Saturday, February 6
Bethlehem, Pa.
12 p.m.
Lehigh University
vs
Lafayette
Photo by: Hannahally Photography
100th all-time meeting highlights weekend series between rivals Lehigh, Lafayette
2/5/2021 10:30:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Looking to punch a ticket into the Patriot League Tournament, the Lehigh women's basketball team is set to face archrival Lafayette this weekend, with the 100th all-time meeting taking place Saturday at Stabler Arena with a tip-off set for noon. On Sunday, the Mountain Hawks travel down the river to Easton to take on the Leopards at Kirby Sports Center at 2 p.m.
The last time out wasn't so kind for Lehigh, falling in both meetings against Bucknell, first on Saturday in Lewisburg and second at home in Bethlehem on Sunday.
The Mountain Hawks are looking to erase Sunday's performance from their memories, especially after losing control of an 18-point lead at the tail end of the third quarter, being out-scored by the Bison 27-9 in the final stanza to drop its ninth straight matchup to Bucknell dating back to the 2017-18 season.
Despite the loss, Lehigh remains in the hunt to clinch a Patriot League Tournament berth and could have the opportunity to do so following two critical matchups against archrival Lafayette.
On Sunday, sophomore wing Frannie Hottinger further established herself as one of the Patriot League's best players, dropping 24 points on 8-of-10 shooting with nine rebounds, while also going 5-for-5 from the free throw line. Hottinger has scored 20 or more points on three separate occasions this season, currently leading her teammates in scoring per game (15.4) and is ranked fourth in the league.
Senior guard Mary Clougherty continued to come up clutch for the Mountain Hawks when they needed it most, scoring 15 points with seven boards and two assists on Sunday.
Although they come into the weekend with a 6-4 overall record through 10 games with six to play, the Mountain Hawks are still ranked in the Top 10 in the nation in three categories including sixth in 3-point field goals made per game (9.9), seventh in free-throw percentage (80.1) and 10th in assist/turnover ratio (1.38).
Lafayette returned to competition last weekend at Loyola Maryland following a pause in athletic activity, getting its first win of the year, 66-57 in Baltimore. The second matchup, scheduled for Sunday in Easton, was postponed due to inclement weather.
The weekend matchups against Lehigh marks the first central division competition for the Leopards in nearly a month, since being swept by Bucknell Jan. 9-10. Lafayette heads into the weekend with an overall record of 1-4, a divisional record of 0-4, still searching for that elusive first win.
In Saturday's victory over the Greyhounds, three Leopards finished in double-scoring figures, led by Natalie Kucowski, who scored 19 points with 10 rebounds, six assists and three blocks. Drew Freeland chipped in 13 points on three 3-pointers with four assists, while Nicole Johnson added 12 points with three steals.
On the afternoon, Lafayette shot 52.1 percent (25-for-48) as a team and 50 percent (6-for-12) from the 3-point line, handing Loyola its fifth loss of the season.
Kucowski, who was the Preseason Patriot League Player of the Year, has been dominant as expected in five starts so far. She has a double-double in four of her five appearances and is averaging 15.0 points per game along with a Patriot League-best 13 boards per contest.
Freeland has had team's numbers shooting from beyond-the-arc, averaging 55.0 percent from long range, ranked first in both the Patriot League and NCAA Division I.
The Leopards need at least one victory this weekend to stay in the hunt for a Patriot League Tournament berth, as Bucknell has already clinched the top spot in the central division, and the Mountain Hawks are already two games ahead of Lafayette in the final weekend of divisional play.
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.
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.
Saturday's matchup will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Matt Kerr on the call, as well as on the radio dial on Lehigh Valley Fox Sports Radio 1230/1320 AM & 94.7 FM in Allentown with Matt Markus on the call. Sunday's game from Easton will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Like Lehigh Women's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
The last time out wasn't so kind for Lehigh, falling in both meetings against Bucknell, first on Saturday in Lewisburg and second at home in Bethlehem on Sunday.
