Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
American
Bison Women Remain Perfect in League Play with 85-76 Win at American
1/19/2002 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 19, 2002
WASHINGTON, D.C. - It took the Bucknell women's basketball team an extra five minutes to do it, but the Bison left Bender Arena in Washington, D.C. with an 85-76 overtime victory against Patriot League newcomer American, to remain undefeated in conference action. Junior Molly Creamer (Mendham, N.J./West Morris Mendham), just three days after her record setting scoring performance, led five Bucknell players in double-figures with 35 points.
Bucknell built its lead to as many as 13 (36-23) in the first half behind 53.3% shooting, but 17 Bison turnovers and fast break points by American quickly erased the advantage to a tie ball game, 38-38, with just under a minute left in the half. The Orange and Blue got one more bucket before the half to carry a 40-38 edge into the intermission. Creamer continued her hot play, hitting her first four shots, all of them three's. She ended the frame with 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the floor, 4-of-5 from downtown.
The two-point halftime lead quickly disappeared as the host Eagles carried their first half momentum into the second, tying the game at 42-42 with 17:48 on the clock. The Orange and Blue shot a dismal 23.5% (8-34) in the half to allow American to creep back in it. American took its first lead of the game since a 6-5 advantage early in the first half a minute later, and the Eagles pushed it to as many as seven (52-45) with 12:19 left in regulation. The Bison chipped away at the lead, getting within two on several occasions before finally tying the contest 60-60 with 7:03 remaining. A Katryn Costenbader three-pointer and one of two from the foul line by Hollie Steinman at the other end put the host team up 64-60 30 seconds later.
Both teams suffered through a scoring drought before senior Vicki Quimby (West Lawn, Pa./Wilson) hit the first of two free throws, and senior Kate Rounsley (Lock Haven, Pa./Lock Haven) grabbed the rebound, one of her career-high 12 caroms, to set up a Creamer three to tie the contest again, 64-64. The Bison took the lead with a Rounsley free throw on the next possession, and it was back and forth for the remainder of the half. Creamer put Bucknell ahead, 73-72, with 14 seconds to go, and American's Marie Werries had a chance to win the game with eight seconds left, but hit just one of two to send the contest into overtime.
Junior Kate Franks (Philipsburg, Pa./Philipsburg-Osceola) struggled the entire night from the floor, but the guard chose the right time to get it done. Franks hit her only two field goals of the night in the overtime session, the second pushing the Bison lead to seven, 83-76, with 48 seconds left. Just 14 seconds later, she iced the contest with two free throws, giving Bucknell the 85-76 win.
Creamer ended the contest with 35 points, seven assists and four steals. Quimby and sophomore Desire Almind (Blairstown, N.J./North Warren Regional) each added 12 points, while Franks and Rounsley chipped in 10 points and 12 rebounds each, a career-high in caroms for both players. Quimby entered the contest needing three rebounds to reach 800 in her career, and the tri-captain finished with nine, making her only the third player in school history to reach the plateau.
Bucknell improves to 11-6 overall with its sixth-straight victory, and 4-0 in Patriot League play. The Bison travel to Colgate for a 5:30 p.m. contest with the Raiders on Wednesday, January 23. American falls to 7-9 overall, 2-2 in the conference.
Bucknell (85)
LeBlanc 0-1 0-0 0, Quimby 5-9 2-9 12, Almind 6-13 0-0 12, Creamer 9-23 12-14 35, Franks 2-13 6-6 10, Hatalsky 0-1 0-0 0, Hettler 2-3 1-2 6, Valdner 0-0 0-0 0, Rounsley 3-9 4-6 10. Totals 27-72 25-36 85.
American (76)
Steinman 5-9 3-4 13, Werries 6-18 10-13 23, Hunt 4-9 0-1 8, Rhymer 1-6 0-1 2, Spriggs 4-10 0-3 8, Costenbader 5-11 0-0 14, McNatt 2-3 0-0 2, Johnson 0-1 0-0 0, Salem 0-0 0-0 0, Woodruff 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 29-70 13-22 76.
Halftime: Bucknell 40, American 38. 3-Point Shots: Bucknell 6-19 (Creamer 5-10, Hettler 1-2, Franks 0-7), American 5-15 (Costenbader 4-6, Werries 1-7, Johnson 0-1, Rhymer 0-1). Rebounds: Bucknell 58 (Franks 12, Rounsley 12), American 40 (Steinman 9). Assists: Bucknell 17 (Creamer 7), American 19 (Spriggs 6). Steals: Bucknell 7, American 17. Fouls: Bucknell 18, American 25. Fouled Out: Quimby (Bucknell), Spriggs, Hunt (American). Technical Fouls: none. Attendance: 1117. Team Records: Bucknell 11-6, 4-0 PL, American 7-9, 2-2 PL.
