Thursday, December 20
Bethlehem, Pa.
6 P.M.
Lehigh University
8-2
72
vs
38
LIU Brooklyn
0-10
1
2
3
4
F
LIU Brooklyn
9
6
7
16
38
Lehigh
17
19
21
15
72
Photo by: Justin Lafleur
Mountain Hawks Storm Past LIU Brooklyn In Final Non-League Home Game
12/20/2018 9:55:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Playing their last non-league home game of the season; the Mountain Hawks were firing on all cylinders, as they dismantled the Blackbirds of LIU Brooklyn 72-38 at Stabler Arena.
Lehigh advances to 8-2 on the season with the win, a mark they've hit just four times in program history and three under head coach Sue Troyan. LIU Brooklyn drops to 0-10 on the season. The Mountain Hawks also halt a two-game winning streak against the Blackbirds in the all-time series, with the Mountain Hawks moving to 6-4 all-time. This is also the first time since 1993 that Lehigh has defeated the LIU Brooklyn at Stabler Arena.
"This is always a challenging game with kids coming off of finals and expending their energy in non-basketball ways," said Troyan after the game. "I was proud of how we stepped up and the high level of focus on both ends of the floor. We didn't let LIU Brooklyn get comfortable in anything they did, and I thought we played unselfish basketball."
The 38 points scored by the Blackbirds is now the fewest points allowed this season by the Mountain Hawks and is the fewest points allowed since February 20, 2013, when Lehigh bested Bucknell 49-37. The Mountain Hawks held LIU Brooklyn in check through the first three quarters, as the Blackbirds weren't able to score more than nine points in a quarter until the fourth.
"Our defense set the tone for us. Coming into this game it was a point of emphasis that we needed to set the tone defensively. I thought we came out focused and took LIU Brooklyn out of its offense," said Troyan.
Much like most of the season; the offense came from multiple outlets for the Mountain Hawks, with three players reaching double figures. Junior Camryn Buhr led Lehigh with 14 points while fellow junior Cameryn Benz (12) and freshman Emma Grothaus (10) rounded out the top three scorers. With her 14 points, Buhr has recorded double figures in scoring every game this season.
Bringing in 52 rebounds on the night, Lehigh continues to stay perfect when its outrebounds its opponent, with LIU Brooklyn only snagging 26 rebounds. Those 52 rebounds also set a new season high, besting the 48 recorded against Central Connecticut earlier this season.
"It was important to get those rebounds. We didn't have our best shooting night, but I think rebounding will be a key factor for us. We have size and athleticism and we always talk about being aggressive on both ends of the floor," said Troyan.
The Mountain Hawks would start strong in the first quarter behind a 9-0 run that saw Buhr drop the first five with a 3-pointer and a layup in the first two and a half minutes. After a 4-1 run for the Blackbirds, Lehigh would get back to work, starting with a contested jumper in the paint from Grothaus to start a 7-5 run to end the first frame of action.
Continuing to advance the lead, Lehigh would drop 19 points in the second quarter. Freshman Megan Walker started off making back-to-back free throws before a block from Benz at the top of the key led to a transition three from Buhr. A layup from sophomore Mary Clougherty soon after gave the Mountain Hawks a 7-0 run in the first minute and a half of play. After a pair of threes from the Blackbirds; Lehigh turned on the jets, cultivating a 12-0 run to put Lehigh up by 21 going into the half.
Bucking the growing trend of having slow second halves, Lehigh put up its best scoring effort of the game in the third quarter, throwing up 21 points. Back-to-back 3-pointers from Pascoe and Clougherty got the Mountain Hawks fired up, as Lehigh would continue to stay hot with an initial 10-0 run to begin the third frame. Lehigh would slowly get the majority of its bench action; as senior Megan Eripret, who scored her first points since being injured in the season opener, and junior Paige Galiani brought in the final five points of the third.
The fourth would be the only quarter where the Blackbirds would outscore Lehigh, and that was by a lone point. Galiani, who set a new career high with eight points, scored five of those in the fourth quarter.
"We have a lot of quality teams in our league, and what differentiates us from a lot of teams will be our depth and quality of depth. Paige stepped up today and did a great job, she's the ideal player you want to have on your team. She's one of the hardest workers, she pushes the starters to be better and when she has opportunities to get on the floor, she maximizes those chances," said Troyan.
The Mountain Hawks will prepare to take on the defending national champion Notre Dame to conclude the 2018 calendar year in South Bend, Ind., on December 30 for a 1 p.m. tip-off.
