Sunday, March 14
Boston, Mass.
4 p.m.
Lehigh University
at
Boston U. (Championship Game)
Photo by: Hannahally Photography
Lehigh, Boston U. to play for Patriot League title, bid to the Big Dance
3/13/2021 12:54:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – It all comes down to one game to decide the 2020-21 Patriot League Tournament champion, as the fourth-seeded Lehigh women's basketball team is set to face second-seeded Boston University Sunday at 4 p.m. from Case Gym to decide who gets to represent the league in the NCAA Tournament starting next week. Playing in the title game for the first time since 2015, a win for the Mountain Hawks would secure the title for just the fourth time in program history and the first time since 2009-10.
With a win over the Terriers on Sunday, the Mountain Hawks would also qualify for the NCAA Tournament for a fourth time.
Despite playing just four games over the last month, Lehigh still figured out ways to battle back from pauses and quarantines to rattle off consecutive Patriot League Tournament victories, first with a quarterfinal win over Holy Cross and then an upset over then-unbeaten Bucknell Thursday night in the semifinal round at Sojka Pavilion.
Led by five Mountain Hawks scoring in double figures including Emma Grothaus, who pitched in 12 points with a career-high 14 boards, Lehigh led for almost the entirety of the contest, holding the Bison to under 60 points for the first time all season and at 54 points, its lowest since taking on BU at the tail end of the 2019-20 campaign. Mary Clougherty led the way with 13 points, Frannie Hottinger had 12, while both Mackenzie Kramer and Clair Steele added 10.
Surprisingly, despite entering the semifinal matchup as one of the top five 3-point shooting teams in the nation, currently ranked fifth at 10.0 3-pointers made per game, the Mountain Hawks shot just 25 percent (5-for-20) from beyond-the-arc and still won the game, shooting 44.4 percent (24-for-54) overall from the field.
But it was the defense that really shined for Lehigh against Bucknell, forcing 15 Bison turnovers and nine steals, including five blocks as well. The Mountain Hawks held Bucknell to just 35.6 percent (21-for-59) from the field and 8.2 percent (4-for-22) from beyond.
Sunday will be a battle between the best scoring offense in the Patriot League (Lehigh, 72.8 ppg) and the best scoring defense in the league (Boston U, 53.4 ppg).
There are few words to describe just how solid Boston University has been in 2020-21, and one that comes to mind is "excellent." Like Lehigh, the phrase "unfinished business" has been a common one for the Terriers as well, as they are looking to punch a ticket into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2003.
Since joining the Patriot League in 2014, this will be the team's first-ever Patriot League crown as well.
The Terriers picked up a quarterfinal round victory over Lafayette and then took down American on Thursday night in the semifinals, 72-51.
Boston University got a 23-point effort out of sophomore guard Sydney Johnson, while Emily Esposito added 16 points with four rebounds. Riley Childs finished with a 12-point, 11-board double-double and Maren Durant led the way with 14 tebounds, adding six points and a pair of blocks.
Senior guard Katie Nelson, who has been excellent this season, scored eight points with four rebounds, but added a team-high six assists with two steals.
The Terriers shot 51.9 percent from the field and 50 percent from beyond-the-arc in the victory, forcing nine American turnovers and holding the Eagles to just 34 percent from the field and 30 percent from beyond.
Johnson, who led BU offensively on Thursday, had as much success against Lafayette in the quarterfinals as she did against American, nearly finishing with a triple double of 19 points, seven rebounds and nine assists.
This will be the 18th meeting all-time between the Mountain Hawks and Terriers and the first of the 2020-21 season. Lehigh took the first meeting between the two teams in 2019-20 on Jan. 8, 2020 by a score of 51-34 at Stabler Arena. The Terriers rebounded at home with a 48-47 win at Case Gym on Feb. 26.
The irony in this Championship game showdown is that it was supposed to be the matchup in the semifinal round almost a year ago to the date, but was canceled due to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lehigh drove up and back from Boston without playing out the rest of the Patriot League Tournament.
Despite falling behind BU in the all-time series, 8-9, Lehigh has a 8-6 edge in Patriot League games against the Terriers dating back to the 2013-14 season. This will be the first-ever matchup between the two squads in tournament play.
Sunday's matchup tips off at 4 p.m. live on national television through CBS Sports Network with Chris Hassel (PxP) and Julianne Viani (Color) on the call. The game will also be broadcasted live on LV Fox Sports Radio 1230/1320 AM and 94.7 FM in Allentown with Matt Markus on the play-by-play call.