The Mountain Hawks are looking to erase Sunday's performance from their memories, especially after losing control of an 18-point lead at the tail end of the third quarter, being out-scored by the Bison 27-9 in the final stanza to drop its ninth straight matchup to Bucknell dating back to the 2017-18 season.
Despite the loss, Lehigh remains in the hunt to clinch a Patriot League Tournament berth and could have the opportunity to do so following two critical matchups against archrival Lafayette.
On Sunday, sophomore wing Frannie Hottinger further established herself as one of the Patriot League's best players, dropping 24 points on 8-of-10 shooting with nine rebounds, while also going 5-for-5 from the free throw line. Hottinger has scored 20 or more points on three separate occasions this season, currently leading her teammates in scoring per game (15.4) and is ranked fourth in the league.
Senior guard Mary Clougherty continued to come up clutch for the Mountain Hawks when they needed it most, scoring 15 points with seven boards and two assists on Sunday.
Although they come into the weekend with a 6-4 overall record through 10 games with six to play, the Mountain Hawks are still ranked in the Top 10 in the nation in three categories including sixth in 3-point field goals made per game (9.9), seventh in free-throw percentage (80.1) and 10th in assist/turnover ratio (1.38).
Lafayette returned to competition last weekend at Loyola Maryland following a pause in athletic activity, getting its first win of the year, 66-57 in Baltimore. The second matchup, scheduled for Sunday in Easton, was postponed due to inclement weather.
The weekend matchups against Lehigh marks the first central division competition for the Leopards in nearly a month, since being swept by Bucknell Jan. 9-10. Lafayette heads into the weekend with an overall record of 1-4, a divisional record of 0-4, still searching for that elusive first win.
In Saturday's victory over the Greyhounds, three Leopards finished in double-scoring figures, led by Natalie Kucowski, who scored 19 points with 10 rebounds, six assists and three blocks. Drew Freeland chipped in 13 points on three 3-pointers with four assists, while Nicole Johnson added 12 points with three steals.
On the afternoon, Lafayette shot 52.1 percent (25-for-48) as a team and 50 percent (6-for-12) from the 3-point line, handing Loyola its fifth loss of the season.
Kucowski, who was the Preseason Patriot League Player of the Year, has been dominant as expected in five starts so far. She has a double-double in four of her five appearances and is averaging 15.0 points per game along with a Patriot League-best 13 boards per contest.
Freeland has had team's numbers shooting from beyond-the-arc, averaging 55.0 percent from long range, ranked first in both the Patriot League and NCAA Division I.
The Leopards need at least one victory this weekend to stay in the hunt for a Patriot League Tournament berth, as Bucknell has already clinched the top spot in the central division, and the Mountain Hawks are already two games ahead of Lafayette in the final weekend of divisional play.
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.
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.
Saturday's matchup will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Matt Kerr on the call, as well as on the radio dial on Lehigh Valley Fox Sports Radio 1230/1320 AM & 94.7 FM in Allentown with Matt Markus on the call. Sunday's game from Easton will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Like Lehigh Women's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
| Date: | February 6 & 7, 2021 |
| Opponent: | Lafayette Leopards |
| Tip-off: | Noon (2/6) 2 p.m. (2/7) |
| Arena: | Stabler Arena (2/6) Kirby Sports Center (2/7) |
| Location: | Bethlehem, Pa. (2/6) Easton, Pa. (2/7) |
| Lehigh's Record: | 6-4, 2-4 Central |
| Lafayette's Record: | 1-4, 0-4 Central |
| Series: | Lehigh leads, 54-45 |
| TV: | ESPN+ (2/6) w/ Matt Kerr (PxP) ESPN+ (2/7) |
| Radio: | Lehigh Valley Fox Sports Radio 1230/1320 AM, 94.7 FM in Allentown (2/6) w/ Matt Markus |
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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