Posted: 03/01/2013
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - After having its four-game win streak halted at Navy Wednesday, the Lehigh women’s basketball team will wrap up its 2012-13 regular season at Army on Saturday. Tipoff from West Point is set for 1 p.m. With a win and some help, the Mountain Hawks could host a Patriot League Quarterfinal game for the fourth time in as many seasons. Regardless what happens Saturday, Lehigh can finish no lower than the #5 seed in the upcoming tournament which begins next week.
The Mountain Hawks shot 27.1 percent (13-for-48) from the field in Wednesday’s loss to the Midshipmen, dropping their overall record to 14-14 and 6-7 in Patriot League contests. Lehigh was within five (24-19) midway through the second half, but the Midshipmen quickly staged a 9-0 run to take a 14-point lead and they wouldn’t look back. Sophomore Sarah Williams led all Lehigh scorers with 10 points and freshman Kerry Kinek snatched a team-high eight rebounds. Navy took advantage of the Mountain Hawks’ 22 turnovers, scoring 21 of their 49 points off of them.
Opponents are shooting 35.6 percent (582-for-1636) against the Mountain Hawks, which is tied for second lowest in the Patriot League. They’re tied with Army in that category, who features the league’s #3 scoring offense and top scoring defense. Like Lehigh, the Black Knights are strong on the glass as the Mountain Hawks are plus 4.8 and Army plus 4.3. Kinek leads Lehigh with 12.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, putting her top five in the Patriot League in both statistical categories.
At 21-7 overall, Army can still lock up the top spot in the league accompanied by a Navy loss to Bucknell. The team is second in the Patriot League at 10-3 and will host a quarterfinal game in the conference tournament next week.
The Mountain Hawks lead the all-time series, 29-25 as the sides have alternated wins in each of the last eight contests. Most recently, Army won a tight 61-56 decision at Stabler Arena earlier this season, the fifth straight game between the two teams decided by five points or fewer. The Mountain Hawks are 18-7 at home against Army, but stand under .500 at Army.
The schools first met in 1983-84, a 73-72 Army victory. The Black Knights won the first 11 meetings overall, but the Mountain Hawks have responded by going 29-14 since. Lehigh and Army have not met in postseason play since the Mountain Hawks ended the Black Knights’ season in 2009 with a 61-42 win in the Patriot League Semifinals.
Army’s road win at Lehigh earlier this season snapped a streak of six straight wins by the home team. The Mountain Hawks’ last win at Army came on Feb. 14, 2010, a 49-39 final.
Army has won two straight and six of its last seven, with its only loss coming at Colgate by a 60-56 final. The Black Knights are coming off an impressive 62-35 at Holy Cross on Wednesday. They are led by senior Anna Simmers who averages 13.5 points and 5.2 rebounds. Freshman Kelsey Minato comes in at 12.8 points and 4.4 boards per game while Jen Hazlett averages 9.9 and 5.3 and Olivia Schretzman 9.0 and 7.5, respectively. Minato is tops in the Patriot League in minutes played (37.3), free throw shooting (81.9 percent; 77-for-94) and three-point shooting (40.3 percent; 52-for-129).
The Black Knights feature the league’s #3 scoring offense (58.1) and #1 scoring defense (51.2). Lehigh and Army are tied for second in field goal percentage defense (35.6) while the Black Knights lead the league in three-point field goal percentage (34.3).
Lehigh will next be in action in the Patriot League Quarterfinals next Thursday (Mar. 7). Check back to Lehighsports.com for complete news and notes leading into the postseason.
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Date:
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March 2, 2013
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Opponent:
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Army Black Knights
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Tip-off:
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1:00 PM
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Arena/Capacity:
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Christl Arena /5,043
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Location:
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West Point, N.Y.
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Lehigh’s Record:
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14-14 overall, 6-7 Patriot League
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Army’s Record:
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21-7 overall, 10-3 Patriot League
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Series:
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Lehigh leads, 29-24
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Radio:
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Live on WLVR 91.3 and Lehighsports.com with Matt Markus. Pregame coverage gets underway at 12:45 PM
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Television:
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None
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Internet Video:
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Behind Enemy Lines:
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