Nov. 24, 2008
Center Valley, Pa.Lehigh sophomore Erica Prosser has found her place in the Patriot League. Dating back to last season, Prosser has now been named Patriot League Player of the Weeek three consecutive times. Her teammate, freshman center Alexa Williams, was named Patriot League Rookie of the Week.
Patriot League Women's Basketball Release 11.24.08 
Baden Player of the Week (Nov. 17-Nov. 23)
Erica Prosser, Lehigh So., G, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Prosser claimed Player of the Week honors for the second time in as many weeks. Dating back to last season, it is the third consecutive time she has claimed the award. The sophomore guard shot 65 percent from the field while averaging 15.5 points in a pair of Lehigh victories. Prosser also dished out 14 assists, grabbed five steals and pulled down seven rebounds in the Mountain Hawks' two wins. She set a new career-high with eight assists, all in the first half, at St. Francis (Pa.) on Saturday. She led the Mountain Hawks with a game-high 17 points in Lehigh's 90-54 triumph over Fairleigh Dickson. Prosser currently leads the Mountain Hawks in points per game (16.8) and steals (8).
Baden Rookie of the Week (Nov. 17-Nov. 23)
Alexa Williams, Lehigh Fr., C, Warren, Ohio
Williams averaged 12.5 points per game in a pair of Lehigh wins. She shot 80 percent from the floor and 90 percent from the free throw line. She also averaged 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. Williams missed just one free throw and two field goals during the week. She set a career-high with 12 points in the Mountain Hawks' win over Fairleigh Dickinson, then topped it with 13 points in Lehigh's triumph over St. Francis (Pa.) on Saturday. On Saturday, she also tied for the team-high with eight rebounds and established a career-best with three blocks.
Honorable Mention Performances Last Week
Nicole Ryan, American RS-Jr., G, Safety Harbor, Fla.
Ryan averaged 13.3 points per game in three contests last week to extend her double-digit scoring streak to five games. She scored 18 points and grabbed five rebounds against Minnesota on Saturday.
Cosima Higham, Bucknell So., F, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Higham averaged 12 points and 10.5 rebounds per game in a pair of Bison victories. She earned her second double-double of the season with career-highs of 16 points and 14 rebounds in Bucknell's 47-46 win at Fordham. She also provided a career-high five blocks against the Rams. Higham shot 61.1 percent from the field during the week. She has shot 50 percent or better in every game this season.
Briana McFadden, Holy Cross Jr., G, Wheaton, Md.
McFadden averaged 15.5 points per game and made 40 percent of her three-point attempts in two games last week. She produced her second consecutive 20-point outing with 21 points against Boston College on Tuesday. She also provided a team-high six rebounds and made four three-pointers against the Eagles.
Whitney Davidson, Navy Sr., G, New Oxford, Pa.
Davidson made 63.6 percent of her three-pointers while averaging 14.3 points per game in three outings last week. She tied her career-high with 18 points in the Mids loss to Texas State at the Tyler Ugolyn Columbia Classic on Friday. She followed that effort with 17 poitns against Columbia on the second day of the tournament. Davidson was named to the All-Tournament team.
Patriot League Notebook
The Week In Review
Bucknell maintained its unblemished record with wins close road wins over Yale and Fordham. At 3-0, Bucknell is the lone unbeaten team in the Patriot League. American was undefeated entering the weekend, but a pair of losses at the Subway Classic in Minneapolis, Minn. dropped the Eagles to 3-2. American was dealt its first two losses by North Carolina State and host Minnesota. Lehigh picked up a pair of road wins to improve to 3-1. The Mountain Hawks' average victory margin in its two wins was 28 points. Navy fell below .500 with a pair of losses at the Tyler Ugolyn Columbia Classic. The Mids were downed by Texas State on Friday, before dropping a one-point contest to host Columbia on Saturday. Army is off to a 1-3 start after going 1-1 last week. The Black Knights topped Maryland-Eastern Shore before falling to Loyola. Colgate earned its first win of the season with a 56-54 triumph over St. Francis (N.Y.). Lafayette dropped its final two games in the Preseason WNIT and currently holds an 0-3 record. Also 0-3 is Holy Cross which lost to Boston College and Harvard last week.
On Deck
Bucknell will put its unscathed record on the line in two games this week. The Bison will host Drexel on Tuesday before traveling to Loyola on Saturday. Lehigh will look to extend its two-game winning streak at Sacred Heart on Tuesday before welcoming Princeton to Bethlehem on Sunday. American will seek to snap its two-game losing streak at Morgan State on Friday before hosting Cleveland State on Sunday. Navy has three home games on its slate this week. The Mids are scheduled to host Dayton, St. Francis (Pa.) and Delaware State. Army will stay in-state for a Tuesday bout at St. John's. The Black Knights will then spend Thanksgiving weekend in Colorado for a rivaly match-up with Air Force on Saturday. Colgate will attempt to establish its first winning streak of the season with a Monday battle at Presbyterian. The Raiders will then Host Albany on Wednesday and Detroit Mercy on Saturday. Preseason favorite Holy Cross will have three opportunities to pick up its first win of the season. The Crusaders will host St. Peter's on Tuesday before hitting the road for the first time this season. Holy Cross will battle Missouri and Western Illinois at the Northwestern Tournament in Evanston, Ill. Lafayette will also be searching for its first win of the season. The Leopards will play at Mount St. Mary's on Tuesday before hosting Texas Pan-American on Saturday.
