Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Cornell
Bucknell Women's Basketball Posts Impressive 86-63 Win Over Cornell in Home Opener
11/24/2004 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 24, 2004
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Lindsey Hollobaugh scored a team-high 19 points, while Rachel Hanley and Brooke Tomovich added 18 apiece, as hot-shooting Bucknell used a 51-point second half to defeat Cornell 86-63 Wednesday evening at Sojka Pavilion.
The Bison (1-2) shot a season-high 53.6 percent as they made 37 of 69 field goals and scored their most points in a regular-season contest since an 86-76 victory over Iona last January. The Big Red (1-2) connected on just 19 of 62 (30.6 percent). Bucknell, which has made at least half of its shots in each of its last two games, has held two of its three opponents this season to under 32.0 percent shooting
Bucknell's largest lead in its first two games of the season had been just two points, but the Bison quickly eclipsed that mark as they bolted out to a 10-0 lead to start the game as four of the five starters converted field goals. After the Bison stretched the lead to 20-5, Cornell started an impressive comeback, scoring 17 of the next 23 points to narrow the gap to 26-22. Freshman Lindsay Krasna tallied 10 of her game-high 20 points during that stretch.
The young Bison team that saw freshmen and sophomores combine to play 136 minutes answered that run with a 9-0 spurt of its own to take a 35-22 lead following a Tomovich three-pointer in the final minute of the first half.
After taking a 35-25 lead into the break, Bucknell tallied 27 points in the first eight minutes of the second half to take a commanding 62-40 lead with just under 12 minutes to play. The Big Red, who had just Krasna and Claire Perry, who registered 18 points, score more than 10, would draw no closer than 17 the rest of the way. The Bison stretched their lead out to 84-59 following a layup by Kesha Champion with just over two minutes to play. That advantage was their largest of the game.
Tomovich, who had 13 points after intermission, led the way in the 51-point second half. The senior made 5 of 7 shots following the break and 7 of 14 overall. As a team, Bucknell knocked down 22 of 35 (62.9 percent) in the second half.
Kristina Collymore was the fourth Bison in double figures with 12 points as she connected on a pair of three-pointers. Shooting just 1 of 9 entering the game, Bucknell made 4 of 19 overall.
Lindsey Geosits and Champion led the Bucknell defense as they each had three steals as the Bison forced a season-high 26 turnovers. They turned the ball over a season-low 16 times. Geosits had an outstanding game from her point guard position as she dished out a career-high eight assists in just 24 minutes of action. She also had just two turnovers and scored two points.
Bucknell held its own on the boards. One game after being outrebounded 51-34 by Texas A&M, the Bison faced just a 41-37 deficit on the glass. Tomovich led the way with seven rebounds, while Hanley, who was leading the Patriot League in rebounding entering the game at 9.5 per game, grabbed five to go along with her career-high 18 points. Hope Foster added six rebounds to go along with her five points.
Bucknell continues its busy stretch of three games in five days when it travels to St. Francis (Pa.) Friday, Nov. 26. The game is slated to tip off at 7 p.m. in Loretto, Pa.
