BETHLEHEM, Pa. – On the primary day of the Christmas Metropolis Traditional offered by SureStay PLUS Lodge by Finest Western Lehigh Valley Lodge and Convention Heart, it was Southern Illinois, who received the very best of the Lehigh ladies’s basketball workforce, defeating the Mountain Hawks 87-81 Saturday afternoon.
This was the Salukis first win of the season, as they’re now 1-4. The Mountain Hawks are 2-4.
“I assumed each groups competed actually exhausting,” mentioned head coach Addie Micir. “We knew each groups had been going to need to rise up and down the ground, and we did. It was a enjoyable recreation to observe.”
Lehigh could have lower than 24 hours to organize for its subsequent recreation because the Mountain Hawks return to motion on Sunday at 12 p.m. vs. Quinnipiac. It will likely be the fourth-ever recreation between the 2 groups.
“Our workforce will watch the primary recreation slightly bit too, and we’re going to see the place our strengths are going to play into it and are available again tomorrow and be the very best model of ourselves,” Micir mentioned.”
Frannie Hottinger and Mackenzie Kramer mixed for greater than half of Lehigh’s factors on Saturday. Kramer led the best way with 28 factors whereas Hottinger had 21 factors. Ella Stemmer, who had 11, was the opposite Mountain Hawk to complete in double figures.
One of many major variations in in the present day’s recreation was turnovers. Lehigh had 22 in comparison with 9 from Southern Illinois. The Salukis had 27 factors from turnovers.
Southern Illinois managed the paint Saturday with 42 factors, whereas Lehigh had 26 factors within the paint.
“We confirmed we are able to rating, and it was bodily,” Micir mentioned. “We simply should discover a option to do us nicely. We discovered methods to attract fouls after we wanted to, and once more, we did it. We simply did not do it adequate.”
There have been a mixed 95 rebounds between each groups. Lehigh had 50, and Southern Illinois had 45.
Anna Harvey led the best way with six assists. Harvey has taken on a much bigger position because the starter. The senior performed the second most minutes in Saturday’s recreation.
“It is one thing that we knew she may at all times do” Micir mentioned of Harvey’s position rising this season. “Her position final yr was the position as a result of we knew there was somebody forward of her.What she has at all times carried out all through her profession is keep prepared. When her quantity is named, she is aware of it is her time to go, and that is one thing I’ve at all times admired about Anna. It doesn’t matter what, she’s stayed constructive by all of it, and it is ready her to do that.”
Southern Illinois shot 40% from the sector,whereas Lehigh shot 38.6% from the sector.
The Salukis had 5 gamers end in double figures. Ashley Jones had a team-high 16 factors, Laniah Randle and Jaidynn Mason each had 13, and Promise Taylor, and Tamara Nard had 11 as nicely.
Sunday”s recreation will probably be broadcast on ESPN+.
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