Colgate's Defense Too Much to Handle in 63-51 loss

Wednesday, February 8

Bethlehem, Pa.

6:00 PM

Lehigh University

11-12,7-5Patriot

Colgate

12-11,6-6Patriot

Colgate

Lehigh

Photo by: Katie McNulty

Colgate's Defense Too Much to Handle in 63-51 loss

2/8/2023 9:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh women's basketball team was defeated by Colgate 63-51 Wednesday evening, snapping the Mountain Hawks six-game home Patriot League winning streak.

The Mountain Hawks are now 11-12 (7-5 PL), while the Raiders are 12-11 (6-6 PL).

Colgate came into the game as the second-best defense in the league, holding teams to just 55.8 points per game. The Raiders did the same thing to Lehigh on Wednesday, holding the Mountain Hawks well below their season scoring average.

"Colgate brings it," said head coach Addie Micir. "Early on, they set the tone, winning a bunch of 50/50 balls and forced us to try and respond, but unfortunately, when we responded, it was too little too late."

The Mountain Hawks, who ranked third in the nation in three pointers per game (9.8) before Wednesday, couldn't get it going against a tough Raiders team who likes to defend the three. Lehigh was 2-of-14 from beyond the arc, while Colgate didn't even attempt a single three-pointer.

The Raiders had 44 points in the paint compared to Lehigh's 24.

Lehigh also struggled to take care of the basketball and had 20 turnovers, while Colgate had 10.

The first half was back and forth, with Lehigh taking a 29-28 lead at halftime

While Lehigh had a 15-13 lead after the first quarter, thanks to two Frannie Hottinger free throws, Colgate outscored Lehigh in the next three quarters.

Jamie Behar scored a layup with 6:36 left in the third period to put Lehigh up by three, but Colgate went on an 8-0 run after that. Lehigh just couldn't find a way to get back in the game.

Mackenzie Kramer hit two free throws with 9:04 to play, but Lehigh didn't score a field goal in the fourth quarter until there was 2:54 left in the game.

Kramer led the way for Lehigh with 19 points, and Hottinger finished one rebound shy of a double-double. She had 18 points and nine rebounds.

Colgate's Taylor Golembiewski scored a game-high of 22 points.

"We have to level up," Micir said. "We have to do us. I thought we did a really good job of that on Saturday, and we forgot to carry it over. You have to give Colgate credit. They dribbled the ball right down our throats and didn't take a single three, but still managed to score at the rim, so we need to be better that way, not just defending one versus one. "

Lehigh had an advantage on the glass, outbounding Colgate 36-30 Lehigh was 17-of-45 from the field, and Colgate was 27-of-66.

'I want them to stay connected and learn," Micir said. "We gotta learn lessons and make sure that once they're learned, we check it and don't end up having to learn the same ones."

The Mountain Hawks will head to Loyola on Saturday, where they will look to capture the series sweep against the Greyhounds. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m.

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