Lehigh women’s basketball defeats Boston University 62-44, advances to Patriot League Tournament semifinals

Fans were swinging rally towels and shaking the stands Monday night at Stabler Arena when the Patriot League quarterfinal kicked off. 

Before the game began, fifth-year wing Maddie Albrecht was presented the award for being the Patriot League Woman’s Basketball Scholar Athlete of the Year. Albrecht was awarded this recognition for her 3.80 GPA in biology while being the third-leading scorer in the league. 

Coach Addie Micir was also presented an award before tip-off in being named the Patriot League Coach of the Year. 

“It’s an honor but one of the things I said to the team was that it’s really a team award,” Micir said. “This team has been locked in all the time and they’ve been listening to our entire coaching staff. It’s really for them, everyone working together fuels that.” 

On a celebratory night full of individual achievements, the most important was at the final buzzer. A defensive team effort helped propel Lehigh to a 62-44 Patriot League quarterfinal victory over Boston University. 

The game began with junior forward Lily Fandre winning the tip-off and scoring a two point field goal less than two minutes into the game. Fandre’s jumper gave Lehigh a lead they never looked back on—the Terriers played catch-up for the rest of the game.

Albrecht also began shining less than three minutes into the game, scoring three points off an and-one layup. The team’s leading scorer and Fandre finished the game with 16 points, tied for the highest on both teams.

Albrecht said she was appreciative to receive the award, but credits her teammates for putting her in a place to succeed.

“It’s always nice (to receive an award), but they’re team awards too,” Albrecht said. “I wouldn’t get any of this if my team wasn’t good and didn’t work together.” 

Lehigh women’s basketball fifth-year wing Maddie Albrecht drives past Boston sophomore guard Audrey Ericksen in the Patriot League quarterfinal game on Monday at Stabler Arena. Lehigh won 62-44. (Ellis Krusch/B&W Staff)

After five consecutive points by Fandre and a Whitney Lind layup, senior guard Ella Stemmer was substituted in and made a layup, pushing the Lehigh lead higher to double-digits towards the end of the first quarter.

Boston cut the lead to six with two layups from first-year forward Allison Schwertner and a tip-in from junior forward Anete Adler, but still found themselves in a hole at the end of the quarter.

The second quarter was much of the same. Lehigh’s veteran players—Albrecht, Fandre and Stemmer—took care of scoring. The trio combined for 16 of Lehigh’s 19 second-quarter points, with the rest coming from a Belle Bramer and-one layup. 

Boston was outscored 19-14 in the quarter and entered halftime facing an 11-point deficit.

As Boston came back out for the second half of the game, they were met with loud and resounding disapproval from the crowd. The energy remained high throughout Stabler Arena for all four quarters.

Lehigh’s rowing teams made up most of this crowd in the student section, where they could be seen pounding on the metal barriers and standing during plays. 

With the energy high in the arena, the Mountain Hawks started out the second half hot. They opened the third quarter with a 9-2 run, capped off by an Albrecht 3-pointer. The run gave Lehigh an 18-point lead. After both teams traded blows from the free-throw line and the paint, the Mountain Hawks held a 16-point lead after the third quarter.

The final period saw Lehigh’s largest lead of the night at 20 points. Lind was responsible for this peak when she scored a two point field goal from a turnover. While both teams only combined for 14 points in the quarter, Lehigh’s lead was insurmountable for Boston to overcome.

The final point of the game was a free throw scored by senior Kaylee Van Eps with 27 seconds remaining to ice the game at 62-44. 

Lehigh struggled from beyond the arc, shooting 21.7% from deep. Despite their gameplan revolving around “sharing it and shooting it,” they still found ways to score on the offensive end when the threes weren’t falling.

Lehigh’s consistent lead was strengthened by the number of free throws compared to Boston University; 20-8. The Mountain Hawks outscored the Terriers 17-6 from the free-throw line. 

Lehigh also presented a strong defense in the game, managing 13 steals versus Boston’s four. They held the Terriers to 37.8% shooting from the field and 28.6% from beyond the arc while forcing 20 combined turnovers. 

They forced difficult shots, as Schwertner was the only Terrier to score double-digit points, finishing with 10.

With the victory, the team advanced to their first Patriot League semifinal in two years. However, the celebration will be short-lived.

Fandre said the team is now focused on preparations for their semifinal against Holy Cross.

“It’s a quick turnaround, so taking it easy on the bodies but staying mentally locked in these next two days of practice,” Fandre said. “Just doing what we always do to prepare and take on Holy Cross.” 

The Mountain Hawks will be back in Stabler Arena on Thursday night where they’re set to face Holy Cross.

Lehigh women’s basketball senior guard Colleen McQuillen and Boston sophomore guard Aoibhe Gormley fight to reach a loose ball in the first quarter of the Patriot League quarterfinal game on Monday at Stabler Arena. McQuillen contributed four assists and grabbed seven rebounds. (Ellis Krusch/B&W Staff)

Lehigh women’s basketball sophomore forward Whitney Lind is guarded by Boston senior guard Alex Giannaros in the Patriot League quarterfinal game on Monday at Stabler Arena. Lehigh won 62-44. (Ellis Krusch/B&W Staff)

The Lehigh student section waves towels and bangs on the metal guardrails in support of the women’s basketball team at the Patriot League quarterfinal game on Monday at Stabler Arena. Lehigh defeated Boston 62-44. (Ellis Krusch/B&W Staff)