Thursday, December 30
Bethlehem, Pa.
2 p.m.
Lehigh University
vs
American
Photo by: Josh Liddick
Lehigh opens Patriot League schedule at home vs. American
12/29/2021 1:11:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The road to a second consecutive Patriot League Championship officially begins on Thursday as the Lehigh women's basketball team hosts American at Stabler Arena at 2 p.m.
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The Mountain Hawks concluded a challenging non-league schedule at 8-3 and closed the book on the slate with a convincing 70-57 win over George Washington on the road in which sophomore Mackenzie Kramer notched a career-high 31 points with a career-best seven 3-pointers. For her performance, Kramer was named Patriot League Player of the Week for the second week in a row.
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Two other players also scored in double-figures in the victory as Megan Walker added 16 points and Emma Grothaus finished with 12. Walker scored eight straight points late in the fourth quarter to help the Mountain Hawks re-claim an 11-point lead, while Grothaus also tallied 20 rebounds, the most since Lexi Martins set the single-game program record of 23 back in 2015.
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With the absences of Frannie Hottinger and Clair Steele, many players have stepped up in their places, especially with Kramer, who is now the Mountain Hawks' leading scorer at 17.1 points per game. At 3.5 3-pointers made per game, she is also one of the most elite perimeter shooters in the nation, coming in at sixth in that category. Her 39 made 3-pointers are a team-high by far, as Walker ranks second with 24. In place of Steele, junior guard Anna Harvey tallied a career-high six assists in the victory at GW. She also played 31 minutes in her second straight start at the point, also a career-high total.
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Thursday's matchup vs. AU marks a busy week for Lehigh, who travel to Hamilton, N.Y. on New Year's Day to take on Colgate at 2 p.m. Sunday.
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AU is looking like one of the better teams in the Patriot League following a successful non-league slate in which the team finished 7-3 and won its last time out.
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The Eagles notably beat the likes of Marist, Vermont, George Mason and Virginia (AU's first win over a Power Five school since 2017) en route to the league's third-best record heading into PL play.
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Thursday will be American's first game in nearly two weeks, last playing at Longwood on Dec. 18, a 62-58 road win.
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Taylor Brown led the Eagles with 19 points and Jade Edwards had 15 with nine boards and five steals, while Maddie Doring (11 points) and Riley DeRubbo (10) each chipped in double-figures. Emily Fisher handled the ball well with eight assists despite a team-high six turnovers.
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Edwards' scoring production is down from 2020-21, but leads AU with 14.0 points per game and six rebounds per game while averaging 33.8 minutes. Brown is also averaging 11.2 points and 5.5 rebounds.
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A stat of note, Edwards is second in the league in free throws made (49) and 27th in the nation, while third and 52nd in free throw percentage (86.0).
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Lehigh and American meet once again in a classic Patriot League series in which the Eagles lead the all-time series, 34-16 including 24-14 in league contests.
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However, the Mountain Hawks have claimed three of the last four matchups including two straight, both at Stabler Arena in the same weekend last year.
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Lehigh beat AU, 89-71 on Jan. 11, 2021 behind a program record, Patriot League-record tying 16 3-pointers. Frannie Hottinger led the Mountain Hawks with 21 points.
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Thursday's matchup will be streamed live on ESPN+ (subscription required) with Matt Markus on the play-by-play call.
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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 concluded a challenging non-league schedule at 8-3 and closed the book on the slate with a convincing 70-57 win over George Washington on the road in which sophomore Mackenzie Kramer notched a career-high 31 points with a career-best seven 3-pointers. For her performance, Kramer was named Patriot League Player of the Week for the second week in a row.
Â
Two other players also scored in double-figures in the victory as Megan Walker added 16 points and Emma Grothaus finished with 12. Walker scored eight straight points late in the fourth quarter to help the Mountain Hawks re-claim an 11-point lead, while Grothaus also tallied 20 rebounds, the most since Lexi Martins set the single-game program record of 23 back in 2015.
Â
With the absences of Frannie Hottinger and Clair Steele, many players have stepped up in their places, especially with Kramer, who is now the Mountain Hawks' leading scorer at 17.1 points per game. At 3.5 3-pointers made per game, she is also one of the most elite perimeter shooters in the nation, coming in at sixth in that category. Her 39 made 3-pointers are a team-high by far, as Walker ranks second with 24. In place of Steele, junior guard Anna Harvey tallied a career-high six assists in the victory at GW. She also played 31 minutes in her second straight start at the point, also a career-high total.
Â
Thursday's matchup vs. AU marks a busy week for Lehigh, who travel to Hamilton, N.Y. on New Year's Day to take on Colgate at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Â
AU is looking like one of the better teams in the Patriot League following a successful non-league slate in which the team finished 7-3 and won its last time out.
Â
The Eagles notably beat the likes of Marist, Vermont, George Mason and Virginia (AU's first win over a Power Five school since 2017) en route to the league's third-best record heading into PL play.
Â
Thursday will be American's first game in nearly two weeks, last playing at Longwood on Dec. 18, a 62-58 road win.
Â
Taylor Brown led the Eagles with 19 points and Jade Edwards had 15 with nine boards and five steals, while Maddie Doring (11 points) and Riley DeRubbo (10) each chipped in double-figures. Emily Fisher handled the ball well with eight assists despite a team-high six turnovers.
Â
Edwards' scoring production is down from 2020-21, but leads AU with 14.0 points per game and six rebounds per game while averaging 33.8 minutes. Brown is also averaging 11.2 points and 5.5 rebounds.
Â
A stat of note, Edwards is second in the league in free throws made (49) and 27th in the nation, while third and 52nd in free throw percentage (86.0).
Â
Lehigh and American meet once again in a classic Patriot League series in which the Eagles lead the all-time series, 34-16 including 24-14 in league contests.
Â
However, the Mountain Hawks have claimed three of the last four matchups including two straight, both at Stabler Arena in the same weekend last year.
Â
Lehigh beat AU, 89-71 on Jan. 11, 2021 behind a program record, Patriot League-record tying 16 3-pointers. Frannie Hottinger led the Mountain Hawks with 21 points.
Â
Thursday's matchup will be streamed live on ESPN+ (subscription required) with Matt Markus on the play-by-play call.
Â
Like Lehigh Women's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
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| Date: | December 30, 2021 |
| Opponent: | American Eagles |
| Tip-off: | 2 p.m. |
| Arena (Capacity): | Stabler Arena (5,600) |
| Location: | Bethlehem, Pa. |
| Lehigh's Record: | 8-3, 0-0 PL |
| American's Record | 7-3, 0-0 PL |
| Series History: | American leads, 34-16 |
| TV: | ESPN+ (PxP – Matt Markus) |
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Players Mentioned
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