Jan. 2, 2009
Center Valley, Pa.--Patriot League women's basketball teams have won nine more games entering the New Year than at this point one season ago. Six of the League's eight squads have better records after December than they did one year ago. Five teams will look to improve upon their 2008 records when the 2009 portion of the schedule officially gets underway Friday. All eight Patriot League teams will be in action at some point this weekend.
Patriot League Women's Basketball Release 1.2.09 
Patriot League Notebook
In Review
Four Patriot League teams competed in tournaments this week, including Lehigh, which won its own Christmas City Classic. The Mountain Hawks claimed wins over North Florida and LaSalle to improve to 10-3 and win the tournament. Sophomore Erica Prosser, who helped Lehigh erase an 11-point defecit, was named Christmas City Classic MVP after averaging 14 points and 6.5 assists in two games. Holy Cross, which won its opening game against Drexel in the Hawk Classic in Philadelphia, lost on the second day to host Saint Joseph's. Colgate, which lost on the first day of the Fordham Holiday Tournament, rebounded for a 78-54 win over Norfolk State on Monday. The Raiders also played a non-tournament game at Central Conneticut State on Wednesday, falling to the Blue Devils, 83-63. Lafayette was dealt two losses at the Hokie Hardwood Classic in Blacksburg, Va. The Leopards fell to North Carolina A&T and host Virginia Tech. Also in action during the week were Army and American. Army topped Manhattan, 51-47, in New York to improve to 7-5. American, which fell to Virginia Commonwealth by 33 last season, nearly upset the Rams in Richmond, Va. on Tuesday. The Eagles held leads in the final two minutes before falling, 67-63.
On Deck
Five Patriot League teams will open the 2009 portion of their seasons on Friday. In the afternoon, Colgate will play at Howard, while Lehigh will host Fordham. On Friday evening, Bucknell will host Buffalo, Holy Cross will welcome Maine to Worcester, and Lafayette will play at home against Princeton. Navy will begin 2009 on the road. The Mids will play Saturday at Air Force in Colorado Springs. On Sunday, American and Army will play their first contests of the New Year. The Eagles will host Columbia, while the Black Knights will travel to Brown. Also on Sunday, Holy Cross will play at Darmouth, while Lehigh will head to Akron.
Battle of the Leagues
Schools in the Patriot League and the Ivy League are widely regarded among the top academic institutions in the country. In addition to sharing academic goals, the two leagues have also shared a basketball court 11 times this season. Patriot League schools have battled the Ivy League more than any other conference this season. In the 11 meetings this season, Patriot League schools hold a 6-5 advantage. There are four more games between the two leagues during the regular season, all of which will be played this weekend. Lafayette will host Princeton on Friday. On Sunday, American will host Columbia, Army will travel to Brown, and Holy Cross will play at Dartmouth.
Patriot League Progress
Six Patriot League schools are ahead of last year's pace at the start of January. Of the League's eight teams, only two do not have more wins at the end of December than at the same point last season. Lehigh has four more wins at the New Year break than last season. The Mountain Hawks are 10-3 after December, a year after entering January with a 6-7 mark. Navy has had a three-game improvement from last season. The Mids are 6-7 after a 3-10 start last year. Navy is one win away from matching its win-total from a year ago. With three wins this season, Colgate has already eclipsed its win total from last year. See the complete release for the entire list of teams.
Team Notebooks
American The Eagles nearly upset 10-2 Virginia Commonwealth in Richmond, Va., falling to the Rams 67-63. Michelle Kirk and Liz Leer helped American shoot 44.8 percent as a team. Kirk an Leer combined for 31 points and 14 rebounds. Kirk socred a game-high 17 points, while Leer shot 7-of-9 from the field. The difference in the game proved to be rebouding. Led by 6'6" center Quanitra Hollingsworth's 14 rebounds, VCU out-rebounded the Eagles, 42-33. American will resume its schedule on Sunday against Columbia.
Army Army won its second straight game, a 51-47 triumph at Manhattan on Tuesday. The Black Knights built leads as large as 17 points against the Jaspers and hung on for their seventh win of the season. Army has one more win at the end of December than it had at this point last season. Sophomore forward Erin Anthony notched her second double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Tuesday's game was delayed by two hours due to officials' confusion over the tip-off time. The Black Knights will open the New Year on Sunday at Brown.
Bucknell Despite leading the Patriot League with 39.8 rebounds per game, Bucknell was out-rebounded by St. Francis (Pa.), 42-33, in its last contest on Sunday. Despite getting beaten in the rebounding battle, the Bison claimed a 61-56 win to even their record at 5-5. Cosima Higham, who had nine boards against the Red Flash, leads the team and is ranked second in the Patriot League with 7.7 rebounds per game. Bucknell will begin the 2009 portion of its schedule on Friday at home against Buffalo.
Colgate The Raiders ended December with an 83-63 loss at Central Connecticut State. Sophomore transfer Taylor Wejnert led the Raiders in defeat with 20 points and six rebounds. Prior to the loss to the Blue Devils, Colgate went 1-1 at the Fordham Holiday Tournament in Bronx, N.Y. The Raiders closed the tournament with a convincing 78-54 win over Norfolk State. Wejnert scored a career-high 28 points against Spartans. She was named to the All-Tournament Team after averaging 15 points against Norfolk State and Bryant. Colgate will next compete on Friday at Howard.
Holy Cross Holy Cross went 1-1 at the Hawk Classic in Philadelphia, Pa., beating Drexel before falling to host Saint Joseph's. Junior guard Briana McFadden averages 15.8 points per game to lead the Patriot League. McFadden also ranks second in the Patriot League in minutes per game. She averages 37.4 minutes per contest. Holy Cross will resume action on Friday against Maine. Holy Cross, which is 7-3 all-time against the Black Bears, will be seeking its second straight win over Maine.
Lafayette The Leopards remained winless on the road, dropping a pair of games at the Hokie Hardwood Classic in Blacksburg, Va. Lafayette fell to host Virginia Tech in their tournament-opener, 66-44. Senior Cristin Zavocki celebrated her 22nd birthday by making all five of her three-point attempts against the Hokies. On the second day of the tournament, Lafayette was edged by North Carolina A&T, 65-63. The Leopards, who nearly overcome a 12-point second-half deficit, were led by sophomore LaKeisha Wright's career-high 22 points. Lafayette will host Princeton on Friday.
Lehigh The Mountain Hawks won thier own Christmas City Classic, thanks in large part to a freshman and a sophomore. Lehigh easily disposed of North Florida, 67-47, but had to rally for a 53-49 win over LaSalle in the title game. The Mountain Hawks scored 35-second half points to covercome an 11-point deficit. In the absence of injured junior guard Alex Ross, tournament MVP Erica Prosser scored 12 points and dished out a career-high eight assists, while freshman Courtney Dentler scored a career-high 15 points in just her fourth career start. Lehigh will look for its seven straight home win on Friday against Fordham.
Navy The Mids last played on Dec. 22, a 61-44 win over Radford to give Navy two straight victories. The 6-7 Mids are one win frommatching their win total froma year ago. Navy did not win its sixth game last year until Mar. 1. Sophomore center Cassie Consedine leas the Patriot League in rebounding at 8.0 boards per contest. She is also fourth is scoring 13.7 points per game. She leads the Patriot League with five double-doubles. Navy will open 2009 on the road. The Mids will play rival Air Force on Saturday in Colorado Springs.
