Saturday, January 8
Worcester, Mass.
12 p.m.
Lehigh University
at
Holy Cross
Photo by: Hannahally Photography
Mountain Hawks set to visit Holy Cross Saturday in Worcester
1/7/2022 4:34:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh women's basketball team is off to a perfect start to Patriot League play following a defensive, 62-55 win over Army West Point Wednesday evening at Stabler Arena. The Mountain Hawks, the first Division I team in Pennsylvania to 10 wins, head to Worcester on Saturday to take on Holy Cross at noon at the Hart Center.
Lehigh trailed at halftime to the Black Knights before having a 33-23 edge in the second half en route to the victory. Emma Grothaus, who was the hero against Colgate on Sunday, scored 15 points to lead the team with nine rebounds and three blocks. Mackenzie Kramer also scored 15 points on three 3-pointers with four rebounds. Clair Steele made her first appearance in over a month, leading the Mountain Hawks with four assists.
The Mountain Hawks barely shot higher than 30 percent, shooting 32.8 percent (21-for-64) from the field, but shot 11-for-14 from the free throw line, which proved to be the difference-maker.
Kramer remains Lehigh's leading scorer at 16.2 points per game, while Frannie Hottinger is second at 14.5 points, and Grothaus (13.3) and Megan Walker (10.7) just behind them.
Currently, Lehigh is in the top 10 in the nation in both free throw percentage (8th, 78.8) and 3-pointers made per game (6th, 10.2).
A win over Holy Cross would mark Lehigh's sixth straight win, matching the six-game win streak back in 2019-20 and would get the Mountain Hawks to 3-0 in Patriot League play for the fourth year in a row.
So far, so good for Holy Cross to begin Patriot League play, despite having its last two games postponed due to health and safety protocols on behalf of both Loyola (Md.) and Lafayette.
The Crusaders won their opener at Navy on Dec. 29, 63-53 and are playing their first game in over a week.
Three different players totaled 11 points as Avery LaBarbera, Bronagh Power-Cassidy and Oluchi Ezemma both reached that mark in the victory. LaBarbera also tallied 11 boards and eight assists, finishing just two dimes shy of a triple-double. She also registered three steals. Janelle Allen had nine points with four rebounds, while Addisyn Cross had three assists with four boards and six points in 35 minutes of action.
Holy Cross shot 42.6 percent (23-for-54) from the field against the Midshipmen and 34.8 percent (8-for-23) from beyond-the-arc. On defense, the Crusaders held Navy to just 38.5 percent (20-for-52) from the field and 26.7 percent (4-for-15) from long range.
LaBarbera leads the team with 13.3 points per game, and also paces her teammates with 7.7 rebounds per game and 3.9 assists. Power-Cassidy is averaging 10.4 points and Oluchi Ezemma is at 9.5.
The Crusaders have won three of their last four games stretching into non-league play with victories over both New Hampshire and Stetson.
Historically, Holy Cross has the all-time series edge over Lehigh, 46-28 with a 38-24 advantage in Patriot League play.
The Mountain Hawks are currently on a three-game win streak over the Crusaders following three victories during the 2020-21 season - two in the regular season and a victory in the Patriot League quarterfinal round. Lehigh has won five of the last seven matchups dating back to Jan. 9, 2019.
At the Hart Center, the Mountain Hawks have won just 11 times with an 11-24 record away from home. The last time Lehigh won in Worcester was a 79-74 overtime win on Mar. 6, 2019.
Saturday's matchup will be streamed live on ESPN+ (subscription required) at noon.
Per Holy Cross' new spectator policy, spectator attendance has been temporarily suspended at all athletic events and Saturday's game will not be open to the general public. Tickets purchased for events that do not allow for spectator attendance will be refunded through the original method of payment. Any questions regarding ticketing can be directed to the Holy Cross Ticket Office at tickets@holycross.edu or 1-844-GOCROSS.
Like Lehigh Women's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Lehigh trailed at halftime to the Black Knights before having a 33-23 edge in the second half en route to the victory. Emma Grothaus, who was the hero against Colgate on Sunday, scored 15 points to lead the team with nine rebounds and three blocks. Mackenzie Kramer also scored 15 points on three 3-pointers with four rebounds. Clair Steele made her first appearance in over a month, leading the Mountain Hawks with four assists.
The Mountain Hawks barely shot higher than 30 percent, shooting 32.8 percent (21-for-64) from the field, but shot 11-for-14 from the free throw line, which proved to be the difference-maker.
Kramer remains Lehigh's leading scorer at 16.2 points per game, while Frannie Hottinger is second at 14.5 points, and Grothaus (13.3) and Megan Walker (10.7) just behind them.
Currently, Lehigh is in the top 10 in the nation in both free throw percentage (8th, 78.8) and 3-pointers made per game (6th, 10.2).
A win over Holy Cross would mark Lehigh's sixth straight win, matching the six-game win streak back in 2019-20 and would get the Mountain Hawks to 3-0 in Patriot League play for the fourth year in a row.
So far, so good for Holy Cross to begin Patriot League play, despite having its last two games postponed due to health and safety protocols on behalf of both Loyola (Md.) and Lafayette.
The Crusaders won their opener at Navy on Dec. 29, 63-53 and are playing their first game in over a week.
Three different players totaled 11 points as Avery LaBarbera, Bronagh Power-Cassidy and Oluchi Ezemma both reached that mark in the victory. LaBarbera also tallied 11 boards and eight assists, finishing just two dimes shy of a triple-double. She also registered three steals. Janelle Allen had nine points with four rebounds, while Addisyn Cross had three assists with four boards and six points in 35 minutes of action.
Holy Cross shot 42.6 percent (23-for-54) from the field against the Midshipmen and 34.8 percent (8-for-23) from beyond-the-arc. On defense, the Crusaders held Navy to just 38.5 percent (20-for-52) from the field and 26.7 percent (4-for-15) from long range.
LaBarbera leads the team with 13.3 points per game, and also paces her teammates with 7.7 rebounds per game and 3.9 assists. Power-Cassidy is averaging 10.4 points and Oluchi Ezemma is at 9.5.
The Crusaders have won three of their last four games stretching into non-league play with victories over both New Hampshire and Stetson.
Historically, Holy Cross has the all-time series edge over Lehigh, 46-28 with a 38-24 advantage in Patriot League play.
The Mountain Hawks are currently on a three-game win streak over the Crusaders following three victories during the 2020-21 season - two in the regular season and a victory in the Patriot League quarterfinal round. Lehigh has won five of the last seven matchups dating back to Jan. 9, 2019.
At the Hart Center, the Mountain Hawks have won just 11 times with an 11-24 record away from home. The last time Lehigh won in Worcester was a 79-74 overtime win on Mar. 6, 2019.
Saturday's matchup will be streamed live on ESPN+ (subscription required) at noon.
Per Holy Cross' new spectator policy, spectator attendance has been temporarily suspended at all athletic events and Saturday's game will not be open to the general public. Tickets purchased for events that do not allow for spectator attendance will be refunded through the original method of payment. Any questions regarding ticketing can be directed to the Holy Cross Ticket Office at tickets@holycross.edu or 1-844-GOCROSS.
Like Lehigh Women's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
| Date: | January 8, 2022 |
| Opponent: | Holy Cross Crusaders |
| Tip-off: | Noon |
| Arena (Capacity): | Hart Center |
| Location: | Worcester, Mass. |
| Lehigh's Record: | 10-3, 2-0 PL |
| Holy Cross' Record | 7-5, 1-0 PL |
| Series History: | Holy Cross leads, 46-28 |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
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