Bethlehem, PA - March 10, 2025: During the regular season, Lehigh University split their games with Boston University. Lehigh won 80-54 on January 15th while Boston defeated Lehigh 80-68 just two weeks ago on February 26th.
The split set up Monday night’s Patriot League Tournament opener between Lehigh, the top seed, and Boston, the 8th seed, an interesting one. However, that was not to be as Lehigh convincingly avenged the recent loss to Boston to open the women’s basketball tournament with a 62-44 win at Stabler Arena.
Lehigh had three players in double figures and utilized eight players off the bench. Lily Fandre (34) had 16 points, 4 rebounds, and a steal for the Mountain Hawks. Maddie Albrecht (22) had 16 points, 6 rebounds, and two steals while Ella Stemmer (5) had 11 points, 2 rebounds, and a steal.
Fandre (34) missed only one shot all night. She went 4 for 5 from 2-point territory, 2 for 2 from 3-point territory, and 6 for 6 from the free throw line.
Colleen McQuillen (31) had 6 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. Whitney Lind (30) and Belle Bramer (12) had 4 points each. Bramer led Lehigh in steals with 3 while the team as a whole had 13 steals. Gracyn Lovette (23) and Remi Sisselman (2) each had 2 points. Boston had twenty turnovers to Lehigh’s nine.
Lehigh led Boston from the jump and was never behind. At the half, Lehigh was up 35-24. They came out in the second half with the same intensity and determination and kept the pressure on the Terriers, who never threatened with a comeback.
Afterward, Lehigh Head Coach Maddie Micir said stabler had a lot of energy tonight. She gave a "shout out" to all the people "who just keep showing up," including the student-athlete section who show up for each other.
Lehigh, with the win, improved to 25-6 overall and 15-3 in the Patriot League. They will face Holy Cross on Thursday, March 13, at Stabler Arena in the semifinal round. Lehigh defeated Holy Cross twice in February. Holy Cross is the 5th seed.
Army West Point, the 2nd seed, defeated Lafayette College, the 7th seed, 55-40 tonight in West Point, NY. Army will play Bucknell University, the 6th seed, in the other semifinal matchup. Bucknell upset the 3rd seeded Colgate 63-58 tonight in Hamilton, NY. Colgate had handed Lehigh two of its three Patriot League losses during the regular season.
Lehigh, as the top seed, has the opportunity to host the next two games at Stabler. The final will take place at the higher seeded team on Sunday, March 16th.