Lehigh women's basketball team held an opponent to under 40% shooting! Fans in attendance received a free appetizer with the purchase of two entrees courtesy of The Brick in Bethlehem!
Like Lehigh women's basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Lehigh advances to 8-2 on the season with the win, a mark they've hit just four times in program history and three under head coach Sue Troyan. LIU Brooklyn drops to 0-10 on the season. The Mountain Hawks also halt a two-game winning streak against the Blackbirds in the all-time series, with the Mountain Hawks moving to 6-4 all-time. This is also the first time since 1993 that Lehigh has defeated the LIU Brooklyn at Stabler Arena.
"This is always a challenging game with kids coming off of finals and expending their energy in non-basketball ways," said Troyan after the game. "I was proud of how we stepped up and the high level of focus on both ends of the floor. We didn't let LIU Brooklyn get comfortable in anything they did, and I thought we played unselfish basketball."
The 38 points scored by the Blackbirds is now the fewest points allowed this season by the Mountain Hawks and is the fewest points allowed since February 20, 2013, when Lehigh bested Bucknell 49-37. The Mountain Hawks held LIU Brooklyn in check through the first three quarters, as the Blackbirds weren't able to score more than nine points in a quarter until the fourth.
"Our defense set the tone for us. Coming into this game it was a point of emphasis that we needed to set the tone defensively. I thought we came out focused and took LIU Brooklyn out of its offense," said Troyan.
Much like most of the season; the offense came from multiple outlets for the Mountain Hawks, with three players reaching double figures. Junior Camryn Buhr led Lehigh with 14 points while fellow junior Cameryn Benz (12) and freshman Emma Grothaus (10) rounded out the top three scorers. With her 14 points, Buhr has recorded double figures in scoring every game this season.
Bringing in 52 rebounds on the night, Lehigh continues to stay perfect when its outrebounds its opponent, with LIU Brooklyn only snagging 26 rebounds. Those 52 rebounds also set a new season high, besting the 48 recorded against Central Connecticut earlier this season.
"It was important to get those rebounds. We didn't have our best shooting night, but I think rebounding will be a key factor for us. We have size and athleticism and we always talk about being aggressive on both ends of the floor," said Troyan.
The Mountain Hawks would start strong in the first quarter behind a 9-0 run that saw Buhr drop the first five with a 3-pointer and a layup in the first two and a half minutes. After a 4-1 run for the Blackbirds, Lehigh would get back to work, starting with a contested jumper in the paint from Grothaus to start a 7-5 run to end the first frame of action.
Continuing to advance the lead, Lehigh would drop 19 points in the second quarter. Freshman Megan Walker started off making back-to-back free throws before a block from Benz at the top of the key led to a transition three from Buhr. A layup from sophomore Mary Clougherty soon after gave the Mountain Hawks a 7-0 run in the first minute and a half of play. After a pair of threes from the Blackbirds; Lehigh turned on the jets, cultivating a 12-0 run to put Lehigh up by 21 going into the half.
Bucking the growing trend of having slow second halves, Lehigh put up its best scoring effort of the game in the third quarter, throwing up 21 points. Back-to-back 3-pointers from Pascoe and Clougherty got the Mountain Hawks fired up, as Lehigh would continue to stay hot with an initial 10-0 run to begin the third frame. Lehigh would slowly get the majority of its bench action; as senior Megan Eripret, who scored her first points since being injured in the season opener, and junior Paige Galiani brought in the final five points of the third.
The fourth would be the only quarter where the Blackbirds would outscore Lehigh, and that was by a lone point. Galiani, who set a new career high with eight points, scored five of those in the fourth quarter.
"We have a lot of quality teams in our league, and what differentiates us from a lot of teams will be our depth and quality of depth. Paige stepped up today and did a great job, she's the ideal player you want to have on your team. She's one of the hardest workers, she pushes the starters to be better and when she has opportunities to get on the floor, she maximizes those chances," said Troyan.
The Mountain Hawks will prepare to take on the defending national champion Notre Dame to conclude the 2018 calendar year in South Bend, Ind., on December 30 for a 1 p.m. tip-off.
Lehigh women's basketball team held an opponent to under 40% shooting! Fans in attendance received a free appetizer with the purchase of two entrees courtesy of The Brick in Bethlehem!
Like Lehigh women's basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Team Stats
LIU(1)
LEHIGH
FG%
.250
.403
3FG%
.400
.320
FT%
.667
.769
RB
26
52
TO
20
14
STL
6
12
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
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