1/15/2005 - Women's Basketball
Women's Basketball Falls at Lehigh 65-53

• Box Score

Bethlehem, Pa. - Junior guard Lauren Skrel (Walnut Creek, Calif.) scored a career-high 18 points and handed out four assists, but it wasn't enough as Navy fell to Lehigh, 65-53, Saturday at Stabler Arena.

Lehigh center Jessica DePalo netted a game-high 24 points to lead the Mountain Hawks (11-4 overall, 3-0 Patriot League), who remained unbeaten in Patriot League play this season. Mary Hynoski recorded a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds in the win.

Senior forward Nikki Curtis (Jacksonville, Fla.) and junior guard Ashley Pelzek (East Longmeadow, Mass.) each chipped in 12 points for the Mids (6-9, 2-1), who dropped their first conference game this season. Curtis shot 60 percent (6-of-10) from the field and also pulled down seven rebounds.

"When we got into foul trouble, we became very uncomfortable," Navy head coach Tom Marryott said. "We really departed from our game plan on both ends of the floor. We rushed everything and against a good team like Lehigh, they will make you pay."

Navy held a 32-29 lead at halftime, but Lehigh came out in the second half and went on a 10-2 run in the first-four minutes to take a 39-34 edge. DePalo scored six points to spark the stretch.

The Mids responded by scoring the next six points on a three-point play by Skrel and a three-pointer from senior captain Abi Campbell (Richmond, Va.), to take a one-point edge with 12:59 remaining.

Both teams exchanged baskets over the next five minutes. Curtis knocked down a jumper to pull Navy within 48-47 with 7:56 to go. However, Lehigh answered with nine-straight points, including four from DePalo, to take a 57-47 advantage with 5:22 left.

The Midshipmen never got closer than eight points the rest of the way, as Lehigh held on to earn the win.

Lehigh dominated on the boards and owned a 41-19 advantage in rebounds. The Mountain Hawks shot 48 percent (27-of-56) from the field for the game, including 58 percent (14-of-24) in the second half.

"They attacked us right from the start of the game on the glass," Marryott said. "They had much more energy and effort than us on the boards."

The first half was tightly contested with 12 lead changes and two ties.

Lehigh's Jenny Callen knocked down a jumper with 5:14 remaining until halftime to tie the game at 23-23, but the Mids outscored the Mountain hawks 9-2 over the next three minutes to go up seven. Lehigh drained back-to-back jumpers in the half's final minute to pull within three heading into the locker room.

Navy will be back in action Tuesday when it travels to Providence, R.I., to face Brown for a 7 p.m. tip at the Pizzitola Sports Center.