Jan. 2, 2007
GAME INFO:
Yale (5-7) at Lehigh (5-8)
Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2007-7 p.m.
Stabler Arena-Bethlehem, Pa.
TV: None
Radio/Internet: WLVR (91.3 FM, Bethlehem), lehighsports.com: Jeff Tourial & Steve Lomangino
TONIGHT'S GAME
Yale begins 2007 the same way it began 2006, with a matchup against Lehigh, this time in Bethlehem. The 5-8 Bulldogs begin the new year riding a three-game winning streak and looking to win their fourth straight for the first time since Jan. 22-31, 2000. The Mountain Hawks are 5-7 and coming off a 51-48 loss to Seton Hall in the championship game of the Christmas City Classic. This is Yale's final non-conference road game and Lehigh's final non-conference contest.
SERIES HISTORY
This is the 19th all-time meeting between Yale and Lehigh, with the Bulldogs holding a 10-8 edge. Last season in New Haven, Yale posted its first win of the campaign with a 66-61 victory. The Mountain Hawks won the last meeting in Stabler Arena, 70-66 on Dec. 29, 2004. Yale's last win at Lehigh was a 53-50 triumph on Jan. 3, 1998.
LAST TIME OUT
The Bulldogs increased their winning streak to three with an 81-64 victory over Quinnipiac on Sunday afternoon. In the contest, Erica Davis became the first Yale player since 1999, and the 15th in program history, to score 1,000 career points. Her 1,000th point came in the midst of a 23-9 run that broke open an 8-8 tie and gave Yale a 31-17 lead. The Bulldogs led 37-28 at halftime. Yale scored the first five points of the second half, and Quinnipiac never got within single digits again. Yale's lead reached a game-high 23 points when Jamie Van Horne's three-pointer made the score 74-51 with 5:38 remaining. Quinnipiac ended the contest on a 13-7 run. In the victory, the Bulldogs set a season high with 81 points and made a season-high 26 field goals. Yale also set a season best with 16 steals and tied a season high with 17 assists. Chinenye Okafor had 17 points, five rebounds and four steals. Davis finished with 16 points and six boards, as did Melissa Colborne. Van Horne had 14 points in the win.
BULLDOG BYTES
Yale boasts the best record in the Ivy League, and is the only school in the conference to win more than two straight games this season. Three Bulldogs average double figures in scoring, led by senior center Erica Davis. Davis, the 15th player in program history to score 1,000 points, is averaging 15.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. She leads the conference with 2.1 blocks per game. Senior forward Chinenye Okafor averages 11.7 points per game and leads the team in rebounding (9.3 rpg). Freshman guard Melissa Colborne is also averaging in double figures with 11.5 ppg. Junior point guard Stephanie Marciano is the only Bulldog to start all 12 games this season and has started the last 27 consecutive contests. She leads the team with 4.1 assists per game.
LOOKING AT LEHIGH
Lehigh was selected fourth in the Patriot League's preseason poll. Senior forward Adrienne Blount, a Preseason All-Patriot League pick, leads the team in scoring (11.8 ppg) and rebounding (8.4 rpg). Senior guard Sara Ellis is second on the squad with 9.5 points per game and has made a team-leading 23 three-pointers. Ellis dishes out a team-leading 3.8 assists per game. Sophomore center Melissa Rich has also started every game for the Mountain Hawks. She averages 9.1 points and 5.8 rebounds a contest.
