Sunday, January 6
Annapolis, Md.
3:30 p.m.
Lehigh University
10-3, 2-0PL
56
at
38
Navy
6-6, 1-1PL
1
2
3
4
F
LEHIGH
15
14
17
10
56
NAVY
2
15
15
6
38
Photo by: Hunter Julius
Mountain Hawks Cruise Past Navy - Begin Patriot League play 2-0
1/6/2019 9:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Annapolis, Md. – After back-to-back road games to start the Patriot League schedule, the Lehigh women's basketball team finds itself 2-0 to begin League play after a 56-38 victory over Navy on Sunday.
Lehigh moves to 10-3 overall and 2-0 in league play while Navy drops to 6-6 overall and 1-1 in league play. The Mountain Hawks started Patriot League play last season to a similar tune, seeing victories against Lafayette and Navy in their first two games.
Freshman Clair Steele was the lone Mountain Hawk to be in double-figure scoring, as she set a new career high in scoring with 14 points. This is also just the second time all season that Lehigh has not seen at least three players finish in double figures in scoring. Steele also becomes the sixth player this season to lead the Mountain Hawks in scoring.
"We had a couple kids get into foul trouble, so Clair had to play extended minutes and was effective against Navy's zone. She knocked down some big threes for us and can get to the basket," said head coach Sue Troyan.
As for most of the season, Lehigh saw great production from its bench against Navy, as the reserves put together 28 points. With those 28 points, the Mountain Hawks have now seen their bench score 25 or more points 10 times this season.
Lehigh's defense was on point against the Midshipmen, limiting Navy to just 25 percent shooting from the field. Navy was also held below 20 points in the first half, something the Mountain Hawks have now done in back-to-back games and six times on the season. To add to being held to less than 20 points in the first half, the Midshipmen only recorded two points in the first quarter.
"You have to defend to win a game like this. Our kids came out and established ourselves in the first quarter, and that helped set the tone. We've talked with our kids that to be a top level program in the Patriot League, it all starts with how you play in the defensive zone," said Troyan.
The Mountain Hawks have used fast starts to begin Patriot Play to establish themselves, with a pair of 15-point first quarter against Lafayette and now Navy.
Lehigh has now had back-to-back games where they have not trailed against its opponent and six on the season in total.
After a successful jump shot to tie the game at 2-2 for the Midshipmen, Lehigh would go on a 13-0 run starting with a contested 3-pointer from senior Hailey Pascoe to put the Mountain Hawks in the driver's seat.
The second frame of action would see the Midshipmen wake up and score 15 points of their own, but that didn't mean the Mountain Hawks would shut their offense down. Steele went off in the second frame, scoring seven of her 14 points including a layup, a pair of free throws and a 3-pointer.
Lehigh would right the ship in the third quarter, which saw them put up 17 points including ending the third on a 13-8 run which saw back-to-back 3-pointers from Steele and sophomore Mary Clougherty in the last minute and a half
Neither team was able to muster much in the fourth quarter, as the Mountain Hawks produced 10 points while Navy squeaked in six points.
Lehigh returns to the friendly confines of Stabler Arena for its first Patriot League home game of the season where the Mountain Hawks will host Holy Cross
Fans looking to purchase tickets to see the Mountain Hawks take on the Crusaders can purchase them online at LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-7LU-GAME during business hours.
Lehigh moves to 10-3 overall and 2-0 in league play while Navy drops to 6-6 overall and 1-1 in league play. The Mountain Hawks started Patriot League play last season to a similar tune, seeing victories against Lafayette and Navy in their first two games.
Freshman Clair Steele was the lone Mountain Hawk to be in double-figure scoring, as she set a new career high in scoring with 14 points. This is also just the second time all season that Lehigh has not seen at least three players finish in double figures in scoring. Steele also becomes the sixth player this season to lead the Mountain Hawks in scoring.
"We had a couple kids get into foul trouble, so Clair had to play extended minutes and was effective against Navy's zone. She knocked down some big threes for us and can get to the basket," said head coach Sue Troyan.
As for most of the season, Lehigh saw great production from its bench against Navy, as the reserves put together 28 points. With those 28 points, the Mountain Hawks have now seen their bench score 25 or more points 10 times this season.
Lehigh's defense was on point against the Midshipmen, limiting Navy to just 25 percent shooting from the field. Navy was also held below 20 points in the first half, something the Mountain Hawks have now done in back-to-back games and six times on the season. To add to being held to less than 20 points in the first half, the Midshipmen only recorded two points in the first quarter.
"You have to defend to win a game like this. Our kids came out and established ourselves in the first quarter, and that helped set the tone. We've talked with our kids that to be a top level program in the Patriot League, it all starts with how you play in the defensive zone," said Troyan.
The Mountain Hawks have used fast starts to begin Patriot Play to establish themselves, with a pair of 15-point first quarter against Lafayette and now Navy.
Lehigh has now had back-to-back games where they have not trailed against its opponent and six on the season in total.
After a successful jump shot to tie the game at 2-2 for the Midshipmen, Lehigh would go on a 13-0 run starting with a contested 3-pointer from senior Hailey Pascoe to put the Mountain Hawks in the driver's seat.
Freshman Emma Grothaus chipped in five points in the first frame, as she would finish the night two points shy of her third double-double of the season, finishing with eight points and 12 rebounds. This is the first time that a Mountain Hawk has recorded double figures in rebounding and not recorded a double-double.Pascoe with the first points of the third quarter with this 3-pointer. She now has six points. #GoLehigh pic.twitter.com/laWSsPsLlZ
— Lehigh W. Basketball (@LehighWBB) January 6, 2019
The second frame of action would see the Midshipmen wake up and score 15 points of their own, but that didn't mean the Mountain Hawks would shut their offense down. Steele went off in the second frame, scoring seven of her 14 points including a layup, a pair of free throws and a 3-pointer.
Lehigh would right the ship in the third quarter, which saw them put up 17 points including ending the third on a 13-8 run which saw back-to-back 3-pointers from Steele and sophomore Mary Clougherty in the last minute and a half
Mountain Hawks are scoring at will. It's 46-32 Lehigh after this 3-pointer from Clougherty as we head to the final quarter. #GoLehigh pic.twitter.com/0GGULUrmKO
— Lehigh W. Basketball (@LehighWBB) January 6, 2019
Neither team was able to muster much in the fourth quarter, as the Mountain Hawks produced 10 points while Navy squeaked in six points.
Lehigh returns to the friendly confines of Stabler Arena for its first Patriot League home game of the season where the Mountain Hawks will host Holy Cross
Fans looking to purchase tickets to see the Mountain Hawks take on the Crusaders can purchase them online at LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-7LU-GAME during business hours.
Like Lehigh women's basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Team Stats
LEHIGH
NAVY
FG%
.352
.250
3FG%
.348
.235
FT%
.833
.571
RB
47
35
TO
21
17
STL
9
10
Game Leaders
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
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