Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
American *
Bucknell Women's Basketball Team Says Goodbye to Davis Gym with 75-74 Loss to American
1/11/2003 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 11, 2003
LEWISBURG, Pa. - American University's Katryn Costenbader hit a jumper with three seconds remaining to give the Eagles a 75-74 lead, and Bucknell senior Molly Creamer's three-point attempt at the buzzer banged off the backboard, giving American the Patriot League victory on Saturday, January 11. It was the conference opener for both teams.
The game marked the last women's basketball contest to be competed in Davis Gymnasium, the 64-year-old gym that the Bucknell women's squad has called home for the past 27 seasons, as the team moves to brand new Sojka Pavilion on Wednesday, January 15.
The Bison took a 12-11 lead with 11:26 to play in the first half, and held the advantage until the 16:40 mark of the second. American, trailing 30-23 at halftime, opened the second half with an 11-4 run to tie the contest at 34-34. The Eagles took their first lead since 12:08 (11-10) on a Chanel Hunt jumper with 15:51 to play, before Creamer was fouled on a three-point attempt and sunk all three free throws to put the Orange and Blue ahead again, 37-36. The two teams went back and forth for the next minute before an 11-2 run by Bucknell gave the host team a 50-42 lead with 11:17 to play.
American slowly chipped away at the deficit, taking a 61-59 lead again on two free throws by Hunt with 5:31 to go. In the final 5:31 of the contest, there were four ties and six lead changes. Bucknell's last lead of the game came with 21 seconds remaining when junior Desire Almind, playing in her first game back since missing five with a stress fracture, hit two foul shots to put the host team ahead, 74-73.
Costenbader fired off a three-point attempt with nine seconds left, and a battle for the rebound led to a jump ball in American's favor. After an Eagles timeout with five ticks left on the clock, Costenbader found herself open for a baseline jumper that put American ahead 75-74 with three seconds left. Creamer's desperation attempt at the buzzer bounced hard off of the backboard for the AU win.
The Patriot League opening loss marks only the second time in the last 11 years that the Orange and Blue have not opened conference play with a victory.
Creamer led all players in the contest with 41 points, her second career 40-point game. In addition, the co-captain, who was 16-of-16 from the charity stripe, recorded a career-best eight steals. Almind made her comeback with a solid all-around effort, recording 19 points, 12 rebounds and a career-high seven steals.
Hunt led three American players in double figures with 23 points. Maria Werries tallied 21, while Costenbader finished with 16 points and 12 boards.
