Lehigh University Athletics
Tuesday, November 9
Bethlehem, Pa.
7:30 p.m.
Lehigh University
vs
East Stroudsburg
Lehigh set for season opener vs. ESU on Throwback Night at Grace Hall
11/8/2021 12:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – It feels like yesterday the Lehigh women's basketball team hoisted the program's fourth Patriot League title in Case Gym following a 64-54 victory over Boston University, but nonetheless, the 2021-22 basketball season is getting underway this week.
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The Mountain Hawks host East Stroudsburg for the home opener on Tuesday night, playing at Grace Hall for the first time in 30 years on Throwback Night presented by Lehigh University's College of Business MS In Management Program. Grace Hall was the home of the program from the inaugural season back in 1974 all the way to 1989-90 when the team moved to Stabler Arena permanently.
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The one-off game pays homage to the 50th anniversary of co-education at Lehigh University and showcases basketball on campus for the freshmen and sophomores who have yet seen a Lehigh basketball game in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year.
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Lehigh returns most of the lineup from a year ago that won a championship including four members of the starting lineup including Clair Steele, Megan Walker, Frannie Hottinger and Emma Grothaus.
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Hottinger was the team's leading scorer a season ago at 14.2 points per game, also good enough for fifth in the Patriot League. Steele led the league in assists (4.4 per game), while Grothaus' mark of 6.8 rebounds per game led her teammates. Hottinger was a Second Team All-Patriot League selection a season ago and Grothaus was named Patriot League Tournament MVP after nearly averaging a double-double through the postseason run, with victories over Holy Cross, Bucknell and Boston University in the championship game.
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Significantly, Lehigh was among the nation's leaders in several categories a season ago including sixth in 3-pointers made per game (9.8), ninth in free throw percentage (78.6), 16th in assist-turnover ratio (1.26), 20th in turnovers per game (12.4), 18th in fewest fouls (210), 33rd in assists per game (15.6) and 37th in 3-point field goal defense (27.6).
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Four Mountain Hawks will make their debuts in the Brown and White on Tuesday against the Warriors including freshmen Ella Stemmer, Kaylee Van Eps and Meghan O'Brien as well as sophomore Jackie Vargas-Bines, who opted out of the 2020-21 campaign.
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This season will also be the first in nearly two years to feature non-league opponents with ESU being the first on Tuesday night followed by Saint Peter's on Friday night at Stabler Arena. Lehigh will take on opponents from the Big East (Villanova, Seton Hall), SEC (Missouri) and Atlantic 10 (George Washington) on its slate of games set for the months of November and December prior to kicking off Patriot League play after the New Year.
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While still just an exhibition for the team, East Stroudsburg is playing on Tuesday for the first time since the end of the 2019-20 campaign after the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) opted out of the 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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In turn, ESU returns only three players from the 2019-20 team that fell to seventh-ranked IUP in the PSAC Semifinals. The Warriors finished the year with a 20-10 record and 15-7 record in PSAC contests.
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Junior Claire Courter (12 games in 2019-20), redshirt-junior Cassie Ksiazek (30) and Maggie Wigoda (15 games) are the only three players back for more this season and all three have never been a part of the starting lineup.
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The Warriors have a total of six freshmen and four sophomores and one graduate student (Ryan Weise) for 11 players all making their collegiate debuts this season in Bethlehem.
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This is also head coach Stephanie Del Preore's second year with the team after taking over prior to the start of the 2019-20 campaign, where she did have success.
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ESU played at Villanova in an exhibition prior to the start of the 2018-19 season, where the Wildcats prevailed with a 98-54 victory.
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Tuesday night marks the third-ever matchup between Lehigh and East Stroudsburg.
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The Mountain Hawks hold a 2-0 advantage over the Warriors and haven't played them since Nov. 11, 2016, a 78-72 victory for Lehigh at Stabler Arena.
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Lehigh took a 77-53 victory over ESU in the first meeting back in 2014. The Mountain Hawks have not scored more than 78 points in any meeting against East Stroudsburg.
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Per Lehigh University policy, spectators are required to wear face masks while indoors on campus.
