Posted: 12/05/2012
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh women’s basketball team will be in search of its third consecutive win over Fairfield when the Mountain Hawks welcome the Stags into Stabler Arena for a Thursday night showdown on December 6. Freshman Kerry Kinek scored a career-high 19 points Monday night against Loyola (Md.), but a few key shots by the Greyhounds down the stretch lead to Loyola’s 60-48 win over the Mountain Hawks.
Lehigh holds a 2-0 all-time advantage over Fairfield, but the two teams have not played since a 70-42 Mountain Hawk victory on December 29, 2005 in the opening round of the Christmas City Classic. Thursday’s game will be the Stags’ second trip to Stabler Arena in their history and will be Lehigh’s third home game of the 2012-13 season.
In their last game, the Mountain Hawks took a four-point lead into halftime against the Loyola Greyhounds on Monday night, but a strong second half shooting performance helped Loyola to a 60-48 victory. Kinek registered her third-career double-double as she also tied a career-high with 13 boards to go along with her 19 points on 8-of-16 shooting. Senior co-captain Becky Guman also turned in a strong performance, scoring a season-high eight points, but an 11-1 run early in the second half helped the Greyhounds to build a 10-point lead at 41-31 that Loyola never looked back from.
Kinek continues to lead Lehigh, averaging a double-double with 13.6 points per game, coupled with 10.3 boards per contest. Senior co-captain Kelly Peterson has knocked down a team-best 11 treys and averages 8.7 ppg, which is good for second on the team. Peterson needs just 11 more points to eclipse the 400-point plateau for her career. Junior Hilary Weaver had a breakout game against Loyola with a team-high six assists and is now second (11) to senior Marybeth Egan’s team-high 19 assists (2.7 apg). Junior Lindsay Hoskins is shooting 80.0 percent from the free throw line, a mark that ranks her fourth among Patriot League opponents, while sophomore Katie O’Reilly ranks seventh in the same category at a 76.5 percent clip.
Lehigh is shooting 33.8 percent as a team, averaging 54.7 ppg. The Mountain Hawks have posted a +3.1 rebounding margin as the brown and white average 42.7 boards. Lehigh shoots 68.6 percent from the charity stripe and 24.4 percent from long range, averaging 4.3 treys per contest.
The Mountain Hawks will be looking to halt a three-game skid while also snapping the Stags’ five-game winning streak on Thursday night.
Fairfield will enter Thursday’s game fresh off a 52-43 victory over St. Francis Brooklyn last Saturday. The Stags erased a two-point halftime deficit for the nine-point victory, courtesy of a game-high 14 points from Katelyn Linney coupled with 11 from Alexys Vazquez. Fairfield responded after shooting 28.6 percent in the first half, with a 38.5 percent performance over the final 20 minutes to aid the comeback. Since dropping their season opener to Florida, the Stags have yet to be defeated over the last five games.
Katie Cizynski leads Fairfield, averaging 11.8 ppg, but Linney closely follows with a game average of 11.7 ppg. Cizynski is also the leading rebounder, turning in 9.0 boards per contest, while Felicia DaCruz sets up the scoring, as she has dished out 23 dimes on the year.
As a team, Fairfield is shooting 37.5 percent from the field, but has posted a 56.5 clip from the charity stripe which ranks it last among MAAC members. The Stags shoot 30.0 percent from beyond the arc and average 51.2 points, but pull down just 37.7 rebounds per game compared to Lehigh’s 42.7. Fairfield is just one of two teams in the MAAC that has posted a positive scoring margin (+3.0), second only to Niagara (+4.5) who will travel to Lehigh on Saturday. The Stags boast a tough defense that allows opponents to shoot just 34.2 percent from the field, ranking them first in the MAAC in field goal percentage defense.
After Thursday’s game, Lehigh will return to the Stabler Arena court on Saturday, December 8 for a 7 p.m. tip with Niagara, before a 12-day break when Sacred Heart will continue the homestand on December 20 at 7 p.m.
Like Lehigh women’s basketball on Facebook and follow them on Twitter for the most up-to-date news, reports and recaps.
Buying online is the preferred method. A print-at-home option is available for fans’ convenience.
|
Date:
|
December 6, 2012
|
|
Opponent:
|
Fairfield Stags
|
|
Tip-off:
|
7:00 PM
|
|
Arena/Capacity:
|
Stabler Arena/5,600
|
|
Location:
|
Bethlehem, Pa.
|
|
Lehigh’s Record:
|
2-5 overall, 0-0 Patriot League
|
|
Fairfield’s Record:
|
5-1 overall, 0-0 MAAC
|
|
Series:
|
Lehigh leads, 2-0
|
|
Radio:
|
Live on WLVR 91.3 and Lehighsports.com with Matt Markus Pregame coverage gets underway at 6:45 PM
|
|
Television:
|
None
|
|
Internet Video:
|
|
|
Behind Enemy Lines:
|
|