Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Hoops Plays Final Game in Davis Gymnasium
1/10/2003 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 10, 2003
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ABOUT TODAY'S GAME: Bucknell enters the first game of Patriot League play today hoping to jump start the second season. The Orange and Blue, out to defend their Patriot League crown, are 5-7 after a challenging non-conference schedule. BU most recently fell at Long Island, 66-51.
American comes to Davis Gymnasium with a 7-6 overall record that includes victories over Florida Atlantic, William & Mary and Eastern Michigan. The Eagles opened the year 6-2, but have since dropped four of their last five games.
THE SERIES: Bucknell and American have met only seven times in a series that began in 1983. The Eagles claimed the first meeting, taking a 77-72 decision 20 years ago.
After a seven year hiatus, Bucknell and American met again in 2000, a 79-73 Bison victory over the Patriot League newcomer. The Orange and Blue claimed both meetings from the Eagles last year, an 85-76 overtime win at American and a 90-79 victory in Lewisburg.
THE LAST TIME OUT: Senior Molly Creamer led all players with 23 points, notching her 2,000th career point in a 66-51 loss at Long Island.
The Orange and Blue were sluggish to start the game, falling behind 9-0 with 3:30 gone in the event. The Blackbirds led by 11 just over four minutes later, before the Bison went on a 10-5 run over the next five minutes to get within six, 22-16. Bucknell closed out the half on an 8-3 run, four coming from freshman Lindsey Geosits, to enter the locker room down 38-26.
The Orange and Blue missed 10-of-10 shots from the field during a six minute drought in the second half before a Creamer jumper with 12:29 to go ended the slump. Long Island failed to capitalize on the ice cold Bison, making only 1-of-9 shots and 4-of-6 free throws during the stretch to only lead 47-32.
With 5:21 remaining and the Bison trailing by 18, 61-43, Creamer went to the foul line and connected on two free throws, giving her 20 points in the game and 2,000 for her career. The co-captain added a three-pointer less than a minute later before fouling out of only her second career game to end the contest with 2,003 career points.
BU IN PATRIOT LEAGUE OPENERS: Bucknell holds an all-time record of 81-73 (.526) in Patriot League play. When it comes to Patriot League openers, however, the Bison are well above .500 with an 9-3 (.750) record.
The Orange and Blue joined the newly formed conference in the 1990-91 season and dropped their first two openers, but have since won nine of the last 10. Bucknell's only Patriot League opening loss in the last 10 years came at Navy on January 6, 1999, in a 65-58 overtime loss to the Mids.
THE LAST TIME THEY MET: Vicki Quimby registered her third double-double of the season, scoring 21 points and pulling down a career-best 17 rebounds in Bucknell's 90-79 victory over American.
Both teams were hot in the first half with American connecting on 57.6% of its shots and the Bison nailing 56.3% of theirs. The Orange and Blue trailed by as many as seven in the frame, before turning it around into a seven-point lead.
Bucknell led the entire second half, due largely to 65.0% shooting in the stanza. The Eagles got as close as two, 68-66, with 9:29 to play, but a 35.0% field goal percentage in the second half doomed the visitors.
