Saturday, November 28
4:30 p.m.
Lehigh University
6-0
80
vs
53
Montana
3-2
1
2
3
4
F
Montana
14
10
16
13
53
Lehigh
17
27
14
22
80
Lehigh captures impressive 80-53 win over Montana to advance to championship game of Christmas City Classic
11/28/2015 6:34:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Four Mountain Hawks scored in double figures as the Lehigh women's basketball team turned out a strong defensive effort to earn a big 80-53 win over defending Big Sky champion Montana Saturday afternoon in the Christmas City Classic inside Stabler Arena. Lehigh moves its unbeaten record to 6-0 and advances to the tournament title game against Villanova Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Montana falls to 3-2 on the season and will take on Drexel at 12 p.m. Sunday in the consolation game.
"This was the most quality opponent we've played so far as the perennial Big Sky champions," said head coach Sue Troyan. "Montana plays really good basketball and I thought our kids came out ready and focused and I was very pleased with the way they responded. We played one of our best halves of offensive basketball in the first half and followed it up with a great defensive game as well."
Junior Lexi Martins led Lehigh with her sixth double-double in as many games with 18 points, 16 rebounds and a team-best five assists. Senior Kerry Kinek also recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds to go along with four assists. Senior Elizabeth Jordan scored a career-high 15 points behind five three pointers, while junior Kayla Burton chipped in 10 points and three assists.
"A lot of different people contributed today," said Troyan. "Kayla was a huge spark off the bench and Liz (Jordan) really gave us a big lift. Our post players were consistent as always and I really can't say enough about them."
The Mountain Hawks finished the game shooting 44.3 percent (27-for-61) from the field and 69.6 percent (16-for-23) from the charity stripe. Lehigh made a season-high 10 three-pointers in 20 attempts for an impressive 50.0 percent clip from downtown. The Mountain Hawks held Montana to a stingy 30.8 percent (20-for-65) mark from the field, 33.3 percent (7-for-21) clip from three-point range and 60.0 percent (6-for-10) free throw percentage. Lehigh held a 49-36 rebounding edge.
The first possession of the game resulted in a pair of made free throws from senior Amina Affini. Montana answered with a 9-4 run that took 2:40 off the clock and gave the Lady Griz an early 9-6 lead. Martins converted a conventional three-point play to knot the score at nine with six minutes left on the first-quarter clock. A three-pointer from McCalle Feller put the Griz ahead 12-9, but the Mountain Hawks responded with an 8-2 run to close the opening term. The streak saw a pair of treys from Jordan and freshman Hailey Pascoe as the Mountain Hawk defense held Montana to 1-of-6 shooting and Lehigh took a 17-14 lead through one quarter.
Senior Elizabeth Sharlow converted a conventional three-point play to open the second quarter and spark a 20-5 Lehigh run that spanned the first 8:15 of the second perio. The Mountain Hawks shot 7-for-12 from the field during the stretch, led by Sharlow and Martins with seven points apiece. The Lehigh defense limited Montana to a 2-for-9 clip from the floor as Lehigh took a commanding 37-19 lead with 3:10 left in the half. The Griz converted a pair of free throws and made a three-pointer before the half expired, but a last-second trey from Martins secured a 44-24 halftime lead for the Mountain Hawks.
Montana scored the first seven points of the second half and held Lehigh scoreless for the first 4:25 to pull within 13 at 44-31. The Mountain Hawks battled back to tally the next seven points thanks to four free throws and a Burton three-pointer to reclaim a 20-point lead at 51-31 with 4:28 left in the quarter. The Griz put the next five points on the board, but Lehigh closed the half on a 9-4 run thanks to a 4-for-4 showing from the field as the Mountain Hawks carried a 58-40 lead into the final stanza.
Six points from Kinek helped Lehigh put the first eight points of the final quarter on the board as Lehigh jumped took its largest lead yet at 66-40 and forced a Montana timeout with 7:44 to play. The Griz scored 11 of the next 15 points, but Lehigh followed with a 10-0 run with the help of two Jordan treys that led the Mountain Hawks to an 80-53 victory.
The Mountain Hawks wrap up the Christmas City Classic at 2:30 p.m. Sunday inside Stabler Arena when Lehigh faces Villanova in the Christmas City Classic championship game. Free video will be available on the Patriot League Network.
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Team Stats
UM
LEHIGH
FG%
.308
.443
3FG%
.333
.500
FT%
.600
.696
RB
36
49
TO
11
12
STL
5
3
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
7
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
5
FTM
0
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
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