ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Just 13 days after matching up with the Lehigh Mountain Hawks in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the Navy women's basketball team will looking to even its season series with Lehigh on Wednesday night in a home contest at Alumni Hall. The Mids (5-10, 0-4 PL) will be tested by a Mountain Hawks (12-3, 4-0 PL) team that is undefeated in league play and has dropped just one game since December 1. Wednesday's game will be the fifth straight game for the Mids against a team ranked in the top-four of the Patriot League as they've played Lehigh, Holy Cross, Bucknell and Colgate to open conference play. Earlier this month, Lehigh defeated Navy, 70-40. Tip-off on Wednesday night is set for 7 p.m. at Alumni Hall. All of the action between Navy and Lehigh can be followed online with a live stream of the game available on the Patriot League Network and stats populating on NavyStats.com.

Last Time Out
Navy ran into a high-scoring Colgate squad on the road in Hamilton, N.Y. on Saturday, Jan. 11. Coming into the matchup averaging 71.8 points per contest, tops in the Patriot League, the Raiders pulled away late from a game Midshipmen squad that trailed by just 12 points going into the fourth quarter. At the conclusion of the game, Colgate was victorious 80-55 at Cotterell Court. The Mids received nearly 60 percent of its production on Saturday from its bench with the duo of Mimi Schrader and Jasmine Bishop leading the way with respective point totals of 11 and nine. Schrader's final line also included three three-pointers and two rebounds over 28 minutes, while Bishop sank one three-pointer and corralled four rebounds in 21 minutes.

After Colgate started the contest by scoring the first six points, Lindsay Llewellyn got Navy on the board with a three-pointer from the wing. The Raiders' offense kept clicking as the hosts hit seven of their first eight shots to net 17 points over the first six-plus minutes of play. The Mids hung tight during this span as the freshmen trio of Schrader, Llewellyn and Nyah Garrison combined for eight points with three-pointers by Schrader and Garrison leading the way. The score was 17-15 following a Montana Braxton turnaround jumper in the paint at 3:11. Colgate didn't let Navy get any closer as the Raiders ran off eight unanswered points to expand its lead out to 10, 25-15. Schrader's second three-pointer of the quarter closed the scoring in the period at 25-18 in favor of Colgate.
 
In the 43-point quarter of play, the Raiders shot 64.7 percent (11-17) from the field, while the Mids were successful at a 46.2 percent (6-13) rate.
 
The quarter break did nothing to slow Colgate's offense as the Raiders came out the gate with a quick 5-0 run. Trailing 30-18, 2:11 into the second quarter, the Mids battled back with two physical baskets on consecutive possessions. Braxton made the first field goal with a layup in the paint before she fought for an offensive rebound and shot a pass out to Sophie Gatzounas for a jumper at the top of the paint. This hard-nosed effort on the offensive end continued for the Mids as Gatzounas grabbed a rebound and immediately put up a shot at 5:27 to make it a 32-24 game. While Navy had to battle for each of their baskets, Colgate continued its blistering shooting effort with a streak of five makes in six possessions, with an additional two points coming from the foul line. This run helped the Raiders expand their lead out to 18, 44-26 by the 1:52 mark. The teams retired to their locker rooms with the score 44-29, Colgate.
 
Team captain Mary Kate Ulasewicz was everywhere for the Mids over the first three minutes of the second half. Trying to will her club back into the contest, Ulasewicz blocked a fast break layup, stripped a Colgate defensive rebound for a quick fadeaway jumper before later hitting a three-pointer at 7:28 to make it 48-34. The Raiders responded to Ulasewicz' effort with a 4-0 run to build their lead back out to 18 points by the 5:46 point in the third quarter. The momentum swung back to the Mids with a 7-1 response from 4:52 through 3:14. Garrison found success from three-point range, while Ulasewicz and Braxton netted layups. The final three-plus minutes played out with each team recording five points, including Schrader's third three-pointer of the contest.
 
