Friday, November 17
Bethlehem, Pa.
6:00 PM
Lehigh University
90
vs
75
Yale University
Lehigh Uses Big Fourth Quarter Scoring Run to Remain Undefeated
11/17/2023 9:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Lehigh women's basketball pulled out its fourth straight win to open the season after defeating Yale 90-75 Friday night at Stabler Arena.Â
"It was going to be a tough game," said head coach Addie Micir. "I've had some history with Yale from the time I was 18 on. I always say they play to their mascot - they're bulldogs. They defend really, really hard, and they have really talented offensive players, so we knew we were going to be in for a fight. I love how our players brought it."
While the Mountain Hawks improved to 4-0, the Bulldogs dropped to 0-4. Junior guard Colleen McQuillen scored a team-high of 21 points, which was also a career-high. This marks the fourth straight game that Lehigh has had a different leading scorer.Â
Lily Fandre and Ella Stemmer both notched 19 points. Meghan O'Brien was just one point shy of double figures as she tallied nine points.Â
"We're willing to share it and shoot it," Micir said. "We pick spots and we find matchups that we really like. It's not a shock that Lily has 19 points - we wanted to go inside and then Ella and Colleen were ready to knock it down once we collapsed. I'm so pumped for Colleen - the lid got off the hoop with her - that kid is an elite three-point shooter, and to have those two step up was great."
The first quarter started off fast paced as Lehigh held a 23-20 lead at the end of one. The Mountain Hawks led by as many as eight points in the first quarter, but the Bulldogs were able to cut the deficit to three at the end of the first frame.
Lehigh held onto its lead in the second quarter and went into halftime with a 41-36 lead.Â
While Lehigh had the lead heading into the third quarter, it was Yale who came out hot to start the second half.Â
Nyla McGill made a layup with 5:36 left in the third quarter to give the Bulldogs their first lead of the game since the first quarter.Â
Jenna Clark gave Yale a nine-point lead with 1:55 remaining in the third quarter, which would be the biggest lead of the game for the Bulldogs. Clark scored a game-high of 25 points.
The Mountain Hawks ended the quarter on a 9-0 run to even things at 60 heading into the final frame.Â
"Yale battled, but we battled back," McQuillen said. "We had to make some tough plays down the stretch, but it came from different people at different times, and that's what makes this team really special."
Lehigh completely dominated the fourth quarter, outscoring Yale 30-15. Lehigh shot 15 of its 38 free throws in the fourth quarter. The Mountain Hawks made 29 of their 38 free throws (76.3%).
Lehigh held a 44-35 advantage on the glass. O'Brien and Fandre both tallied seven rebounds.
The Mountain Hawks had their best scoring output and shooting performance of the season, as they shot 50% from the floor. Yale shot 37.8% from the field.Â
The Mountain Hawks will next compete in the Savannah Invitational, starting with a game against Marist on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.
"It was going to be a tough game," said head coach Addie Micir. "I've had some history with Yale from the time I was 18 on. I always say they play to their mascot - they're bulldogs. They defend really, really hard, and they have really talented offensive players, so we knew we were going to be in for a fight. I love how our players brought it."
While the Mountain Hawks improved to 4-0, the Bulldogs dropped to 0-4. Junior guard Colleen McQuillen scored a team-high of 21 points, which was also a career-high. This marks the fourth straight game that Lehigh has had a different leading scorer.Â
Lily Fandre and Ella Stemmer both notched 19 points. Meghan O'Brien was just one point shy of double figures as she tallied nine points.Â
"We're willing to share it and shoot it," Micir said. "We pick spots and we find matchups that we really like. It's not a shock that Lily has 19 points - we wanted to go inside and then Ella and Colleen were ready to knock it down once we collapsed. I'm so pumped for Colleen - the lid got off the hoop with her - that kid is an elite three-point shooter, and to have those two step up was great."
The first quarter started off fast paced as Lehigh held a 23-20 lead at the end of one. The Mountain Hawks led by as many as eight points in the first quarter, but the Bulldogs were able to cut the deficit to three at the end of the first frame.
Lehigh held onto its lead in the second quarter and went into halftime with a 41-36 lead.Â
While Lehigh had the lead heading into the third quarter, it was Yale who came out hot to start the second half.Â
Nyla McGill made a layup with 5:36 left in the third quarter to give the Bulldogs their first lead of the game since the first quarter.Â
Jenna Clark gave Yale a nine-point lead with 1:55 remaining in the third quarter, which would be the biggest lead of the game for the Bulldogs. Clark scored a game-high of 25 points.
The Mountain Hawks ended the quarter on a 9-0 run to even things at 60 heading into the final frame.Â
"Yale battled, but we battled back," McQuillen said. "We had to make some tough plays down the stretch, but it came from different people at different times, and that's what makes this team really special."
Lehigh completely dominated the fourth quarter, outscoring Yale 30-15. Lehigh shot 15 of its 38 free throws in the fourth quarter. The Mountain Hawks made 29 of their 38 free throws (76.3%).
Lehigh held a 44-35 advantage on the glass. O'Brien and Fandre both tallied seven rebounds.
The Mountain Hawks had their best scoring output and shooting performance of the season, as they shot 50% from the floor. Yale shot 37.8% from the field.Â
The Mountain Hawks will next compete in the Savannah Invitational, starting with a game against Marist on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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