Sunday, December 21
Tempe, Ariz.
2 p.m.
Lehigh University
8-1
72
vs
69
Eastern Illinois
3-9
1
2
F
Eastern Illinois
37
32
69
Lehigh
41
31
72
Lehigh bounces back with 72-69 victory over Eastern Illinois
12/21/2014 4:13:00 PM | Women's Basketball
TEMPE, Ariz. – The Lehigh women's basketball team came out on top in a game of runs as the Mountain Hawks battled to a 72-69 victory over Eastern Illinois Sunday afternoon in the Arizona State Classic at Wells Fargo Arena. Lehigh erased a nine-point second-half deficit and was able to hold off a late Panthers charge as the Mountain Hawks improve to 8-1 on the season. EIU falls to 3-9 with the loss.
"It wasn't a pretty game on either end of the floor," said head coach Sue Troyan. "I told the kids it was going to be kind of a gut-check game coming off a less than 24 hour turnaround. We found a way to win the game down the stretch and make plays when we had to make plays which is what matters."
For the third time this season, both junior Kerry Kinek and sophomore Lexi Martins recorded double-doubles as Martins finished with a team-high 17 points and 10 boards and Kinek wrapped up the contest with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Sophomore Elizabeth Jordan hit four three-pointers in the first half to tie her career high with 12 points. Senior Sarah Williams also finished in double-digits with ten points. Classmate Katie O'Reilly dishes a team-best four assists.
The Mountain Hawks shot just 41.7 percent (25-for-60) from the field and 31 percent (9-for-29) from downtown compared to EIU's 54.9 (28-for-51) field goal percentage and 55.6 (5-for-9) three-point percentage. Lehigh converted 13 of 18 (72.2%) of its chances from the charity stripe and controlled a 37-30 rebound advantage including a 14-7 edge on the offensive glass.
The Panthers scored the first four points of the contest before a layup from junior Elizabeth Sharlow sparked an 8-0 Lehigh run that saw four points from Kinek as Lehigh took an 8-6 lead into the first media timeout. After being tied at eight and 13, EIU was able to jump ahead 18-17 following a three-pointer from Arnisha Thomas with 11:10 to play in the opening term.
Lehigh answered with a 14-4 run that took nearly four minutes off the clock. The streak was comprised of four three-pointers, two of which came from Jordan, and a pair of free throws as the Mountain Hawks jumped ahead 31-22 with 7:20 left on the first-half clock.
Lehigh held onto a seven-point lead at 39-32 following a Quinci Mann jumper at the 1:40 mark, but an EIU three-pointer and jumper narrowed Lehigh's lead to two with 34 seconds to play. A Martins layup added two points and gave Lehigh a 41-37 lead heading into halftime.
The Panthers opened the second half on a 17-4 run to put Lehigh in the hole 54-45 at the 14:16 mark. Williams hit a corner three 20 seconds later, which was followed by a Kinek offensive put-back as Lehigh cut the EIU lead to four at 54-50.
Following an EIU basket from Oroszova, freshman Bernadette Devaney drained a three-pointer that sparked a 12-0 Lehigh run as the Mountain Hawks held EIU scoreless for nearly five minutes and reclaimed the lead at 62-56 with 7:48 to play.
The Panthers responded with a 7-2 streak that took three minutes off the clock and pulled EIU within one at 64-63 with under four minutes to play. The teams traded baskets over the next two minutes before a Martins conventional three-point play with 1:48 on the clock put Lehigh up 70-67. Oroszova followed with a layup to put the Panthers within one with a minute to play.
Lehigh couldn't convert its chance, giving EIU the ball back with 26 seconds left on the clock, but Martins was able to come up with a big steal before getting fouled and sent to the free throw line with 5.8 seconds on the clock. The sophomore converted both her attempts from the charity stripe before EIU's last-chance shot didn't fall and Lehigh walked away with a 72-69 win.
The Mountain Hawks return to action next Sunday Dec. 28 inside Stabler Arena against Duquesne. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. and free video will be available on the Patriot League Network.
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Team Stats
EIU
LEHIGH
FG%
.549
.417
3FG%
.556
.310
FT%
.471
.722
RB
30
37
TO
12
11
STL
7
9
Game Leaders
Pts
17
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
6
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG
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