2009 Patriot League Tournament
The 2009 Patriot League Women's Basketball Tournament Quarterfinal and Semifinals will be held in Bethlehem, Pa. at Lehigh University's Stabler Arena. Lehigh has previously hosted the tournament in 1992, 97, 05. The tournament is a full-field event with all eight teams competing for the championship title. Quarterfinal action will take place on Saturday, March 7, with semifinal games on Sunday, March 8. The 2009 Patriot League Women's Basketball Championship game will be played on Wednesday, March 11 at the site of the highest remaining seed. The Patriot League champion will earn the Patriot League's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. For more information, visit the Patriot League website.
Team Notebooks
American The Eagles dropped to 3-2 with a pair of losses at the Subway Classic in Minneapolis, Minn. American fell to North Carolina State on Sunday after dropping their first game of the tournament to host Minnesota. Talicia Jackson hit six three-pointers during the weekend to move within 25 of the career mark at American. The Eagles will look to snap their two-game skid with a pair of games this week. American will travel to Morgan State for a Friday match-up with the Bears before hosting Cleveland State on Sunday.
Army The Black Knights suffered a 64-56 setback at home to Loyal on Sudnay to fall to 1-3. Alex McGuire averaged 13.5 poitns per game in a pair of contests last week. McGuire has scored in double-figures in all four games this season. At least three Black Knights have registered double-digit totals in each game this season. Army will close out November with road games, starting with St. John's on Tuesday afternoon. The Black Knights will then head to Colorado Springs, Colo. for Thanksgiving weekend, where they will play Air Force on Saturday.
Bucknell The Bison won a pair of close games to remain undefeated on the young season. Bucknell scored six points in the final minute to defeat Yale, 73-70, on Tuesday, before escaping with a 47-46 win at Fordham on Saturday. Against Fordham, Cosima Higham registered her second double-double in three games with 16 points and 14 rebounds. The Bison will play their first home game of the season on Tuesday against Drexel before returning to road action on Saturday at Loyola.
Colgate The Raiders picked up their first win of the season with a 56-54 victory over St. Francis (N.Y.). Freshman center Patricia Oakes scored a game-high 16 points aginst the Terriers. Sami Kozlowski added 14 points. Colgate is in South Carolina for a Monday pairing with Presbyterian. The Raiders will host Albany on Wednesday and Detroit Mercy on Saturday.
Holy Cross The preseason favorites in the Patriot League dropped to 0-3 in non-League action with a pair of home losses during the week. The Crusaders were topped by Boston College, 82-69, on Tuesday. Holy Cross then fell to Harvard, 73-57, on Thursday. Preseason Player of the Year Briana McFadden averaged 15.5 points per game in the two losses. McFadden produced a team-high 21 points against Boston College. Holy Cross will look for its first win of the season on Tuesday when the Crusaders host St. Peter's. Holy Cross will then head to Evanston, Ill. for the Mildred and Roger L. White Invitational over the weekend.
Lafayette The Leopards dropped their final two games of the Preseason Women's National Invitation Tournament. Lafayette fell at Western Carolina on Friday before being topped by UC-Riverside on Saturday in Cullowhee, N.C. Sophomore guard Lauren Jackson scored a career-high 10 points against Western Carolina and topped the mark with 11 points against UC-Riverside. The Leopards will play at Mount St. Mary's on Tuesday before welcoming Texas Pan-American on Saturday.
Lehigh Lehigh improved to 3-1 with convincing road wins at Fairleigh Dickinson and St. Francis (Pa.). The Mountain Hawks won the games by an average of 28 points per contest. Lehigh shot better than 50 percent in both games. The Mountain Hawks scored 59 points in the first half against Fairleigh Dickinson and 53 in the first half against St. Francis. Against St. Francis, Lehigh shot 70.9 percent in the frist half. The Mountain Hawks will travel to Sacred Heart for a Tuesday pairing with the Pioneers. Lehigh will return home for a Sunday match-up with Princeton.
Navy The Mids dropped two straight games at the Tyler Ugolyn Columbia Classic in New York to fall to 2-3. With six blocks last week, sophomore Cassie Consedine moved into sixth place for career blocks at Navy with 82. Kalen Kropa dished out the 300th assist of her career in Navy's loss to Columbia. She now ranks seventh at Navy for most career assists with 301. The Mids will host three games this week, taking on Dayton, St. Francis (Pa.) and Delaware State.
