ANNAPOLIS, Md. - A matchup of the two teams coming off significant Patriot League wins awaits fans at Alumni Hall on Sunday. Following a wire-to-wire win over Loyola in Baltimore on Thursday, the Navy women's basketball team will host the Lehigh Mountain Hawks in 3:30 p.m. showdown. The Mids (6-5, 1-0 PL) and Mountain Hawks (9-3, 1-0 PL) will pick up a series that saw the home teams each earn three-point victories in 2017-18. The Navy-Lehigh game is part of a men's/women's basketball doubleheader at Alumni Hall on Sunday. The men's will host Holy Cross in a 1 p.m. contest.
Sunday's game will be streamed live on the Patriot League Network. Live stats will be available at NavyStats.com.
Last Time Out
Navy team began its 2018-19 Patriot League season with a strong road victory over Loyola on Wednesday afternoon. Tied early 2-2, the Mids (6-5, 1-0 PL) broke open the game in the first quarter and eventually took a 33-19 lead into halftime on their way to the win over the Greyhounds (1-11, 0-1 PL). Navy was clicking on both sides of the ball at Reitz Arena as they shot 42.6 percent for the game, while defensively holding Loyola to 27.9 percent from the floor.
The action in the first quarter opened fairly equal and close over the first seven minutes as the Mids held a one-to-two possession lead throughout most of the play. With the scoreboard showing Navy up 8-6, a pull-up three-point from the top of the floor by Laurel Jaunich at 2:10 sparked an 8-2 run to conclude the period.
On the strength of 53.6 percent (15-28) shooting, the Mids went into the locker room at halftime up 33-19. Navy's attack was well-balanced as four players had five or more points: Jennifer Coleman (8), Laurel Jaunich (7), Sophie Gatzounas (7) and Kolbi Green (5).
Navy kept its foot on the pedal as the team immediately came out of halftime and netted 10 points in the first three minutes. Three-pointers by Coleman and Morgan Taylor were highlights of this span as the Mids expanded their lead out to a then- game-high 19 points at 43-24 by the 7:01 mark. The game continued at a 16-21-point margin for the entirety of the period. The quarter featured Navy shooting 42.9 percent (6-14) from the field and sinking three of four three-pointers.
Up 50-31 going into the final period of play, Navy's pace slowed down a bit and Loyola was able to take advantage as the hosts shrunk their deficit to just 10 points at 56-46 with 39 seconds remaining. A pair of free three throws by Gatzounas down the stretch closed the game with a final score of 58-46.
For the game, Navy outshot Loyola, 42.6 percent (23-54) to 27.9 (19-68). The Mids also outshot the Greyhounds from three-point range, 46.2 percent (6-13) to 26.3 (5-19), and at the foul line, 66.7 percent (6-9) to 50.0 (3-6). That field goal percentage was the second-best shooting effort of the season for the Mids, while defensively, that was the team's second-lowest opponent field goal percentage.
Coleman and Gatzounas spearheaded Navy's attack as the duo combined for 32 points and 22 rebounds. Individually, Coleman went for 19 points, 13 rebounds and six assists in 31 minutes of action, while Gatzounas backed up her teammate with 13 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in 33 minutes.
Navy versus Lehigh
The Mids and Mountain Hawks have met 61 times in a series that began on December 8, 1981 ... All-time, Navy leads Lehigh, 33-28 with an 18-12 mark in games played in Alumni Hall ... Since the Mids joined the Patriot League in 1991-92, Navy is 30-27, including a 2-1 showing in a trio of Patriot League postseason contests ... Over the last ten matchups, Navy is 8-2.
Last 5 Games:
Jan. 27, 2018 (H): Navy 53 - Lehigh 50
Jan. 2, 2018 (A): Lehigh 66 - Navy 63
Feb. 15, 2017 (H): Navy 79 - Lehigh 44
Jan. 18, 2017 (A): Navy 66 - Lehigh 64
Feb. 17, 2016 (A): Navy 62 - Lehigh 54
2017-18 Series Recap
Navy and Lehigh played two times last season with the teams splitting the series ... The Mountain Hawks started out the year with a 66-63 win over the Mids in Bethlehem, Pa. before Navy responded 25 days later in Annapolis with a three-point win of its own by a score of 53-50 ... Looking at the cumulative statistics, Lehigh edged Navy minimally in field goal (37.9% - 37.4%) and three-point (35.3% - 30.0%) shooting ... The Mountain Hawks also won the battle on the glass over the Mids by an average of two rebounds of game, 37.5 to 35.5 ... Of the 80 total minutes of action, Navy led for 53:58 minutes versus 19:06 for Lehigh.
Comparing the Teams
| (2018-19 Stats) |
Navy |
Lehigh |
| Record / Patriot League |
6-5 / 1-0 |
9-3 / 1-0 |
| Home / Away Record |
3-2 / 3-3 |
6-2 / 3-1 |
| Points Per Game |
59.7 PPG |
67.2 PPG |
| Points Allowed Per Game |
55.9 PPG |
56.1 PPG |
| Field Goal Percentage |
35.7 % |
37.0 % |
| 3-Point Percentage |
26.3 % |
28.5 % |
| Free Throw Percentage |
63.7 % |
75.8 % |
| Rebounds Per Game |
40.5 RPG |
34.3 RPG |
| Assists/Turnovers Per Game |
11.3 / 18.4 |
11.1 / 18.4 |
Individual Leaders
| (2018-19 Stats) |
Navy |
Lehigh |
| Points Per Game |
Coleman, 13.5 PPG |
C. Buhr, 13.3 PPG |
| Rebounds Per Game |
Coleman, 7.5 RPG |
C. Buhr, 7.0 RPG |
| Assists Per Game |
Coleman, 3.1 APG |
H. Hedstrom, 3.0 APG |
| Field Goal Percentage |
Gatzounas, 52.2 % |
C. Buhr, 45.8 % |
| 3-Point Percentage |
Gatzounas, 42.9 % |
C. Buhr, 45.2 % |
| Free Throw Percentage |
Green, 81.8 % |
C. Buhr, 82.2 % |
Keys to Success
Through 11 games, some patterns are starting to emerge for the Midshipmen ...
Allowing 59 or fewer points: Navy is ... 5-1
Holding opponents to 38% or less shooting from the field: 6-0
Scoring more points in the paint: 5-1
Out-rebounding the opponent: 5-2
Sunday's Promotions
A Knight with Navy Basketball
Sunday's basketball doubleheader will have the over-arching promotional theme of the Renaissance Festival ... during the women's game there will be a sword-fighting demonstration by the Navy Fencing Club at halftime
Meet the Mids
Following the Navy-Lehigh game, the Midshipmen will participate in a Meet the Mids autograph session. All fans in attendance will have the opportunity to get their 2018-19 schedule posters autographed by the team.
Parking/Shuttle Ticket Information
Vehicle access to the U.S. Naval Academy is limited to those with a Department of Defense identification card ... It is suggested that everyone else park at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium ($5 per vehicle) and ride the free shuttle bus to and from the game ... Shuttle bus service will begin one hour prior to tip. Note that a government issued identification card must be carried and presented by visitors ages 18 and older to the USNA prior to being allowed onto The Yard.
Tickets
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youth online in advance of the game at NavySports.com. The Alumni Hall Ticket Office will open one hour prior to the start of the game.
