Tuesday, November 4
Cincinnati, Ohio
6:30 PM
Lehigh University
1-0,0-0Patriot
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Cincinnati
0-1,0-0Big 12
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Lehigh
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Photo by: Joseph Fuqua
Mountain Hawks Take Down Cincinnati 88-85 in Season-Opening Thriller
11/4/2025 9:40:00 PM | Women's Basketball
CINCINNATI – Juniors Whitney Lind and Jessie Ozzauto combined for 51 points as the Lehigh women's basketball team opened its 2025-26 season with a thrilling 88-85 victory over Big 12 member Cincinnati Tuesday night at Fifth Third Arena. In a game that featured 15 lead changes, senior Lily Fandre scored on a driving layup with 57 seconds remaining to tie the game, then made two free throws with 12.9 seconds remaining to put the Mountain Hawks ahead for good.
Lind, a northern Kentucky native playing in front of family and friends, poured in a career-high 26 points, while Ozzauto added a career-best 25, including a team-leading four 3-pointers.
The victory gives Lehigh a win over a power conference team for the second consecutive season. The Mountain Hawks won at Northwestern in November 2024. The win is Lehigh's first over a current Big 12 member since the Mountain Hawks defeated West Virginia in December 1999.
The Mountain Hawks shot 49 percent from the field and were 9-of-24 from three. Lind was 7-of-15 from the field and made 10 of her 12 free throws to double her previous career high in scoring.
Lehigh led by as many as 13 points late in the first quarter. The Mountain Hawks led by three at the first media timeout, then reeled off 10 straight points, five from Lind and five from first-year Ellie Mjaanes on a 3-pointer and then a jump hook in the lane. Lehigh led 24-18 after one quarter.
The Mountain Hawks were able to maintain their lead throughout the second quarter and took a 48-45 lead into halftime.
The third quarter saw Cincinnati battle back, but the Bearcats couldn't extend their lead to more than four with Lehigh hanging around. Lind converted a driving layup and made the ensuing free throw as Lehigh trailed by just one at 72-71 after three quarters.
The lead went back and forth in the fourth quarter, with Cincinnati pulling ahead by two on a Caliyah DeVillasee jumper with 1:50 to play. Fandre, who was limited to four points through the first 39 minutes and was playing with four fouls, tied the game at 85 with 57 seconds remaining and then drew Mya Perry's fifth foul before sinking two free throws with 12.9 seconds remaining.
Kylie Torrence missed on the other end for Cincinnati, with sophomore Belle Bramer grabbing the rebound. Bramer made 1-of-2 free throws in the final seconds and then junior Gracyn Lovette blocked Reagan Jackson's game-tying 3-point attempt as time expired.
Perry led all scorers with 31 points on 11-of-17 shooting, including six 3-pointers. Cincinnati shot 46 percent from the field and made 11 threes. The Bearcats held a 35-32 rebounding advantage, but Lehigh led 13-11 on the offensive glass.
Ozzauto led Lehigh with seven rebounds. Lovette contributed seven points and a team-leading nine assists. Fandre added five assists along with her eight points and four rebounds. Lehigh had 20 assists on 31 made field goals.
Mjaanes was the third Mountain Hawk in double figures, finishing with 13 points, including 3-of-5 from deep.
The Mountain Hawks travel to Fairfield for a battle of 2025 NCAA Tournament teams, Saturday at 7 p.m.
Lind, a northern Kentucky native playing in front of family and friends, poured in a career-high 26 points, while Ozzauto added a career-best 25, including a team-leading four 3-pointers.
Postgame with coach @amicker23 on the ESPN+ broadcast 👇 pic.twitter.com/QRPzzyQjmZ
— Lehigh Women's Basketball (@LehighWBB) November 5, 2025
The victory gives Lehigh a win over a power conference team for the second consecutive season. The Mountain Hawks won at Northwestern in November 2024. The win is Lehigh's first over a current Big 12 member since the Mountain Hawks defeated West Virginia in December 1999.
The Mountain Hawks shot 49 percent from the field and were 9-of-24 from three. Lind was 7-of-15 from the field and made 10 of her 12 free throws to double her previous career high in scoring.
Lehigh led by as many as 13 points late in the first quarter. The Mountain Hawks led by three at the first media timeout, then reeled off 10 straight points, five from Lind and five from first-year Ellie Mjaanes on a 3-pointer and then a jump hook in the lane. Lehigh led 24-18 after one quarter.
Ellie Mjaanes from DEEP!
— Lehigh Women's Basketball (@LehighWBB) November 4, 2025
Mountain Hawks lead 24-18 after one!
Watch: https://t.co/Cq8f6vkfsL@espn @PatriotLeague #WE #ShareItandShootIt pic.twitter.com/M5lU55Buoi
The Mountain Hawks were able to maintain their lead throughout the second quarter and took a 48-45 lead into halftime.
The third quarter saw Cincinnati battle back, but the Bearcats couldn't extend their lead to more than four with Lehigh hanging around. Lind converted a driving layup and made the ensuing free throw as Lehigh trailed by just one at 72-71 after three quarters.
END Q3| Lehigh 71, Cincinnati 72
— Lehigh Women's Basketball (@LehighWBB) November 5, 2025
Lind with a tough and-one one send it to the fourth down by one💪
Watch: https://t.co/Cq8f6vjHDd@espn @PatriotLeague#WE #ShareItandShootIt pic.twitter.com/yfuq0HAUnu
The lead went back and forth in the fourth quarter, with Cincinnati pulling ahead by two on a Caliyah DeVillasee jumper with 1:50 to play. Fandre, who was limited to four points through the first 39 minutes and was playing with four fouls, tied the game at 85 with 57 seconds remaining and then drew Mya Perry's fifth foul before sinking two free throws with 12.9 seconds remaining.
Kylie Torrence missed on the other end for Cincinnati, with sophomore Belle Bramer grabbing the rebound. Bramer made 1-of-2 free throws in the final seconds and then junior Gracyn Lovette blocked Reagan Jackson's game-tying 3-point attempt as time expired.
Perry led all scorers with 31 points on 11-of-17 shooting, including six 3-pointers. Cincinnati shot 46 percent from the field and made 11 threes. The Bearcats held a 35-32 rebounding advantage, but Lehigh led 13-11 on the offensive glass.
Ozzauto led Lehigh with seven rebounds. Lovette contributed seven points and a team-leading nine assists. Fandre added five assists along with her eight points and four rebounds. Lehigh had 20 assists on 31 made field goals.
Mjaanes was the third Mountain Hawk in double figures, finishing with 13 points, including 3-of-5 from deep.
The Mountain Hawks travel to Fairfield for a battle of 2025 NCAA Tournament teams, Saturday at 7 p.m.
Team Stats
Lehigh
UC
FG%
.492
.458
3FG%
.375
.550
FT%
.680
.769
RB
32
35
TO
14
17
STL
7
4
Game Leaders
Pts
26
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
10
Pts
25
FGM
10
3FGM
4
FTM
1
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballLehigh Sports Central: Women's Basketball
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