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Like Lehigh Women's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
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The Mountain Hawks host East Stroudsburg for the home opener on Tuesday night, playing at Grace Hall for the first time in 30 years on Throwback Night presented by Lehigh University's College of Business MS In Management Program. Grace Hall was the home of the program from the inaugural season back in 1974 all the way to 1989-90 when the team moved to Stabler Arena permanently.
Â
The one-off game pays homage to the 50th anniversary of co-education at Lehigh University and showcases basketball on campus for the freshmen and sophomores who have yet seen a Lehigh basketball game in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year.
Â
Lehigh returns most of the lineup from a year ago that won a championship including four members of the starting lineup including Clair Steele, Megan Walker, Frannie Hottinger and Emma Grothaus.
Â
Hottinger was the team's leading scorer a season ago at 14.2 points per game, also good enough for fifth in the Patriot League. Steele led the league in assists (4.4 per game), while Grothaus' mark of 6.8 rebounds per game led her teammates. Hottinger was a Second Team All-Patriot League selection a season ago and Grothaus was named Patriot League Tournament MVP after nearly averaging a double-double through the postseason run, with victories over Holy Cross, Bucknell and Boston University in the championship game.
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Significantly, Lehigh was among the nation's leaders in several categories a season ago including sixth in 3-pointers made per game (9.8), ninth in free throw percentage (78.6), 16th in assist-turnover ratio (1.26), 20th in turnovers per game (12.4), 18th in fewest fouls (210), 33rd in assists per game (15.6) and 37th in 3-point field goal defense (27.6).
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Four Mountain Hawks will make their debuts in the Brown and White on Tuesday against the Warriors including freshmen Ella Stemmer, Kaylee Van Eps and Meghan O'Brien as well as sophomore Jackie Vargas-Bines, who opted out of the 2020-21 campaign.
Â
This season will also be the first in nearly two years to feature non-league opponents with ESU being the first on Tuesday night followed by Saint Peter's on Friday night at Stabler Arena. Lehigh will take on opponents from the Big East (Villanova, Seton Hall), SEC (Missouri) and Atlantic 10 (George Washington) on its slate of games set for the months of November and December prior to kicking off Patriot League play after the New Year.
Â
While still just an exhibition for the team, East Stroudsburg is playing on Tuesday for the first time since the end of the 2019-20 campaign after the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) opted out of the 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Â
In turn, ESU returns only three players from the 2019-20 team that fell to seventh-ranked IUP in the PSAC Semifinals. The Warriors finished the year with a 20-10 record and 15-7 record in PSAC contests.
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Junior Claire Courter (12 games in 2019-20), redshirt-junior Cassie Ksiazek (30) and Maggie Wigoda (15 games) are the only three players back for more this season and all three have never been a part of the starting lineup.
Â
The Warriors have a total of six freshmen and four sophomores and one graduate student (Ryan Weise) for 11 players all making their collegiate debuts this season in Bethlehem.
Â
This is also head coach Stephanie Del Preore's second year with the team after taking over prior to the start of the 2019-20 campaign, where she did have success.
Â
ESU played at Villanova in an exhibition prior to the start of the 2018-19 season, where the Wildcats prevailed with a 98-54 victory.
Â
Tuesday night marks the third-ever matchup between Lehigh and East Stroudsburg.
Â
The Mountain Hawks hold a 2-0 advantage over the Warriors and haven't played them since Nov. 11, 2016, a 78-72 victory for Lehigh at Stabler Arena.
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Lehigh took a 77-53 victory over ESU in the first meeting back in 2014. The Mountain Hawks have not scored more than 78 points in any meeting against East Stroudsburg.
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Per Lehigh University policy, spectators are required to wear face masks while indoors on campus.
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Like Lehigh Women's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
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| Date: | November 9, 2021 |
| Opponent: | East Stroudsburg Warriors |
| Tip-off: | 7:30 p.m. |
| Arena (Capacity): | Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall (812) |
| Location: | Bethlehem, Pa. |
| Lehigh's Record: | 0-0, 0-0 PL |
| ESU's Record: | 0-0, 0-0 PSAC |
| Series: | Lehigh leads, 2-0 |
| TV: | ESPN+ w/ Matt Markus (PxP) |
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Players Mentioned
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