Sunday, January 3
Bethlehem, Pa.
2 p.m.
Lehigh University
73
vs
65
Lafayette
Photo by: Hannahally Photography
Lehigh tames Leopards, 73-65 to complete weekend sweep
1/3/2021 5:39:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Different day, similar result as the Lehigh women's basketball cruised to victory on Sunday afternoon at Stabler Arena, defeating archrival Lafayette, 73-65 to sweep the weekend series. For the third straight season, the Mountain Hawks are 2-0 to kick off a season, as they are also 2-0 atop the Central mini-conference.
It was another dominant performance out of senior co-captain Mary Clougherty, who chipped in her second 20-point game in as many days with a game-high 20 points on four 3-pointers in 30 minutes off the bench.
"Mary is very capable," said head coach Sue Troyan. "She had a great preseason all through the fall, we knew coming into this season that she would be one of the top players in the league this year. Most people would have her in their starting five and I have her coming off the bench for a reason.
"She's willing to do whatever it takes to win, putting the team first. She's a real capable scorer, can score in a lot of different ways and is just a real smart player too. She understands the game, gets her teammates involved and is a tough guard because she can create her own shots."
Lehigh and Lafayette traded paint throughout much of the first quarter and the first half as the Mountain Hawks took a one-point lead after Megan Walker drained a 3-pointer with 7:13 left in the quarter. Back-to-back shots from deep thanks to freshman Mackenzie Kramer had Lehigh up by five, before the Leopards made a free throw to cut it to four to end the first frame.
The Mountain Hawks went on a little 8-0 run in the late stages of the second quarter after two 3-pointers from Clougherty with a three from Kramer sandwiched in, giving Lehigh its largest lead of the game thus far at seven points. After Clougherty's shot from long range had the Mountain Hawks ahead by five points with 1:06 remaining, Lafayette got two quick buckets, a layup and a 3-pointer from Drew Freeland to beat the buzzer, to tie the game at 37, sending the teams into their locker respective locker rooms.
With 7:30 left in the third quarter, Walker converted on a 3-pointer and was followed by a couple more buckets to score seven unanswered points, extending Lehigh's lead to 48-42. Clougherty continued her hot hand with a jumper and a layup to get Lehigh out to a 10-point, 60-50 lead to close out the third quarter.
Lafayette had chances to close the gap, but Lehigh had other plans, with junior Clair Steele scoring a couple buckets to put the Mountain Hawks up 14, 66-52 with 7:31 remaining. A 3-pointer from Kramer and two made free throws by Steele widened the margin to 17 points, 71-54, Lehigh's largest lead of the game.
The Leopards scored 11 straight points in the closing minutes of the fourth, but the gap was too much to overcome, as the Mountain Hawks came out on top, 73-65.
"We're really excited about these performances," said head coach Sue Troyan. "Obviously when you have so many changes to start off a season, you're starting with your rival in Patriot League play, I'm just proud of the way the kids responded. There's been a great deal of resilience all semester, they've had to handle a lot of adversity with being shut down two or three times. It's not been an easy road to get to this place, honestly.
"Kids have sacrificed a lot to get here and I'm just proud of how they battled this weekend."
Clougherty led the way with 20 points off the bench, but Kramer also had a productive day with 13 points and three 3-pointers in her first game at home. Six other players scored for Lehigh. A pair of Mountain Hawks took care of the ball off the glass as Emma Grothaus and Mariah Sexe each grabbed six boards. Junior Katie Rice paced Lehigh with five assists while Clougherty led the way with three steals.
"We've got a lot of weapons on this team, a lot of capable scorers," Troyan said. "The fact we're bringing Mary off the bench, one of our best players, I really like that. Bringing her and Kenzie off the bench as a one-two punch is a real strength of ours. We have so many players that are capable of scoring, I think that's going to be the strength of this team all year."
Lehigh shot 37.1 percent (26-for-70) from the field and 31.4 percent (11-for-35) from beyond-the-arc. The team also went 10-for-12 (83.3 percent) from the free throw line. Lehigh's bench out-scored Lafayette's, 36-16 and the Mountain Hawk defense forced 16 Leopard turnovers, while Lehigh only turned the ball over eight times. The lead changed 13 times and was tied six times throughout.
The Mountain Hawks, 2-0 to start the 2020-21 campaign, will turn their attention to American, facing the Eagles in Washington, D.C. on Saturday at 2 p.m. and again on Sunday at Stabler Arena starting at 4 p.m.
