Saturday, January 16
Bethlehem, Pa.
2 p.m.
Lehigh University
vs
Bucknell
Photo by: Hannahally Photography
Unbeaten Lehigh, Bucknell set for Central Division showdowns
1/14/2021 3:14:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — It's a crucial weekend for the Lehigh women's basketball team, set to continue central division play against first place Bucknell, first with a matchup Saturday at Stabler Arena with tip-off set for 2 p.m. and on Sunday at Sojka Pavilion in Lewisburg, with a 4 p.m. tip. Both Lehigh and Bucknell head into this weekend with a perfect 4-0 overall record and a 2-0 record in division play.
The beginning of this season has a very familiar feeling to the way things started at the beginning of the 2019-20 season, both overall and in Patriot League play. Like the start of both of those schedules a year ago, Lehigh is 4-0 to kick off the season.
The Mountain Hawks got the better of the American Eagles in two games at Stabler Arena last weekend, getting a 79-70 win on Saturday and then replicating that success in a dominant 89-71 win over AU on Monday.
Focusing on Monday's matchup, Lehigh broke a notable program record that had been held since 2008, as the Mountain Hawks knocked down a program-record 16 3-pointers in the victory, also matching the all-time Patriot League mark, set by Navy in 2017.
In the two games, Lehigh was led by sophomore guard/forward Frannie Hottinger, who averaged 19.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in the two wins. She also shot the ball at a 48.1 percent clip from the field, converting on five shots from beyond-the-arc. The Mountain Hawks also got a fantastic performance out of freshman guard Mackenzie Kramer on the weekend, who was named Patriot League Rookie of the Week for her effort. She notched a career-high 21 points in Saturday's win and averaged 16.0 points and 46.7 percent from three.
Through the two games, the Mountain Hawks shot 43.3 percent (29-for-67) from downtown and 85.2 percent (23-for-27) from the free throw line.
Lehigh is electric shooting the ball from long range this season, currently pacing all of Division I in 3-pointers made per game at 12.3. In addition to high volume shooting, the Mountain Hawks are also in the Top 10 nationally infour other categories, including fifth in free throw percentage (82.3), sixth in assist-turnover ratio (1.58), eighth in assists per game (19.8) and ninth in fewest turnovers (50).
Two wins over Bucknell this weekend would take Lehigh to 6-0 to start the season for the first time since 2015-16 and 6-0 to start Patriot League play for the first time since 2009-10.
Nothing has been an issue for Bucknell through the team's first four games of the year and much like Lehigh, the Bison are 4-0 to start the year. It feels like that has been the same story for Bucknell over the years, as they have dominated the Patriot League in recent years.
The Bison are 130-36 over their last five seasons including the start of this campaign. In that time, the team has claimed two Patriot League Tournament titles and were the regular season champions a season ago.
This year, Bucknell is cruising through the first four games, especially on defense, as the Bison currently own the nation's best scoring defense, allowing 46.0 points per game. The team is also ranked second in 3-point defense (.193) and assist/turnover ratio (1.79).
The Bison's last time out was on Sunday at Sojka Pavilion against Lafayette, getting the victory 79-45 over the Leopards. It was an outstanding effort for Taylor O'Brien who got the 22-point, 10-rebound double-double in 27 minutes. She was an efficient 9-for-12 from the field and a perfect 3-for-3 from the foul line. Tessa Brugler (13) and Ally Johnson (13) also scored double-digits in the win.
In the win on Saturday in Easton against the Leopards, it was Abby Kapp who made the impact with her 24 points and seven 3-pointers. As a team, the Bison shot 57.9 percent (11-for-19) from beyond-the-arc to capture the 80-51 win over Lafayette. At 186 career 3-pointers, Kapp is just nine from tying Bucknell legend Molly Creamer's all-time program mark of 195.
This weekend will mark the 88th and 89th all-time matchups between Lehigh and Bucknell, which dates back to Feb. 22, 1977. The Bison lead the all-time series, 44-43.
Bucknell has won 10 of the last 11 meetings against Lehigh since the 2014-15 season. The Mountain Hawks have dropped five straight to the Bison, most recently getting the victory on Jan. 11, 2018 at Stabler Arena. They have not won in Lewisburg since Feb. 20, 2013. Bucknell leads Lehigh in Patriot League play all-time, 35-25.
This is the second straight year that the first matchup of the season between Lehigh and Bucknell features two unbeaten teams in the Patriot League. Last year, the teams were both 5-0 in league play heading into the first matchup on Jan. 17. The Bison got the best of the Mountain Hawks at Stabler Arena, however, picking up the 21-point, 70-51 victory.
Both contests will be streamed live on ESPN+ and Matt Markus and Matt Kerr have the call for Saturday's game.
