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Lehigh, the Vanderbilt of mid-majors
By Ben Gouldsmith
Date Posted: 2010-03-20
Think Vanderbilt of the Patriot League.
That’s what Lehigh guard Tricia Smith said her team aspired to be after the Mountain Hawks’ 90-54 loss to Vanderbilt of the Southeastern Conference in the second game of the season.
“They were very fast-paced, their post players were extremely strong and they just really used their size to their advantage,” Smith said of the Commodores. “That’s something that we felt that we could do in our league. Maybe not at the same level, but we could be the Vanderbilt of the Patriot League.”
Four months later, Vanderbilt is in the NCAA tournament. So is Lehigh.
The Mountain Hawks (29-3) were crowned Patriot League champions for the second straight season. They have won 16 straight games, including the last eight by double digits, going into today’s 8:30 p.m. tournament opener against No. 16 Iowa State at Hilton Coliseum.
Lehigh coach Sue Troyan said she often refers back to the Vanderbilt game to motivate her team.
“We said to our team, ‘This is what we could be,’” Troyan said. “It’s a different level of athlete, but in terms of what they do and how they do it, it’s very similar.”
For Lehigh, it starts on the defensive end.
The Mountain Hawks have limited opponents to 54.5 points per game.
“Defense produces our offense,” Lehigh guard Erica Prosser said. “If we don’t defend well, we usually don’t score well.”
Prosser, the Patriot League player of the year last season as a sophomore, leads her team in scoring (13.9 points per game), assists (4.3) and steals (2.7).
But Prosser isn’t the only offensive option.
Three players (Prosser, forward Emily Gratch and guard Alex Ross) average at least 11 points per game. Three other players (Courtney Dentler, Alexa Williams and Smith) average at least 5.0 points.
“If you try to take away one person, someone else is going to step up and have a huge game for us,” Smith said.
That’s what makes ISU coach Bill Fennelly a bit nervous.
“We’ve always had great success guarding teams that have players that we can focus on, and that’s hard to do with their team,” Fennelly said.
The Mountain Hawks are making their second straight NCAA tournament appearance after a 12-year drought. Last season, as a No. 15 seed, they lost 85-49 to No. 2 seed Auburn.
Troyan said her team was “awe-struck, maybe a little intimidated” against Auburn. But with three starters back from that team, she expects a different approach against the Cyclones.
“I don’t think you’re going to see us walk out on the court and be like, ‘Wow look at those athletes,’” Troyan said.
The ISU-Lehigh winner plays the Virginia-Green Bay winner on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. in Ames.
“I think we’re definitely coming into this feeling like the underdog,” Smith said. “But I think we play that role very well.”
NCAA tournament first and second rounds
At Hilton Coliseum
Sunday, March 21
Virginia (21-9) vs. Green Bay (27-4), 6:20 p.m.
Iowa State (23-7) vs. Lehigh (29-3), 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 23
Virginia-Green Bay winner vs. ISU-Lehigh winner, 8:30 p.m.
Ben Gouldsmith can be reached at (515) 663-6931 or bgouldsmith@amestrib.com.
By Ben Gouldsmith
Date Posted: 2010-03-20
Lehigh coach Sue Troyan leads her team through a practice Saturday afternoon at Hilton Coliseum before today's NCAA tournament opener against Iowa State.
Tribune photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar
Tribune photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar
Think Vanderbilt of the Patriot League.
That’s what Lehigh guard Tricia Smith said her team aspired to be after the Mountain Hawks’ 90-54 loss to Vanderbilt of the Southeastern Conference in the second game of the season.
“They were very fast-paced, their post players were extremely strong and they just really used their size to their advantage,” Smith said of the Commodores. “That’s something that we felt that we could do in our league. Maybe not at the same level, but we could be the Vanderbilt of the Patriot League.”
Four months later, Vanderbilt is in the NCAA tournament. So is Lehigh.
The Mountain Hawks (29-3) were crowned Patriot League champions for the second straight season. They have won 16 straight games, including the last eight by double digits, going into today’s 8:30 p.m. tournament opener against No. 16 Iowa State at Hilton Coliseum.
Lehigh coach Sue Troyan said she often refers back to the Vanderbilt game to motivate her team.
“We said to our team, ‘This is what we could be,’” Troyan said. “It’s a different level of athlete, but in terms of what they do and how they do it, it’s very similar.”
For Lehigh, it starts on the defensive end.
The Mountain Hawks have limited opponents to 54.5 points per game.
“Defense produces our offense,” Lehigh guard Erica Prosser said. “If we don’t defend well, we usually don’t score well.”
Prosser, the Patriot League player of the year last season as a sophomore, leads her team in scoring (13.9 points per game), assists (4.3) and steals (2.7).
But Prosser isn’t the only offensive option.
Three players (Prosser, forward Emily Gratch and guard Alex Ross) average at least 11 points per game. Three other players (Courtney Dentler, Alexa Williams and Smith) average at least 5.0 points.
“If you try to take away one person, someone else is going to step up and have a huge game for us,” Smith said.
That’s what makes ISU coach Bill Fennelly a bit nervous.
“We’ve always had great success guarding teams that have players that we can focus on, and that’s hard to do with their team,” Fennelly said.
The Mountain Hawks are making their second straight NCAA tournament appearance after a 12-year drought. Last season, as a No. 15 seed, they lost 85-49 to No. 2 seed Auburn.
Troyan said her team was “awe-struck, maybe a little intimidated” against Auburn. But with three starters back from that team, she expects a different approach against the Cyclones.
“I don’t think you’re going to see us walk out on the court and be like, ‘Wow look at those athletes,’” Troyan said.
The ISU-Lehigh winner plays the Virginia-Green Bay winner on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. in Ames.
“I think we’re definitely coming into this feeling like the underdog,” Smith said. “But I think we play that role very well.”
NCAA tournament first and second rounds
At Hilton Coliseum
Sunday, March 21
Virginia (21-9) vs. Green Bay (27-4), 6:20 p.m.
Iowa State (23-7) vs. Lehigh (29-3), 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 23
Virginia-Green Bay winner vs. ISU-Lehigh winner, 8:30 p.m.
Ben Gouldsmith can be reached at (515) 663-6931 or bgouldsmith@amestrib.com.
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