Sunday, February 21
Bethlehem, Pa.
2 p.m.
Lehigh University
vs
Lafayette
Photo by: Hannahally Photography
Mountain Hawks return to action vs. Lafayette for 100th and 101st meetings
2/20/2021 2:46:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- It's been three weeks since the Lehigh women's basketball team last saw action and through postponements, cancelations and rescheduled games, the Mountain Hawks are ready to get back to work on Sunday and Monday, facing archrival Lafayette for the 100th and 101st meetings between the two programs.
Â
Sunday's matchup, Education Day presented by Red Robin, against the Leopards tips off at 2 p.m. and Monday's matchup in Easton begins at 7 p.m.
Â
Lehigh is looking to put the past behind them, trying to end a two-game skid suffered at the hands of first place Bucknell and attempting to get back into the win column for the first time in almost a month after beating Holy Cross at home Jan. 23 and 24.
Â
With just two weekends remaining in the regular season before the Patriot League Tournament starts, Lehigh has a lot of work to do to prepare for the quarterfinal round, as a win over the Leopards on Sunday secures a spot in the tourney.
Â
Sophomore wing Frannie Hottinger is having a special second season, especially after dropping 24 points on 8-of-10 shooting with nine rebounds the last time out against the Bison. Hottinger is averaging 15.4 points per game so far, leading her teammates and is currently fourth in the Patriot League among qualified scorers. She has three games of 20 points or more this season and has scored in double-digits in seven of Lehigh's 10 contests so far.
Â
Senior guard Mary Clougherty continues to be a spark in almost every role she gets put into this season and has taken charge of her current role as a starter for the last four games. She is currently pacing the league in 3-pointers made per game (2.6) and has been very active on the glass this season (averaging 4.0 rpg) as well as dishing the ball, averaging 3.1 assists per game, second on the team.
Â
Despite not seeing the floor for the past 21 days and not at all in the month of February, the Mountain Hawks are still among the league leaders in several team categories including first in scoring offense (75.0 ppg), first in assists per game (17.3), second in free throw percentage (80.1 percent) and second in assist/turnover ratio (1.4).
Â
Lafayette, like Lehigh, has had many games canceled and postponed this season, especially among the Central mini-conference as the Leopards are about to play their first division games since Jan. 9-10 against Bucknell.
Â
The Leopards were supposed to take on the Bison this weekend, but Bucknell's pause continued, postponing those games once again.
Â
However, unlike Lehigh, Lafayette has been fortunate enough to have played two games in the last week and a half, getting a 76-69 home victory over Loyola on Feb. 10, and falling to Navy on the road, 55-53 on Wednesday.
Â
Coming off a career game against the Greyhounds where she scored 36 points, Natalie Kucowski adding yet another double-double to her career total with 10 points and 15 rebounds, also adding four blocks and four steals against the Midshipmen. The senior forward now has 49 career double-doubles to her name and has accumulated 1,124 career rebounds, good enough for third in Patriot League history.
Â
Sydney Sabino led the way with a career-high 15 points, getting all her points from beyond-the-arc, where she went 5-for-12. Navy did a very good job limiting Drew Freeland to only two total shots and zero points. Freeland came into the game as the league's most efficient 3-point shooter.
Â
Navy and Lafayette went into the final two minutes of the contest all tied up at 51. Navy held the Leopards to just one additional basket in that span and held on for the 55-53 win.
Â
Lafayette is looking to get at least one victory against the Mountain Hawks this weekend, which would help secure its case to get one of the eight seeds in the Patriot League Tournament bracket.
Â
This weekend marks a very important milestone in the history of The Rivalry series, as the two teams will play meetings No. 100 and 101. The matchup dates all the way back to Feb. 4, 1975, nearly 46 years from the first game.
Â
The Mountain Hawks hold a 54-45 advantage in the all-time series including 40-19 in Patriot League play. Lehigh has won seven of the last eight matchups vs. the Leopards and 11 of the last 12. Lehigh swept the opening weekend against Lafayette, claiming an 81-75 OT victory in Easton on Jan. 2 along with a 73-65 win at Stabler on Jan. 3.
Â
Sunday's matchup at Stabler Arena will be streamed live on Service Electric Network (Channel 2 or 50) and on ESPN+. Monday's game in Easton will be streamed on ESPN+.
Â
Like Lehigh Women's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Â
Â
Â
Sunday's matchup, Education Day presented by Red Robin, against the Leopards tips off at 2 p.m. and Monday's matchup in Easton begins at 7 p.m.