Like Lehigh Women's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
The beginning of this season has a very familiar feeling to the way things started at the beginning of the 2019-20 season, both overall and in Patriot League play. Like the start of both of those schedules a year ago, Lehigh is 4-0 to kick off the season.
The Mountain Hawks got the better of the American Eagles in two games at Stabler Arena last weekend, getting a 79-70 win on Saturday and then replicating that success in a dominant 89-71 win over AU on Monday.
Focusing on Monday's matchup, Lehigh broke a notable program record that had been held since 2008, as the Mountain Hawks knocked down a program-record 16 3-pointers in the victory, also matching the all-time Patriot League mark, set by Navy in 2017.
In the two games, Lehigh was led by sophomore guard/forward Frannie Hottinger, who averaged 19.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in the two wins. She also shot the ball at a 48.1 percent clip from the field, converting on five shots from beyond-the-arc. The Mountain Hawks also got a fantastic performance out of freshman guard Mackenzie Kramer on the weekend, who was named Patriot League Rookie of the Week for her effort. She notched a career-high 21 points in Saturday's win and averaged 16.0 points and 46.7 percent from three.
Through the two games, the Mountain Hawks shot 43.3 percent (29-for-67) from downtown and 85.2 percent (23-for-27) from the free throw line.
Lehigh is electric shooting the ball from long range this season, currently pacing all of Division I in 3-pointers made per game at 12.3. In addition to high volume shooting, the Mountain Hawks are also in the Top 10 nationally infour other categories, including fifth in free throw percentage (82.3), sixth in assist-turnover ratio (1.58), eighth in assists per game (19.8) and ninth in fewest turnovers (50).
Two wins over Bucknell this weekend would take Lehigh to 6-0 to start the season for the first time since 2015-16 and 6-0 to start Patriot League play for the first time since 2009-10.
Nothing has been an issue for Bucknell through the team's first four games of the year and much like Lehigh, the Bison are 4-0 to start the year. It feels like that has been the same story for Bucknell over the years, as they have dominated the Patriot League in recent years.
The Bison are 130-36 over their last five seasons including the start of this campaign. In that time, the team has claimed two Patriot League Tournament titles and were the regular season champions a season ago.
This year, Bucknell is cruising through the first four games, especially on defense, as the Bison currently own the nation's best scoring defense, allowing 46.0 points per game. The team is also ranked second in 3-point defense (.193) and assist/turnover ratio (1.79).
The Bison's last time out was on Sunday at Sojka Pavilion against Lafayette, getting the victory 79-45 over the Leopards. It was an outstanding effort for Taylor O'Brien who got the 22-point, 10-rebound double-double in 27 minutes. She was an efficient 9-for-12 from the field and a perfect 3-for-3 from the foul line. Tessa Brugler (13) and Ally Johnson (13) also scored double-digits in the win.
In the win on Saturday in Easton against the Leopards, it was Abby Kapp who made the impact with her 24 points and seven 3-pointers. As a team, the Bison shot 57.9 percent (11-for-19) from beyond-the-arc to capture the 80-51 win over Lafayette. At 186 career 3-pointers, Kapp is just nine from tying Bucknell legend Molly Creamer's all-time program mark of 195.
This weekend will mark the 88th and 89th all-time matchups between Lehigh and Bucknell, which dates back to Feb. 22, 1977. The Bison lead the all-time series, 44-43.
Bucknell has won 10 of the last 11 meetings against Lehigh since the 2014-15 season. The Mountain Hawks have dropped five straight to the Bison, most recently getting the victory on Jan. 11, 2018 at Stabler Arena. They have not won in Lewisburg since Feb. 20, 2013. Bucknell leads Lehigh in Patriot League play all-time, 35-25.
This is the second straight year that the first matchup of the season between Lehigh and Bucknell features two unbeaten teams in the Patriot League. Last year, the teams were both 5-0 in league play heading into the first matchup on Jan. 17. The Bison got the best of the Mountain Hawks at Stabler Arena, however, picking up the 21-point, 70-51 victory.
Both contests will be streamed live on ESPN+ and Matt Markus and Matt Kerr have the call for Saturday's game.
Like Lehigh Women's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
| Date: | January 16 & 17, 2021 |
| Opponent: | Bucknell Bison |
| Tip-off: | 2 p.m. (1/16) 4 p.m. (1/17) |
| Arena: | Stabler Arena (1/16) Sojka Pavilion (1/17) |
| Location: | Bethlehem, Pa. (1/16) Lewisburg, Pa. (1/17) |
| Lehigh's Record: | 4-0, 2-0 Central |
| Bucknell's Record: | 4-0, 2-0 Central |
| Series: | Bucknell leads, 44-43 |
| TV: | ESPN+ (1/16) w/ Matt Markus (PxP) and Matt Kerr (Color) ESPN+ (1/17) |
Players Mentioned
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ 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