Coming out in the fourth quarter with the score 58-46 for Colgate, the host Raiders built out a 23-point lead in short order within the first four minutes, 69-46. The Mids were held off the scoreboard until Ciera Hertelendy found a cutting Llewellyn at 5:01 to make it 71-48. Bishop found her shooting touch late for Navy with five of the team's final seven points down the stretch. Schrader netted the other basket for the Mids as she completed her first double-digit scoring output with a layup at 1:22.
 
In the 80-55 victory for Colgate, the Raiders outshot the Mids, 57.9 percent (33-57) to 35.6 (21-59) from the field and 54.5 percent (6-11) to 25.8 (8-31) from three-point range. Navy converted five of its six attempts for a 83.3 percent mark. Colgate was solid as well from the charity stripe with a 72.7 percent (8-11) effort.

Navy vs. Lehigh
The Mids and Mountain Hawks have met 64 times in a series that began on December 8, 1981 ... All-time, Navy leads Lehigh, 33-31 ... The Mids hold an 18-13 advantage in games played in Annapolis ... Since the Mids joined the Patriot League in 1991-92, the series is knotted 30-30 ... Over the last ten matchups both Navy and Lehigh have secured five victories.
    Last 5 Games:
    Jan. 2, 2020 (A): Lehigh 70 - Navy 40
    Feb. 2, 2019 (A): Lehigh 66 - Navy 55
    Jan. 6, 2019 (H): Lehigh 56 - Navy 38
    Jan. 27, 2018 (H): Navy 53 - Lehigh 50
    Jan. 2, 2018 (A): Lehigh 66 - Navy 63

Most Recent Matchup: January 2, 2020 at Lehigh
Navy began the Patriot League portion of its 2019-20 schedule on Thursday, January 2 on the road at Lehigh University. Taking on the preseason favorite for the Patriot League, the Mids started out strong, but were held back by a 16-point advantage in favor of the Mountain Hawks during the second quarter. At the conclusion of play at Stabler Arena on Thursday, Lehigh was victorious by a score of 70-40. The Mids' effort was led by quartet of Lindsay Llewellyn, Laurel Jaunich, Morgan Taylor and Mary Kate Ulasewicz, who all tallied between seven and nine points during the contest. Llewellyn was Navy's top scorer with nine points, including a trey and a 2-2 showing at the foul line., while Jaunich was one back with eight points during a team-high 29 minutes of action. Jaunich added six rebounds and a block to her stat-line on Thursday.

The early action in Bethlehem saw the teams trade baskets for the opening five-plus minutes with each squad netting five points. Back-to-back field goals by Montana Braxton and Ulasewicz at 4:58 and 4:37 helped Navy jump out to a five-point advantage, 10-5. Lehigh had a five-point rebuttal of its own to knot the game at 10-10. On the strength of their third made three-pointer, a trey from the wing by Nyah Garrison, the Mids went ahead 13-10 with 2:45 remaining in the quarter. From this point through the end of the period the host Mountain Hawks tallied six unanswered points.
 
Coming out in the second quarter trailing 16-13, Navy saw Lehigh extend that 6-0 run out to 15-0 through the 3:57 mark of the stanza. Llewellyn put an end to the Mids' 0-8 shooting effort to start the quarter with a drive along the baseline and layup. This basket invigorated Navy as the Mids they shaved four points off their deficit and made it a 26-20 game by 2:31. As part of this 5-1 run, Llewellyn made a three-pointer from the left corner before Jaunich posted up and sank a short jumper. Unfortunately for Navy, Lehigh caught fire down the stretch with a 13-0 run on the strength of 4-4 shooting, including a trio of three-pointers.

