Saturday, November 30
Bethlehem, Pa.
12:00 PM
Lehigh University
56
vs
39
Marist College
Lehigh Downs Marist 56-39, Advances to Christmas City Classic Title Game
11/30/2024 4:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Lehigh women's basketball bested Marist 56-39 Saturday afternoon to punch its ticket to the Christmas City Classic final. The Mountain Hawks will play Valparaiso on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Stabler Arena. The Christmas City Classic is presented by Joshi Hotel Group.
If Lehigh wins on Saturday, it would mark the first time the Mountain Hawks win the Christmas City Classic since 2010.
"I liked for the most part that we took care of the ball better," said head coach Addie Micir. " We knew this was going to be a team that defended us in a different way than we've seen the last couple of days. So it was settle in, and build a lead."
With the win, Lehigh improves to 5-2 on the season and the Red Foxes drop to 4-4. Coming off of a loss, Lehigh responded hot right out the gate. Marist netted a three-pointer for the game's opening points, and Lehigh responded with a 10-0 run.Â
Senior guard Ella Stemmer gave Lehigh its first lead three minutes into the quarter and the Mountain Hawks would hold the lead for the remainder of the game. Stemmer, who finished with 12 points on Saturday, was one of two Mountain Hawks to tally double figures. Junior forward Lily Fandre paced the way with a game-high of 14 points.Â
Lehigh had its best shooting performance in the first quarter, going 8-of-13 (61.5%) from the field to help take a 20-11 lead after the first 10 minutes of action.Â
Despite only making four field goals in the second frame, the Mountain Hawks defense held the Red Foxes to four made field goals. Lehigh led 30-19 at halftime.Â
The Mountain Hawks opened up the third frame on an 8-0 run to take a 20-point lead with 6:34 remaining in the third quarter. Marist was never able to claw back from the double-digit deficit despite cutting Lehigh's lead to 12 points with 6:14 to play in the game.
Lehigh shot 22-of-58 (37.9%) from the field and 9-of-28 (37.9%) from beyond the arc on Saturday. The Red Foxes shot 14-of-42 (33.3%) from the field and 3-of-14 (21.4%) from deep.Â
Whitney Lind tallied eight points after knocking down two three-pointers. Sophomore guard Gracyn Lovette tallied a game-high of four assists. While she didn't finish in double figures for the first time all season, senior guard Maddie Albrecht recorded a game-high of seven rebounds, a game-high of three steals while also tallying a team-high of two blocks.Â
"Maddie is so good defensively," Micir said.
Rebounds were tied at 32 on Saturday with Lehigh holding a 11-7 advantage in offensive rebounds.
Morgan Lee finished with a team-high of nine points for Marist.
Sunday's Christmas City Classic title game will air on ESPN+.
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If Lehigh wins on Saturday, it would mark the first time the Mountain Hawks win the Christmas City Classic since 2010.
"I liked for the most part that we took care of the ball better," said head coach Addie Micir. " We knew this was going to be a team that defended us in a different way than we've seen the last couple of days. So it was settle in, and build a lead."
With the win, Lehigh improves to 5-2 on the season and the Red Foxes drop to 4-4. Coming off of a loss, Lehigh responded hot right out the gate. Marist netted a three-pointer for the game's opening points, and Lehigh responded with a 10-0 run.Â
Senior guard Ella Stemmer gave Lehigh its first lead three minutes into the quarter and the Mountain Hawks would hold the lead for the remainder of the game. Stemmer, who finished with 12 points on Saturday, was one of two Mountain Hawks to tally double figures. Junior forward Lily Fandre paced the way with a game-high of 14 points.Â
Lehigh had its best shooting performance in the first quarter, going 8-of-13 (61.5%) from the field to help take a 20-11 lead after the first 10 minutes of action.Â
Despite only making four field goals in the second frame, the Mountain Hawks defense held the Red Foxes to four made field goals. Lehigh led 30-19 at halftime.Â
The Mountain Hawks opened up the third frame on an 8-0 run to take a 20-point lead with 6:34 remaining in the third quarter. Marist was never able to claw back from the double-digit deficit despite cutting Lehigh's lead to 12 points with 6:14 to play in the game.
Lehigh shot 22-of-58 (37.9%) from the field and 9-of-28 (37.9%) from beyond the arc on Saturday. The Red Foxes shot 14-of-42 (33.3%) from the field and 3-of-14 (21.4%) from deep.Â
Whitney Lind tallied eight points after knocking down two three-pointers. Sophomore guard Gracyn Lovette tallied a game-high of four assists. While she didn't finish in double figures for the first time all season, senior guard Maddie Albrecht recorded a game-high of seven rebounds, a game-high of three steals while also tallying a team-high of two blocks.Â
"Maddie is so good defensively," Micir said.
Rebounds were tied at 32 on Saturday with Lehigh holding a 11-7 advantage in offensive rebounds.
Morgan Lee finished with a team-high of nine points for Marist.
Sunday's Christmas City Classic title game will air on ESPN+.
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Players Mentioned
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