The Lehman College women's basketball team will return to the court Tuesday afternoon as the squad travels to Arlington, Virginia for a tough non-conference test, as the Lightning will battle the Marymount University (VA) Saints, with game-time scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Those hoping to track Lehman's progress in the contest can get live in-game statistics by clicking here.
The Lightning have not played in a game since back on December 20th, when Lehman suffered a 77-68 defeat at the hands of the William Paterson University Pioneers. Despite the loss for Lehman, senior center Whittney Barnes led the Lightning with 18 points and nine rebounds, and fellow senior Sally Nnamani collected 16 tallies and nine boards. Standout Monique Sampson rounded out Lehman's double-digit scorers with 12. First-year point guard Tonisha Kirby also put together a solid all-around game, netting nine points while dishing five assists and grabbing seven rebounds. The game against the Saints will serve as a final litmus test for Lehman before the Lightning get set for a string of four consecutive CUNYAC contests to start the new year. Head Coach Eric Harrison emphasized this importance of his team playing good basketball heading into the important stretch.
“Even though we've gotten out to a 6-4 start in our first 10 games, it's very important for us to improve upon certain aspects of our play before we enter a stretch where we play tough league games,” Harrison said. “Our execution in some areas has been pleasing, but there are a lot of things that we'd like to do better, and we hope to come out against a good Saints team and give our best effort.”
The Saints play in the competitive Capital Athletic Conference, and the team currently boasts a record of 6-2 overall, including a 2-0 mark in league play. The squad hasn't played since back on December 18th when it dropped a 72-66 decision to Simpson in a contest played at Barry. Head Coach Eric Harrison also believes that road trips are good for team morale and he feels that when the squad travels for non-conference games, it gives the unit an opportunity for some team bonding. University
“The players on this team have really established tremendous chemistry over the first half of this season,” the coach said. “We've traveled to Amherst, San Antonio, and now we'll be taking a four-hour trip to Virginia, so anytime the team travels together like this, it's always good for the collectiveness of the unit, and it's a great experience for the players to be able to visit other cities and states.”
The non-conference tilt between the Lightning and Saints should be an intriguing one. The action gets underway tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 p.m.