Like Lehigh Women's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
With a win over the Terriers on Sunday, the Mountain Hawks would also qualify for the NCAA Tournament for a fourth time.
Despite playing just four games over the last month, Lehigh still figured out ways to battle back from pauses and quarantines to rattle off consecutive Patriot League Tournament victories, first with a quarterfinal win over Holy Cross and then an upset over then-unbeaten Bucknell Thursday night in the semifinal round at Sojka Pavilion.
Led by five Mountain Hawks scoring in double figures including Emma Grothaus, who pitched in 12 points with a career-high 14 boards, Lehigh led for almost the entirety of the contest, holding the Bison to under 60 points for the first time all season and at 54 points, its lowest since taking on BU at the tail end of the 2019-20 campaign. Mary Clougherty led the way with 13 points, Frannie Hottinger had 12, while both Mackenzie Kramer and Clair Steele added 10.
Surprisingly, despite entering the semifinal matchup as one of the top five 3-point shooting teams in the nation, currently ranked fifth at 10.0 3-pointers made per game, the Mountain Hawks shot just 25 percent (5-for-20) from beyond-the-arc and still won the game, shooting 44.4 percent (24-for-54) overall from the field.
But it was the defense that really shined for Lehigh against Bucknell, forcing 15 Bison turnovers and nine steals, including five blocks as well. The Mountain Hawks held Bucknell to just 35.6 percent (21-for-59) from the field and 8.2 percent (4-for-22) from beyond.
Sunday will be a battle between the best scoring offense in the Patriot League (Lehigh, 72.8 ppg) and the best scoring defense in the league (Boston U, 53.4 ppg).
There are few words to describe just how solid Boston University has been in 2020-21, and one that comes to mind is "excellent." Like Lehigh, the phrase "unfinished business" has been a common one for the Terriers as well, as they are looking to punch a ticket into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2003.
Since joining the Patriot League in 2014, this will be the team's first-ever Patriot League crown as well.
The Terriers picked up a quarterfinal round victory over Lafayette and then took down American on Thursday night in the semifinals, 72-51.
Boston University got a 23-point effort out of sophomore guard Sydney Johnson, while Emily Esposito added 16 points with four rebounds. Riley Childs finished with a 12-point, 11-board double-double and Maren Durant led the way with 14 tebounds, adding six points and a pair of blocks.
Senior guard Katie Nelson, who has been excellent this season, scored eight points with four rebounds, but added a team-high six assists with two steals.
The Terriers shot 51.9 percent from the field and 50 percent from beyond-the-arc in the victory, forcing nine American turnovers and holding the Eagles to just 34 percent from the field and 30 percent from beyond.
Johnson, who led BU offensively on Thursday, had as much success against Lafayette in the quarterfinals as she did against American, nearly finishing with a triple double of 19 points, seven rebounds and nine assists.
This will be the 18th meeting all-time between the Mountain Hawks and Terriers and the first of the 2020-21 season. Lehigh took the first meeting between the two teams in 2019-20 on Jan. 8, 2020 by a score of 51-34 at Stabler Arena. The Terriers rebounded at home with a 48-47 win at Case Gym on Feb. 26.
The irony in this Championship game showdown is that it was supposed to be the matchup in the semifinal round almost a year ago to the date, but was canceled due to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lehigh drove up and back from Boston without playing out the rest of the Patriot League Tournament.
Despite falling behind BU in the all-time series, 8-9, Lehigh has a 8-6 edge in Patriot League games against the Terriers dating back to the 2013-14 season. This will be the first-ever matchup between the two squads in tournament play.
Sunday's matchup tips off at 4 p.m. live on national television through CBS Sports Network with Chris Hassel (PxP) and Julianne Viani (Color) on the call. The game will also be broadcasted live on LV Fox Sports Radio 1230/1320 AM and 94.7 FM in Allentown with Matt Markus on the play-by-play call.
Like Lehigh Women's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
| Date: | March 14, 2021 |
| Opponent: | No. 2 Boston University Terriers |
| Tip-off: | 4 p.m. |
| Arena: | Case Gym |
| Location: | Boston, Mass. |
| Lehigh's Record: | 9-5, 3-5 Central |
| Boston U's Record: | 12-2, 9-1 North |
| Series: | Boston U. leads, 9-8 |
| TV: | CBS Sports Network |
| Radio: | Lehigh Valley Fox Sports Radio 1230/1320 AM, 94.7 FM in Allentown w/ Matt Markus |
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G/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
