South Orange, NJ: Led by graduate senior G/F ANDRA ESPINOZA-HUNTER’s double/double (22 points, ten rebounds), the Lady Pirates built an early 2nd half 19 point lead to then hold on to defeat Lehigh 87-77. A total of 5 Lady Pirates, including junior PG LAUREN PARK-LANE (20 points, seven assists) and senior transfer F/C SIDNEY COOKS (14 points, five rebounds), finished with double-digit scoring. Lehigh, who is predicted to win the Patriot League, was led by sophomore G MACKENZIE KRAMER (23 points) and junior F FRANNIE HOTTINGER (13 points, six rebounds). In double digits, the other Lady Pirates included graduate transfer F KATIE ARMSTRONG (10 points, eight rebounds) and sophomore G MYA JACKSON (13 points, three rebounds). This was also ESPINOZA-HUNTER’s 10th game as a Lady Pirate (20 total), where she’s scored 20 points or more.
During the post-game presser, Head Coach TONY BOZZELLA mentioned he was thankful his team pulled out the win versus a very well-coached Lehigh squad that loves to shoot the 3. Also, his team has four current ladies who didn’t dress due to various injuries, and his team had very few practices to gel. With a trip to the Caribbean upcoming for the Cancun Classic during Thanksgiving Weekend, he’s hoping to get some much-needed practice time beforehand. In Cancun, the Lady Pirates are slated to face #9 Iowa and Toldeo. Their next home game will be December 1 vs. Iona before facing perennial powerhouse UConn on December 3.
