Posted by xAC  12/18/2021 5:25 pm | #1 |
Next up on December 21 is a really good test against a very solid mid-major, Lehigh University, located in Bethlehem, PA. Lehigh is picked to top the Patriot League this year, ahead of Boston U, Bucknell, and American U, among others. They currently stand at 7-3, with key double-digit wins over St. Peters, Mt. Saint Marys, and Rider. Like GW, they have lost their games against Power 5/Big East teams (Seton Hall, Villanova, and Missouri).
Four Lehigh starters average double figures in scoring, led by 6’0” G/F Frannie Hottinger, a preseason a First Team All-Patriot League selection. She averages 16.8 ppg and 7.3 rpg. She is complemented by Emma Grothaus, a 6’3” F/C who averages 12.9 ppg and 7.8r pg. When not going to their inside game, their guards, Mackenzie Kramer and Megan Walker can light it up, already making 54-140 3 pointers between them (38.6%). As a team, Lehigh averages 77.6 ppg on 43.5% shooting (34.2% from 3 pt range). Their defense allows 63 ppg.
After the Howard game, GW stands at 6-5, scoring 50.6 ppg and giving up 54.6. We are shooting 34.8% from the field (30.2 for beyond the arc). Our offense has been steadily improving. Having Frames back was huge, because it strengthened our rotation. If Ty Moore can come back, it would be a significant lift, especially given Lehigh’s size.
This will be a clash between GW’s defense and Lehigh’s balanced offense. This will be a real challenge for GW because Lehigh is a tallish team, with 8 players 6’ or taller, and GW has had issues defending against height in the low post. If too much help is needed on the inside, their outside shooting could have a field day.
Game note: Not sure what it means for our game, but in today’s game against Delaware State, Frannie Hottinger did not suit up. If she doesn’t play, her loss could be significant, although even without her, Lehigh was able to easily defeat DSU 82-39.
Last edited by xAC (12/21/2021 10:09 am)
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Posted by Poog 12/21/2021 9:10 am | #2 |
Game time moved up to 1:30.
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Posted by xAC 12/21/2021 4:05 pm | #3 |
Lehigh wins 70-57. Kramer hits 7-10 3’s and a career high 30 points. For Lehigh, Hottinger didn’t play, and for GW, it was Taiwo, Haydon, and Patel-- all because of Covid protocol.
In a game that Lehigh could have run away with, GW came back to trail by 3 points with 3 minutes left to play before a mini-implosion let Lehigh comfortably win. The frustrating thing is how bad and good we can be in the same game. Lehigh played really well, and yet, without Taiwo, Haydon, and until late in the second half, Moore, we made a game out of it. Despite being outshot 44% to 32%, outrebounded 46-33, making only 10-18 FTs, we still made a game out of it.
The bad-- missed layups (over a dozen). It wasn’t the offense as much just too much driving to the basket in traffic or when a shot didn’t exist. Gingras was 2-12, with at least half dozen missed layups. Laureano (2-13) missed at least five layups, Webster (1-6) missed three, And Frames missed a couple. Even Brown’s (3-5) two misses were layups, and there were probably more. Those misses really disrupted our transition defense and gave them a lot of easy points.
That being said, it’s great to see how hard the team continues to play, especially when short-handed. Blethen continues to play confidently and well. She should have taken more than three shots. Our first look at Engels was impressive (8 pts. on 4-8 shooting). Outside of a couple of ill-advised three pointers, she seem to fit in well. It was great to see Moore again, even if for a short stint. She has to play back into shape, because we’ll need her down the line. The fact that we can go so far down in our rotation is very encouraging. That bodes well now that the A10 season is about to commence.
In our final tune-up against West Chester University (a Division II program), hopefully we’ll see more minutes from our freshman recruits and other newcomers.
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Posted by BC 12/22/2021 3:35 pm | #4 |
Was Moore hurt again? Let's hope everyone gets well over the break. Maybe that's like wishing VaTech's Kitley transfers to GW as a grad student. As an aside, I saw Kitley (forgot her first name) in a televised game and boy did she look smooth. JJ may meet her match.