Down 39-20, Navy immediately started its comeback attempt. Taylor got the Mids off to a good start with a three from the top of the arch on their first possession. That trey kickstarted a 9-0 run with baskets by all four seniors as Ulasewicz, Jaunich and Braxton followed Taylor to make it a 39-29 game, forcing Lehigh to burn a timeout at 6:54. A little over a minute late, Taylor got Navy within nine points with a 1-2 effort at the foul line. An Emma Grothaus layup at 4:43 ended the Mountain Hawks' scoreless start to the second half. Two made free throws by Llewellyn helped Navy get its deficit into the single-digits once again at 3:21, 41-32. Just as the Mids rode a 9-0 streak get back in the game at the beginning of the quarter, the Mountain Hawks closed the quarter with a 9-0 run of their own to make it 50-32 through 30 minutes of play. Lehigh kept its foot on the offensive pedal with the first seven points of the fourth quarter to put the game. This was part of a 20-8 final quarter of play that closed the game with a 70-40 final score.

Lehigh outshot Navy, 47.2 percent (25-53) to 28.1 (16-57) from the floor and 33.3 percent (7-21) to 25.0 (5-20) from three-point range. The Mids shot 75.0 percent (3-4) from the foul line, while the Mountain Hawks were 13-23 for a 56.5 percent mark.

Comparing the Teams

(2019-20 Stats)	Navy	Lehigh
Record / PL	5-10 / 0-4 PL	12-3 / 4-0 PL
Home / Away / Neut. Record	4-3 / 1-7	6-0 / 6-1 / 0-2
Points Per Game	54.0 PPG	65.1 PPG
Points Allowed Per Game	59.7 PPG	55.8 PPG
Field Goal Percentage	36.0 %	38.4 %
3-Point Percentage	29.7 %	29.3 %
Free Throw Percentage	58.2 %	69.6 %
Rebounds Per Game	33.8 RPG	40.9 RPG
Assists/Turnovers Per Game	12.3 / 14.6	12.3 / 13.2

Individual Leaders

(2019-20 Stats)	Navy	Lehigh
Points Per Game	Gatzounas, 8.2 PPG	C. Buhr, 12.5 PPG
Rebounds Per Game	Gatzounas, 5.0 RPG	C. Buhr, 6.5 RPG
Assists Per Game	Ulasewicz, 3.2 APG	H. Hedstrom, 3.0 APG
Field Goal Percentage	Gatzounas, 47.2 %	M. Sexe, 47.1 %
3-Point Percentage	Taylor, 34.1 %	M. Walker, 35.2 %
Free Throw Percentage	Ulasewicz, 70.6 %	E. Grothaus, 80.6 %

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.

Upcoming Promotional Schedule

vs. Lehigh | Wednesday, Jan. 15 | 7pm | Local Heroes Night

• Help us to celebrate our local heroes as all police and firefighters will receive free admission.

vs. Boston University | Wednesday, January 22 | 7pm | We Back Pat

• Help us raise awareness for Alzheimer's as "We Back Pat."
• Be one of the first 100 fans and receive a free Navy Shaker Water Bottle.
• All Annapolis City employees receive free admission.

"Spirit Wednesdays" at the Alley
For the remaining Wednesday Navy basketball games the Alley Bar located on the USNA campus is opening to the public for happy hour prior to the game from 4pm - 7pm. The Alley will have special deals on food and drink and any customer who brings their receipt to the Alumni Hall ticket office will receive discounted $5 tickets to that evening's game.

Courtney Davidson's Jersey Retirement
It was announced earlier this season that Courtney (Davidson) O'Brien's No. 21 women's basketball jersey will be retired by the Naval Academy Athletic Association. The ceremony recognizing O'Brien will be held Jan. 25, 2020, as part of the nationally televised Army-Navy women's (11 a.m.) and men's (1:30 p.m.) basketball doubleheader in Alumni Hall. O'Brien, a member of the United States Naval Academy's Class of 2004, will become the second Navy women's basketball player to have her number retired after Becky (Dowling) Calder saw her uniform raised to the rafters in January of 2014.

The retirement ceremony is scheduled for halftime of the women's contest.

Limited tickets are still available for the reception and dinner in O'Brien's honor on Friday, Jan. 24 (6 PM-Akerson Tower), as well as the Army-Navy doubleheader on Saturday, Jan. 25.