Saturday, December 21
Minneapolis, Minn.
1 p.m. ET
Lehigh University
7-3,0-0Patriot
49
at
77
Minnesota
10-1,0-0Big Ten
1
2
3
4
F
Lehigh
10
10
11
18
49
Minnesota
24
14
24
15
77
Photo by: Harrison Barden
Mountain Hawks outlasted by Minnesota on the road
12/21/2019 6:57:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS — With six players playing in front of their hometown friends and families, the Lehigh women's basketball team never really got its offense started, falling to Minnesota, 77-49 at Williams Arena Saturday afternoon.
Lehigh stayed close to the Golden Gophers during the first few minutes of the first quarter of play, leading 4-2 to open the quarter, the team's only lead of the day. Minnesota went on a 16-6 run to end the first quarter after Mary Clougherty tallied Lehigh's final points of the first quarter on a two-point jumper with 1:20 to play. Minnesota had a 24-10 lead going into the first break of action.
Emma Grothaus scored her sixth point of the contest with 8:38 left in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 26-12. Minnesota ended up out-scoring Lehigh 13-10 to end the second stanza, leading the Mountain Hawks 38-20.
The third quarter wasn't much better for Lehigh, as Minnesota started the second half on a 14-7 run heading into the media timeout with 4:49 to play. The Mountain Hawks scored just two points in the quarter's final 5:10 after Camryn Buhr made two foul shots. The Gophers out-scored Lehigh, 24-11 in the third quarter, taking a 62-31 lead into the fourth.
Lehigh ended up playing its best basketball in the fourth quarter, and while it trailed Minnesota by 34 points, Grothaus exploded for two layups to cut the deficit to 30 points. Hannah Hedstrom scored on a layup and went to the line and converted on a free throw to cut the Gopher lead to 71-40 with 4:57 at the media timeout.
The Mountain Hawks scored nine consecutive points in the final 4:01, but it was too little, too late, as the Gophers earned their 10th straight victory with a 77-49 final over Lehigh.
"Minnesota was a tough team, we are a little disappointed, particularly with our first half," said head coach Sue Troyan. "We didn't get in a very strong offensive flow. They took us out with what they want to do with different defensive schemes. I thought we settled in a little bit more during the second half, took better shots and executed the offense a little bit more."
Grothaus finished with a season-high 16 points to lead the way for the Mountain Hawks. She went 8-of-17 from the floor, also tallying eight rebounds with a steal. Mariah Sexe added 10 points with a rebound and an assist.
"I thought Emma looked like she belonged out there," Troyan said. "She had a real strong game, this will be a big confidence booster for her going into league play, she's just so capable. We've said she has such a high ceiling in terms of how much better she can get, but I thought her coming in here and having a homecoming game like this, she really stepped up and played to the competition level."
Hedstrom scored seven points with eight rebounds, two assists and two steals the final homecoming game of her career.
"Hannah is such a competitor, played her heart out and left it all out on the floor," said Troyan. "The game was a homecoming game for six of her kids and Hannah being our senior, is just responsible for making our in-roads here. I'm really glad she had the opportunity to play here one more time."
Frannie Hottinger didn't register a point, but grabbed seven rebounds, had two steals, an assist and also drew six fouls.
The Mountain Hawks shot 31.7 percent (19-for-60) from the field and just 12.5 percent (2-for-16) from beyond-the-arc. Minnesota shot 43.7 percent (31-for-71) from the floor and 36.4 percent (8-for-22) from 3-point land.
With the defeat, Lehigh falls to 7-3 overall with just one non-league contest remaining before Patriot League play begins on Jan. 2.
Up next on the schedule is a date with Saint Peter's on the road next Sunday at 1 p.m.
Like Lehigh Women's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.Gallery: (12/21/2019) Lehigh WBB at Minnesota 12/21/2019
Lehigh stayed close to the Golden Gophers during the first few minutes of the first quarter of play, leading 4-2 to open the quarter, the team's only lead of the day. Minnesota went on a 16-6 run to end the first quarter after Mary Clougherty tallied Lehigh's final points of the first quarter on a two-point jumper with 1:20 to play. Minnesota had a 24-10 lead going into the first break of action.
Emma Grothaus scored her sixth point of the contest with 8:38 left in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 26-12. Minnesota ended up out-scoring Lehigh 13-10 to end the second stanza, leading the Mountain Hawks 38-20.
The third quarter wasn't much better for Lehigh, as Minnesota started the second half on a 14-7 run heading into the media timeout with 4:49 to play. The Mountain Hawks scored just two points in the quarter's final 5:10 after Camryn Buhr made two foul shots. The Gophers out-scored Lehigh, 24-11 in the third quarter, taking a 62-31 lead into the fourth.
Lehigh ended up playing its best basketball in the fourth quarter, and while it trailed Minnesota by 34 points, Grothaus exploded for two layups to cut the deficit to 30 points. Hannah Hedstrom scored on a layup and went to the line and converted on a free throw to cut the Gopher lead to 71-40 with 4:57 at the media timeout.
The Mountain Hawks scored nine consecutive points in the final 4:01, but it was too little, too late, as the Gophers earned their 10th straight victory with a 77-49 final over Lehigh.
"Minnesota was a tough team, we are a little disappointed, particularly with our first half," said head coach Sue Troyan. "We didn't get in a very strong offensive flow. They took us out with what they want to do with different defensive schemes. I thought we settled in a little bit more during the second half, took better shots and executed the offense a little bit more."
Grothaus finished with a season-high 16 points to lead the way for the Mountain Hawks. She went 8-of-17 from the floor, also tallying eight rebounds with a steal. Mariah Sexe added 10 points with a rebound and an assist.
"I thought Emma looked like she belonged out there," Troyan said. "She had a real strong game, this will be a big confidence booster for her going into league play, she's just so capable. We've said she has such a high ceiling in terms of how much better she can get, but I thought her coming in here and having a homecoming game like this, she really stepped up and played to the competition level."
Hedstrom scored seven points with eight rebounds, two assists and two steals the final homecoming game of her career.
"Hannah is such a competitor, played her heart out and left it all out on the floor," said Troyan. "The game was a homecoming game for six of her kids and Hannah being our senior, is just responsible for making our in-roads here. I'm really glad she had the opportunity to play here one more time."
Frannie Hottinger didn't register a point, but grabbed seven rebounds, had two steals, an assist and also drew six fouls.
The Mountain Hawks shot 31.7 percent (19-for-60) from the field and just 12.5 percent (2-for-16) from beyond-the-arc. Minnesota shot 43.7 percent (31-for-71) from the floor and 36.4 percent (8-for-22) from 3-point land.
With the defeat, Lehigh falls to 7-3 overall with just one non-league contest remaining before Patriot League play begins on Jan. 2.
Up next on the schedule is a date with Saint Peter's on the road next Sunday at 1 p.m.
Like Lehigh Women's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Team Stats
Lehigh
MINN
FG%
.317
.437
3FG%
.125
.364
FT%
.600
.438
RB
39
50
TO
11
13
STL
7
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
16
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballChasing Greatness: The Road to the Patriot League Title - Part 2
Thursday, May 15
Chasing Greatness: The Road to the Patriot League Title - Part 1
Wednesday, May 14
Lehigh Sports Central: Women's Basketball
Wednesday, March 19
Lehigh Sports Central: Women's Basketball
Wednesday, January 29
