Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lafayette *
Career-high 44 Points from Creamer Leads Bucknell to 71-67 Victory at Lafayette
2/21/2003 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 21, 2003
EASTON, Pa. - Senior Molly Creamer took the Bucknell women's basketball team on her back, scoring BU's final 29 points of the game on her way to a career-high 44 points in a 71-67 win over Lafayette on Friday, February 21. With her total, Creamer set an Allan P. Kirby Sports Center scoring record.
Bucknell took it to the Leopards early, jumping out to a 10-0 lead behind four points each from freshmen Lindsey Geosits and Chelsea Smith. Lafayette finally got on the board on a layup from Colleen Fitzpatrick and proceeded to get within six at 12-6 with 13:53 left in the first half.
The Bison pushed the advantage back to 12, 18-6, behind a solid defensive effort that held Lafayette to just a .143 (2-14) field goal percentage through the first 8:50 of the game. A three-pointer by Kristin Doherty capped a 7-2 Leopards run that got the host team within seven, 20-13. Leading 24-17 with just over five minutes left until halftime, Bucknell closed the frame outscoring Lafayette 11-6 for a 35-23 lead at the break.
Bucknell opened the second half on fire, making its first four shots of the stanza. A Creamer layup just 2:12 into the final frame gave BU its largest lead of the game at 44-23. The Orange and Blue, however, proceeded to miss the next seven shots over a five-minute span, while allowing the Leopards to creep back into it.
Clinging to a 44-40 lead after a 17-0 Lafayette run, Creamer snapped the Bison scoreless drought with a three-pointer at the 12:51 mark. No other Bucknell player would score the rest of the game, as the 5-10 co-captain went on to record BU's final 29 points of the contest. Eight quick points from the senior gave the squad a 12-point cushion, 52-40, with 11:48 to play.
The Bison held on to a 60-50 lead with just over six minutes to play before another scoring drought helped the Leopards to their first lead of the contest, 62-61, capped by a three-point play by Fitzpatrick. A free throw by Creamer at the other end quickly tied the contest, and a layup less than a minute later gave Bucknell a 64-62 lead.
BU pushed the advantage to as many as six in the final two minutes (68-62), but 5-of-6 free throws by the Leopards brought the host team back to within one with 36 ticks left on the game clock. Three seconds later, Creamer, ranked 13th in the country in free throw percentage, made only one of two foul shots, leaving the window open for Lafayette with just a two-point lead, 69-67.
The Leopards' Ashley MacLelland fired got a good look at the basket, firing off a three-pointer with nine seconds left, but the ball banged off the rim and the rebound came down into the hands of Creamer. Two more free throws by the guard with six ticks left sealed the 71-67 victory for Bucknell.
Fitzpatrick finished the contest with a career-best 38 points for Lafayette.
Bucknell improves to 11-12 overall and 6-5 in the Patriot League. The Bison travel to Army to take on the Black Knights on Sunday, February 26 at 1:00 p.m. Lafayette falls to 2-22 overall and 1-10 in conference action.
