Lehigh looks to bounce back at home against Bucknell on Thursday

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh women’s basketball team hosts Bucknell Thursday in the first of two home games for the Mountain Hawks this week.

The Mountain Hawks are coming off their first Patriot League loss of the season, while Bucknell dropped its first two league games of the season.

Lehigh is 5-8 overall while Bucknell is 4-9.

Bucknell leads the all-time series 51-44. Lehigh and Bucknell have played eight times in the past two seasons.

The Mountain Hawks faced off three times in the 2021-22 season, with Lehigh losing all three times and seeing the season end with a 56-53 loss in the Patriot League tournament and five times before that in the COVID-shortened 2021 season. season.

The last time Lehigh topped Bucknell was March 11, 2021 in the Patriot League semifinals, where the Mountain Hawks defeated the Bison 63-54 and eventually Boston University in the Patriot League Championship.

Thursday’s game will feature a head-to-head battle between the league leaders in scoring and the league’s last-place scoring offense. Lehigh leads the league in scoring with 73.5 points per game. Bucknell is last in the league in scoring at just 53.6 points per game.

The Bison’s two league losses have come against Holy Cross and Boston U. Lehigh has played against Army, defeating the Black Knights 90-68 and falling to Colgate 69-59 on Jan. 2.

Frannie Hottingerwho has had a tremendous season through 13 games, earned Patriot League honorable mention after averaging 23 points and 13 rebounds in the first two league games.

Hottinger still leads the league in scoring. The senior is averaging 20.8 points per game and is 16th in the county in scoring and 19th in rebounding. He grabs 10.3 rebounds per game.

Bucknell’s Cecilia Collins leads the Bison in scoring (13.3 points per game).

The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Tickets for Thursday’s game can be purchased at LehighTickets.com or at Stabler Arena Thursday afternoon before tip-off.

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Date: January 5, 2023
Opponent: Bucknell
Tip: 6 p.m
Arena (capacity): Stabler Arena (6,000)
Location: Bethlehem, Pa.
Lehigh’s record: 5-8
Army record: 4-9
Series: 44-51
TV: ESPN+