Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Albany
Bucknell Women's Basketball Defeats Albany, 62-45, in Final Home Game of 2003
12/21/2003 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 21, 2003
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Senior Kristin Valdner led four players in double-figures scoring with a career-high 15 points as the Bucknell women's basketball team won its third-straight game with a 62-45 victory over Albany on Sunday afternoon. The Bison evened their season at 4-4 with the win.
The first eight minutes of the game featured four lead changes and two ties as each team tried to find its offensive rhythm. A jumper by junior Brooke Tomovich with 11:53 to go in the half broke a 13-13 tie, and senior Desire Almind capped a 6-2 Bucknell run with her jumper over a minute later to put the Bison ahead 19-15.
Albany's defense went to work over the next 5:08, holding the Orange and Blue without a score during that time. The Great Danes failed to capitalize on the opportunity, however, only scoring five points of their own during that time to take a 20-19 lead. Junior Lillian Drumgold finally got Bucknell back on the board with two free throws with 5:29 to go in the half, giving BU a lead it would never relinquish.
The Bison outscored Albany 15-3 over the final 5:29 of the frame to carry a 34-23 lead into the intermission.
Bucknell pushed its lead to 17 just four minutes into the second half behind six points from Valdner and another two from freshman Lindsey Hollobaugh. A Jen Schumacher three-pointer got Albany as close as 14, 44-30, but the Orange and Blue responded with a 9-2 run to open up its largest lead of the game at 53-32 with 10:18 to go. The Great Danes would not get closer than 14 the rest of the way.
Although BU shot just .387 (24-62) from the field, the defense made up for it by holding Albany to .293 (17-58) for the game, including a .258 (8-31) clip in the second half. The 45 points are the lowest allowed by Bucknell since limiting IPFW to 44 on January 4, 2002.
In addition to Valdner's 15 points, the 6-1 forward also recorded her third career double-double with a career-best 12 rebounds. Other players in double figures were Hollobaugh (11), Drumgold (10) and sophomore Lindsey Geosits (10). Almind registered her seventh-straight game in double-figures rebounding, pulling in 15 boards to lead all players.
Albany was led by 12 points from Danielle Hutcheson and 10 from Becky Ayers. Hutcheson also grabbed a team-best 12 rebounds.
Bucknell is 4-4 overall and will return to action with a 7:00 p.m. game against Providence at the La Salle Christmas Tournament on Monday, December 29. Albany falls to 2-5 overall.