Like Lehigh Women's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Gallery: (1-3-2021) Lehigh WBB vs. Lafayette (1/3/21)
It was another dominant performance out of senior co-captain Mary Clougherty, who chipped in her second 20-point game in as many days with a game-high 20 points on four 3-pointers in 30 minutes off the bench.
"Mary is very capable," said head coach Sue Troyan. "She had a great preseason all through the fall, we knew coming into this season that she would be one of the top players in the league this year. Most people would have her in their starting five and I have her coming off the bench for a reason.
"She's willing to do whatever it takes to win, putting the team first. She's a real capable scorer, can score in a lot of different ways and is just a real smart player too. She understands the game, gets her teammates involved and is a tough guard because she can create her own shots."
Lehigh and Lafayette traded paint throughout much of the first quarter and the first half as the Mountain Hawks took a one-point lead after Megan Walker drained a 3-pointer with 7:13 left in the quarter. Back-to-back shots from deep thanks to freshman Mackenzie Kramer had Lehigh up by five, before the Leopards made a free throw to cut it to four to end the first frame.
The Mountain Hawks went on a little 8-0 run in the late stages of the second quarter after two 3-pointers from Clougherty with a three from Kramer sandwiched in, giving Lehigh its largest lead of the game thus far at seven points. After Clougherty's shot from long range had the Mountain Hawks ahead by five points with 1:06 remaining, Lafayette got two quick buckets, a layup and a 3-pointer from Drew Freeland to beat the buzzer, to tie the game at 37, sending the teams into their locker respective locker rooms.
With 7:30 left in the third quarter, Walker converted on a 3-pointer and was followed by a couple more buckets to score seven unanswered points, extending Lehigh's lead to 48-42. Clougherty continued her hot hand with a jumper and a layup to get Lehigh out to a 10-point, 60-50 lead to close out the third quarter.
Lafayette had chances to close the gap, but Lehigh had other plans, with junior Clair Steele scoring a couple buckets to put the Mountain Hawks up 14, 66-52 with 7:31 remaining. A 3-pointer from Kramer and two made free throws by Steele widened the margin to 17 points, 71-54, Lehigh's largest lead of the game.
The Leopards scored 11 straight points in the closing minutes of the fourth, but the gap was too much to overcome, as the Mountain Hawks came out on top, 73-65.
"We're really excited about these performances," said head coach Sue Troyan. "Obviously when you have so many changes to start off a season, you're starting with your rival in Patriot League play, I'm just proud of the way the kids responded. There's been a great deal of resilience all semester, they've had to handle a lot of adversity with being shut down two or three times. It's not been an easy road to get to this place, honestly.
"Kids have sacrificed a lot to get here and I'm just proud of how they battled this weekend."
Clougherty led the way with 20 points off the bench, but Kramer also had a productive day with 13 points and three 3-pointers in her first game at home. Six other players scored for Lehigh. A pair of Mountain Hawks took care of the ball off the glass as Emma Grothaus and Mariah Sexe each grabbed six boards. Junior Katie Rice paced Lehigh with five assists while Clougherty led the way with three steals.
"We've got a lot of weapons on this team, a lot of capable scorers," Troyan said. "The fact we're bringing Mary off the bench, one of our best players, I really like that. Bringing her and Kenzie off the bench as a one-two punch is a real strength of ours. We have so many players that are capable of scoring, I think that's going to be the strength of this team all year."
Lehigh shot 37.1 percent (26-for-70) from the field and 31.4 percent (11-for-35) from beyond-the-arc. The team also went 10-for-12 (83.3 percent) from the free throw line. Lehigh's bench out-scored Lafayette's, 36-16 and the Mountain Hawk defense forced 16 Leopard turnovers, while Lehigh only turned the ball over eight times. The lead changed 13 times and was tied six times throughout.
The Mountain Hawks, 2-0 to start the 2020-21 campaign, will turn their attention to American, facing the Eagles in Washington, D.C. on Saturday at 2 p.m. and again on Sunday at Stabler Arena starting at 4 p.m.
Like Lehigh Women's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
That 2-0 feeling 😤
— Lehigh Women's Basketball (@LehighWBB) January 3, 2021
Highlights from our 73-65 victory over Lafayette to close a great opening weekend of hoops! 🎥#GoLehigh | #SoarWithUs pic.twitter.com/jvg3cOJTEZ
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ 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
