by back-to-back steals from Affini and a pair of conventional three-point plays from O'Reilly and Affini . The streak pulled Lehigh back within seven, 56-49, with 10:06 left.
Navy added on five points before a Kinek jumper gave Lehigh two more, but the Mids hit back-to-back three-pointers to regain their dominant lead at 67-51 with 8:01 to play. Navy held onto a 16 points lead throughout most of the remainder of the contest before four unanswered Lehigh points closed out the game and the Mids captured their eighth straight victory to remain undefeated in league play.
Next up, the Mountain Hawks travel to archrival Lafayette for a Saturday afternoon contest in Easton. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. and fans can watch live on the Patriot League Network or listen on ESPN Radio.
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Team Stats
NAVY
LEHIGH
FG%
.475
.357
3FG%
.478
.056
FT%
.333
.769
RB
45
40
TO
18
15
STL
5
7
Game Leaders
Pts
19
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
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