Wednesday, February 26
7:00:00 PM
Lehigh University
78
vs
87
Bucknell
Bucknell tops Lehigh, 87-78
2/26/2014 9:32:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Despite 20-plus point games from sophomores Elizabeth Sharlow and Kerry Kinek, the Lehigh women's basketball team fell to Bucknell 87-78 on Wednesday evening inside Stabler Arena. With the loss, Lehigh falls to 12-16 overall and 5-12 in the Patriot League while Bucknell improves to 16-11 and 11-6 in the league.
"There were some bright moments, especially Liz and Kerry," said head coach Sue Troyan. "We started playing well, but struggled defensively at the beginning of the second half, which was the difference in the game."
Due to Colgate's loss to Lafayette in Easton tonight, the Mountain Hawks have clinched a home game in the opening round of the Patriot League Tournament Tuesday at Stabler Arena. Tickets will go on sale Thursday at 10 a.m. on LehighTickets.com.
Sharlow led Lehigh with a career-high 24 points, crushing her previous personal best by nine points. Kinek recorded her second double-double in three games with 21 points and ten rebounds. It marked Kinek's eighth 20-plus point game of the season and her first since Jan. 15. Sophomore Elizabeth Jordan was the next highest scorer with eight points.
Four Bison scored in double-figures, led by Audrey Dotson with 19 points. Shelby Romine scored 18, 16 of which came in the second half.
Lehigh finished the game shooting 43.4 percent (33-for-76) from the field and 28 percent (7-for-25) from three-point range. The Bison shot 60.7 percent (17-for-28) in the second half and 50.7 percent (35-for-69) for the game. Bucknell held a 43-37 rebound advantage. Lehigh dished a season-high 24 assists, led by junior Sarah Williams with seven.
A Kinek jumper got the Mountain Hawks on the board just over a minute into the game as Lehigh held Bucknell scoreless until the 16:48 mark when a layup from Tyler Craig put the first Bison points on the board. Tied at 8-8 two minutes later, a jumper from senior Alexandra Yantzi followed by five straight points from Sharlow put the Mountain Hawks up 15-8 with 12:51 on the clock.
A three-pointer from Williams and a pair of Kinek jumpers helped Lehigh lead by as much as 12 at 26-14 with 9:12 to play, but the Bison used a 13-point run that included three three-pointers to take a 27-26 lead three minutes later.
The lead changed four times over the next five minutes before a three-pointer from sophomore Amina Affini gave Lehigh a 40-39 lead with 1:26 on the clock. With 15 seconds remaining, Bucknell's Sheaira Jones blocked a Lehigh shot and converted a fast break layup to give the Bison a 41-40 lead headed into halftime.
Bucknell started the second half on a 10-4 run before Lehigh clawed its way back within one thanks to a layup from Sharlow and five straight points from Jordan at 51-51 with 13:55 to play. The Bison quickly regained momentum, erupting on a 14-5 run with the help of ten points from Romine as Bucknell lengthened its lead to 68-56 with 10:27 on the clock.
Lehigh got five points back with a trey from Jordan and layup from freshman Lexi Martins, but Bucknell took back its double digit lead and held onto it until a string of six Lehigh points put the score at 81-74 with 2:24 to play. The Mountain Hawks couldn't pull the rally together as they fell for the second straight game.
Lehigh heads to Colgate Saturday at 4 p.m. to close out the regular season. The game will be broadcast live on the Patriot League Network and fans can listen live on 91.3 WLVR-FM or wlvr.org.
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