Saturday, January 10
Baltimore, Md.
2 p.m.
Lehigh University
(11-3, 3-1PL)
52
at
64
Loyola
(4-11, 2-2PL)
1
2
F
Lehigh
24
28
52
Loyola Maryland
33
31
64
Loyola hands Lehigh first Patriot League loss, 64-52
1/10/2015 4:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BALTIMORE – The Lehigh women's basketball team struggled offensively and scored a season-low 52 points as the Mountain Hawks suffered their first Patriot League loss of the season Saturday afternoon at Loyola, 64-52. The Mountain Hawks fall to 3-1 in league play and 11-3 overall while Loyola improves to 4-11 overall and 2-2 in the Patriot League.
"We really struggled offensively today and had a hard time getting into any sort of rhythm," said head coach Sue Troyan. "I give Loyola credit because we made a couple little runs in there and they responded every time. We've got a big week coming up with American and Holy Cross so we'll turn our focus to getting back on track."
Senior Katie O'Reilly led Lehigh with a career-high 21 points. Junior Kerry Kinek recorded a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds, while sophomore Lexi Martins followed with nine points and 13 boards. O'Reilly, Kinek and Martins combined to score 42 of Lehigh's 52 points.
The Mountain Hawks shot a season-low 32.3 percent (20-for-62) from the field and were just 1-for-14 from three-point range (7.1 percent). The Greyhounds were 39.7 percent (23-for-58) from the floor and 35 percent from downtown (7-for-20). Lehigh turned the ball over 20 times, 15 of which came in the first half, which led to 20 Loyola points. The Mountain Hawks won the battle of the boards 47-33, including a 19-6 edge on the offensive glass. Loyola was led by Diana Logan with 20 points.
A Martins layup opened the contest before five points from O'Reilly gave Lehigh a 7-6 lead at the first media timeout. The Greyhounds jumped ahead 8-7 following a Lauren Daugherty jumper, but the Mountain Hawks used back-to-back baskets from Martins and senior Sarah Williams to take an 11-8 lead with 13:18 on the clock.
After an exchange of baskets, the Mountain Hawks struggled to control possession as Lehigh turned the ball over six times within two minutes to help Loyola string together an 8-2 streak that gave the Greyhounds a 21-18 lead with 6:38 to play in the opening half.
Four points from O'Reilly and a jumper from Kinek helped Lehigh to a 6-2 streak as the Mountain Hawks reclaimed the lead, 24-23, with 2:38 left in the half. Kinek's jumper would be Lehigh's final basket of the half, however, as the Greyhounds closed the half on a 10-0 run to take a 33-24 lead into halftime.
Lehigh shot 36 percent (9-for-25) from the field and 20 percent (1-for-5) from three-point range in the first half. The Mountain Hawks turned the ball over 15 times in the opening term, which led to 16 Loyola points.
Loyola extended its lead to 11 early in the second half, but a jumper from junior Elizabeth Sharlow sparked a 6-0 Lehigh run as the Mountain Hawks pulled within five at 37-32 and held the Greyhounds scoreless for more than three minutes.
Loyola answered right back with a 9-0 run that took over four minutes off the clock to re-extend the Greyhound lead to double-digits at 46-32 with 10:21 to play. Four-straight points from Kinek stopped the streak and were followed by an O'Reilly three to narrow the Loyola lead to eight at 46-38 with 8:58 on the clock.
Lehigh was still within eight three minutes later at 50-42, but the Greyhounds used a 10-2 to wind the clock down to 3:33. The Mountain Hawks weren't able to put together a game-ending run as the Greyhounds picked up the 64-52 win.
The Mountain Hawks return home Wednesday to host American at 7 p.m. inside Stabler Arena. Tickets are available at lehightickets.com or by calling 610-7LU-GAME.
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Team Stats
LEHIGH
LOYOLA
FG%
.323
.397
3FG%
.071
.350
FT%
.647
.917
RB
47
33
TO
20
15
STL
3
9
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
21
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
6
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
4
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG/F
/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's BasketballG
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