Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh University
Binghamton
Mountain Hawks Begin Christmas City Classic With Norfolk State
11/23/2018 5:46:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Lehigh took care of business before Thanksgiving with a bounce-back win at Binghamton, where the Mountain Hawks defeated the Bearcats 65-55 at the Binghamton Events Center. Freshman Megan Walker had a season-high 13 points to lead the Mountain Hawks in scoring. Juniors Hannah Hedstrom and Camryn Buhr also recorded double figures in scoring for Lehigh.
It was also the fourth game this season Lehigh had outscored their opponent by 10 or more points, the first time since the 2009-10 season that the Mountain Hawks first four wins came by 10 or more points. The Mountain Hawks are now 4-0 when they out-rebound their opponents, as Lehigh rebounded 35 shots compared to the 30 from Binghamton.
The 2018 edition of the Christmas City Classic presented by Best Western will be the 21st iteration and has been held each year (except 2014) since 1997. Lehigh has appeared in the championship game of the four-team tournament in 16 of the 20 CCC's, and has won four titles (2000, 2008, 2009, 2010). Lehigh has gone 0-2 only twice in the tournament (1997 and 2016). Lehigh will play Norfolk State at 2 p.m. on Saturday while Liberty and Charlotte will play at 4:30 p.m. to conclude the first day of action.Â
Lehigh and Norfolk State have played just once before, and that was to start the 2016 Christmas City Classic, a game the Spartans won 81-57.
Norfolk State is coming off a 57-49 loss to Campbell as part of its youth day where Raven Russell lead the Spartans with 14 points in 38 minutes of action. La'Deja James was second in scoring with 10 points in 35 minutes. James currently leads Norfolk State in scoring through the first five games, averaging 12.6 points a game. She also averages 31.2 minutes and 5.6 rebounds.
The Spartans are coming off an 18-11 season last year that also saw them go 11-5 in the MEAC. Notable wins for the Spartans last year included wins over Longwood, UNCG, and VCU for non-conference opponents. Last season the Spartans went 0-2 against the Patriot League, losing to Navy and Loyola (Md.).
The Spartans share just one common opponent with the Mountain Hawks this year, with Norfolk State playing Navy on November 18, a 65-58 victory for the Spartans.
Date: |
    November 24, 2018 |
| Opponent: | Norfolk State |
| Tip-off:Â Â Â Â Â | 2:00 p.m. |
| Arena/Capacity: | Stabler Arena/5,600 |
| Location: | Bethlehem, Pa. |
| Lehigh's Record: | 4-1, 0-0 Patriot League  |
| Binghamton's Record:Â Â Â Â Â Â | 2-3, 0-0 MEAC |
| Series: | Norfolk State 1-0 |
| Audio | None |
| Television: | None |
| Internet Video: | PatriotLeague.tv |
| Behind Enemy Lines: | Norfolk State Official Website |
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