Monday, March 6
Bethlehem, Pa.
6:00 PM
Lehigh University
17-13,12-6Patriot
63
vs
55
Bucknell (Quarterfinal)
13-17,9-9Patriot
1
2
3
4
F
Bucknell
14
7
15
19
55
Lehigh
8
17
16
22
63
Photo by: Hannahally Photography
Lehigh Beats Bucknell 63-55, Advances to Patriot League Semifinals
3/6/2023 9:33:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh women's basketball team pulled out a hard-fought victory over Bucknell in the Patriot League Quarterfinals, defeating the Bison 63-55 Monday night at Stabler Arena.Â
"It means a lot," said head coach Addie Micir. "And it means a lot to do it with this group. They have been locked in all year, and they've trusted the process. Our whole goal was to play our best basketball in March, and we're doing it, and that makes me one happy head coach."
The Mountain Hawks improved to 17-13 overall, while Bucknell falls to 13-17 overall.Â
Mackenzie Kramer and Frannie Hottinger, who both were recently named first team All-Patriot League, were unstoppable Monday night. Hottinger, the Patriot League Player of the Year, tallied her 16th double-double of the season. She had 25 points and 10 rebounds.Â
"You've got to credit Kenz, and you've got to credit Frannie," Micir said. They carried us the whole way, and it was awesome."
Mackenzie Kramer scored 30 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out three assists.
"I really just got to let the game come to me," Kramer said. "My teammates are doing the same thing. We've really found our groove in our offense, so it was just making the right read off of the defense. Frannie's a big threat too, so when she draws attention, it just opens things up for me."
In the first quarter, Bucknell controlled the tempo. An Emma Theodorsson jump shot put Bucknell up by seven with 4:57 remaining in the first quarter, but that would be the Bison's biggest lead of the game. Bucknell had a 14-8 lead after the first 10 minutes.Â
Lehigh would go on to outscore Bucknell in the next three quarters. In the second quarter, the Mountain Hawks had a 17-7 advantage. Lily Fandre hit a three-pointer, which was the first one of the night for Lehigh, with 2:07 to play in the first half to give the Mountain Hawks their first lead. Lehigh would hold onto the lead for the rest of the game.Â
Lehigh had a 25-21 lead at the half. The third quarter would be neck-and-neck. Lehigh was 7-of-15 from the field in the third quarter, and Bucknell was 7-of-16. A Mackenzie Kramer three-pointer put the Mountain Hawks up 39-30 with 3:09 to play in the quarter, but the Bison would go on a 6-0 run. At the end of the third quarter, Lehigh was up by five.
The fourth quarter was the highest scoring quarter of the game for both teams, with Lehigh outscoring Bucknell 22-19 over the final 10 minutes. The Mountain Hawks were 3-of-4 from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter. Bucknell was able to cut Lehigh's lead to 55-54 with 28 seconds left, but Lehigh would end the game on a 4-0 run.
In addition to Kramer and Hottinger combining for 55 points, Lily Fandre added six and Ella Stemmer contributed two. Both teams finished the night at 40 percent from the field. Lehigh made six three-pointers to Bucknell's three and the Mountain Hawks made 13-of-14 from the free throw line.
Lehigh won the battle on the glass, coming up with 35 rebounds to Bucknell's 32.Â
Cecilia Collins led Bucknell with 21 points. Emma Shaffer was the other Bison to finish in double figures. She had 11 points.
The Mountain Hawks will travel to Worcester to take on Holy Cross in the Patriot League Semifinals on March 9 at 7 p.m.
"We've got to take care of our bodies," Micir said. "It's a lot of games in a lot of days, but we'll watch our film from this night to see what we did really well and see how whoever will play is going to guard us and then go attack them from there."
Thursday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with audio coverage on Fox Sports Radio 94.7 FM and 1230 AM and LVFoxSports.com.
Like Lehigh Women's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
"It means a lot," said head coach Addie Micir. "And it means a lot to do it with this group. They have been locked in all year, and they've trusted the process. Our whole goal was to play our best basketball in March, and we're doing it, and that makes me one happy head coach."
The Mountain Hawks improved to 17-13 overall, while Bucknell falls to 13-17 overall.Â
Mackenzie Kramer and Frannie Hottinger, who both were recently named first team All-Patriot League, were unstoppable Monday night. Hottinger, the Patriot League Player of the Year, tallied her 16th double-double of the season. She had 25 points and 10 rebounds.Â
"You've got to credit Kenz, and you've got to credit Frannie," Micir said. They carried us the whole way, and it was awesome."
Mackenzie Kramer scored 30 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out three assists.
"I really just got to let the game come to me," Kramer said. "My teammates are doing the same thing. We've really found our groove in our offense, so it was just making the right read off of the defense. Frannie's a big threat too, so when she draws attention, it just opens things up for me."
In the first quarter, Bucknell controlled the tempo. An Emma Theodorsson jump shot put Bucknell up by seven with 4:57 remaining in the first quarter, but that would be the Bison's biggest lead of the game. Bucknell had a 14-8 lead after the first 10 minutes.Â
Lehigh would go on to outscore Bucknell in the next three quarters. In the second quarter, the Mountain Hawks had a 17-7 advantage. Lily Fandre hit a three-pointer, which was the first one of the night for Lehigh, with 2:07 to play in the first half to give the Mountain Hawks their first lead. Lehigh would hold onto the lead for the rest of the game.Â
Lehigh had a 25-21 lead at the half. The third quarter would be neck-and-neck. Lehigh was 7-of-15 from the field in the third quarter, and Bucknell was 7-of-16. A Mackenzie Kramer three-pointer put the Mountain Hawks up 39-30 with 3:09 to play in the quarter, but the Bison would go on a 6-0 run. At the end of the third quarter, Lehigh was up by five.
The fourth quarter was the highest scoring quarter of the game for both teams, with Lehigh outscoring Bucknell 22-19 over the final 10 minutes. The Mountain Hawks were 3-of-4 from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter. Bucknell was able to cut Lehigh's lead to 55-54 with 28 seconds left, but Lehigh would end the game on a 4-0 run.
In addition to Kramer and Hottinger combining for 55 points, Lily Fandre added six and Ella Stemmer contributed two. Both teams finished the night at 40 percent from the field. Lehigh made six three-pointers to Bucknell's three and the Mountain Hawks made 13-of-14 from the free throw line.
Lehigh won the battle on the glass, coming up with 35 rebounds to Bucknell's 32.Â
Cecilia Collins led Bucknell with 21 points. Emma Shaffer was the other Bison to finish in double figures. She had 11 points.
The Mountain Hawks will travel to Worcester to take on Holy Cross in the Patriot League Semifinals on March 9 at 7 p.m.
"We've got to take care of our bodies," Micir said. "It's a lot of games in a lot of days, but we'll watch our film from this night to see what we did really well and see how whoever will play is going to guard us and then go attack them from there."
Thursday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with audio coverage on Fox Sports Radio 94.7 FM and 1230 AM and LVFoxSports.com.
Like Lehigh Women's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Team Stats
Buck
Lehigh
FG%
.400
.400
3FG%
.250
.273
FT%
.800
.929
RB
32
35
TO
9
11
STL
3
2
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
30
FGM
11
3FGM
2
FTM
6
Pts
25
FGM
8
3FGM
2
FTM
7
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
2
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballG/F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
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