Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Loyola
Bucknell Women's Hoops Evens Record at 3-3 with Gutsy Win at Loyola
12/3/2002 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 3, 2002
BALTIMORE, Md. - The Bucknell women's basketball team survived a late surge by Loyola to even its season record at 3-3, defeating the Greyhounds on the road, 76-73. Senior Molly Creamer had her third 30-point game of the season, leading all scorers with 32 points.
Bucknell led 65-52 with 8:34 remaining before Loyola started creeping back into it. The Greyhounds took advantage of a Bucknell scoring drought to get within four with 4:43 remaining. Fueled by four points each from Jennifer Mitchell and Shontrese Smith, Loyola outscored BU 11-3 during that four minute span. After a timeout by the Orange and Blue, Creamer converted a three-point play to push the lead back to seven, but Smith forced two quick turnovers that led to easy buckets to get it back to a three-point game, 71-68.
Two minutes later, the score stood at 74-68 in Bucknell's favor, before two more Bison turnovers led to two more easy layups in just over two minutes for the host team. Smith corralled a crucial defensive rebound for Loyola with 54 seconds remaining and the scored in BU's favor, 74-73. The Greyhounds had two chances to take the lead after an offensive rebound and a ball out of bounds off of the Orange and Blue, but the Bison forced a shot clock violation with 2.3 seconds left to put a stop to the effort.
Loyola immediately fouled on the ensuing inbounds play, and Creamer went to the line for two shots with two seconds remaining. The co-captained calmly iced both shots to give Bucknell a 76-73 cushion. The Greyhounds got the game-tying shot off at the buzzer, but it was short, giving Bucknell the hard fought victory.
For the second game in a row, the Bison led from start to finish, but it was not without a struggle. The Orange and Blue overcame a 50.0% effort from Loyola in the opening half to lead 39-32 at halftime. Bucknell converted on 50.0% of its shots in the second to finish the game at 48.1% from the field.
Junior Desire Almind scored 23 points for her third 20-point game of the season, while senior Kate Franks joined her in double-figures with 12 points.
Bucknell evens its season at 3-3 overall. The Bison are in action next at Delaware in a 1:00 p.m. game on Sunday, December 8.