Â
Lehigh is looking to put the past behind them, trying to end a two-game skid suffered at the hands of first place Bucknell and attempting to get back into the win column for the first time in almost a month after beating Holy Cross at home Jan. 23 and 24.
Â
With just two weekends remaining in the regular season before the Patriot League Tournament starts, Lehigh has a lot of work to do to prepare for the quarterfinal round, as a win over the Leopards on Sunday secures a spot in the tourney.
Â
Sophomore wing Frannie Hottinger is having a special second season, especially after dropping 24 points on 8-of-10 shooting with nine rebounds the last time out against the Bison. Hottinger is averaging 15.4 points per game so far, leading her teammates and is currently fourth in the Patriot League among qualified scorers. She has three games of 20 points or more this season and has scored in double-digits in seven of Lehigh's 10 contests so far.
Â
Senior guard Mary Clougherty continues to be a spark in almost every role she gets put into this season and has taken charge of her current role as a starter for the last four games. She is currently pacing the league in 3-pointers made per game (2.6) and has been very active on the glass this season (averaging 4.0 rpg) as well as dishing the ball, averaging 3.1 assists per game, second on the team.
Â
Despite not seeing the floor for the past 21 days and not at all in the month of February, the Mountain Hawks are still among the league leaders in several team categories including first in scoring offense (75.0 ppg), first in assists per game (17.3), second in free throw percentage (80.1 percent) and second in assist/turnover ratio (1.4).
Â
Lafayette, like Lehigh, has had many games canceled and postponed this season, especially among the Central mini-conference as the Leopards are about to play their first division games since Jan. 9-10 against Bucknell.
Â
The Leopards were supposed to take on the Bison this weekend, but Bucknell's pause continued, postponing those games once again.
Â
However, unlike Lehigh, Lafayette has been fortunate enough to have played two games in the last week and a half, getting a 76-69 home victory over Loyola on Feb. 10, and falling to Navy on the road, 55-53 on Wednesday.
Â
Coming off a career game against the Greyhounds where she scored 36 points, Natalie Kucowski adding yet another double-double to her career total with 10 points and 15 rebounds, also adding four blocks and four steals against the Midshipmen. The senior forward now has 49 career double-doubles to her name and has accumulated 1,124 career rebounds, good enough for third in Patriot League history.
Â
Sydney Sabino led the way with a career-high 15 points, getting all her points from beyond-the-arc, where she went 5-for-12. Navy did a very good job limiting Drew Freeland to only two total shots and zero points. Freeland came into the game as the league's most efficient 3-point shooter.
Â
Navy and Lafayette went into the final two minutes of the contest all tied up at 51. Navy held the Leopards to just one additional basket in that span and held on for the 55-53 win.
Â
Lafayette is looking to get at least one victory against the Mountain Hawks this weekend, which would help secure its case to get one of the eight seeds in the Patriot League Tournament bracket.
Â
This weekend marks a very important milestone in the history of The Rivalry series, as the two teams will play meetings No. 100 and 101. The matchup dates all the way back to Feb. 4, 1975, nearly 46 years from the first game.
Â
The Mountain Hawks hold a 54-45 advantage in the all-time series including 40-19 in Patriot League play. Lehigh has won seven of the last eight matchups vs. the Leopards and 11 of the last 12. Lehigh swept the opening weekend against Lafayette, claiming an 81-75 OT victory in Easton on Jan. 2 along with a 73-65 win at Stabler on Jan. 3.
Â
Sunday's matchup at Stabler Arena will be streamed live on Service Electric Network (Channel 2 or 50) and on ESPN+. Monday's game in Easton will be streamed on ESPN+.
Â
Like Lehigh Women's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Â
| Date: | February 21 & 22, 2021 |
| Opponent: | Lafayette Leopards |
| Tip-off: | 2 p.m. (2/21) 7 p.m. (2/22) |
| Arena: | Stabler Arena (2/21) Kirby Sports Center (2/22) |
| Location: | Bethlehem, Pa. (2/21) Easton, Pa. (2/22) |
| Lehigh's Record: | 6-4, 2-4 Central |
| Lafayette's Record: | 2-6, 0-4 Central |
| Series: | Lehigh leads, 54-45 |
| TV: | Service Electric Network (Channel 50) & ESPN+ (2/21) ESPN+ (2/22) |
| Â |
Â
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's BasketballInterview after win vs Colgate 1/10
Saturday, January 10
Interview after Bucknell win 1/3/25
Saturday, January 03
Lehigh Sports Central: Women's Basketball
Wednesday, November 19
Season Preview - Women's Basketball
Friday, October 31
