Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Basketball to Host Buffalo Tuesday Evening
12/7/2004 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 7, 2004
Complete Game Notes in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
About Buffalo
Buffalo has struggled so far this season, posting a 1-4 record through its first five games, while being outscored by more than 25 points per contest. However, that statistic is skewed slightly by a 107-40 loss to defending national champion Connecticut. Bucknell will be the Bulls' third Patriot League opponent this season. Buffalo lost to Holy Cross 73-42 in its second game of the year before picking up its first win of the year with a 54-45 victory at home against Lafayette. The Bulls have six players averaging at least five points per game, with freshman forward Heather Turner leading the way at 9.0. In her first career start against Maine last weekend she posted her first career double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Turner, who is making 62.1 percent of her field goals, leads the team in that category. The rest of the squad has combined to make just 69 of 226 (30.5 percent). The Bulls are also averaging nearly 22 turnovers per game and have been outrebounded by nearly six rebounds per game.
Bison Versus the Bulls
Bucknell has faced Buffalo three times with the last coming during the 1993-94 season. The Bison, who are 1-2 versus the Bulls, won that game, which was part of a holiday tournament hosted by Saint Francis (Pa.), by a 72-63 score. Buffalo won the inaugural meeting between the two teams 58-55 in 1991. The last time the two teams squared off in Lewisburg, Bucknell fell by an 84-69 score.
Sojka Success
Bucknell opened Sojka (pronounced SOY-ka) Pavilion with a 74-67 loss to Lehigh on Jan. 15, 2003. The Bison have posted a 13-7 (.650) record all-time in Sojka. Entering the 2004-05 campaign, Bucknell had a four-game home winning streak in progress. The Bison extended that streak to five with an 86-63 victory over Cornell in their home opener this season. Their last home loss came opposite Holy Cross Feb. 1, 2004.
Two-Game Losing Streaks
Bucknell's current three-game losing streak is its first since February 2003. Last year, the Bison lost consecutive games on five separate occasions, but averted a three-game skid each time. Since its last three-game losing streak, Bucknell had had seven two-game losing skids, including one earlier this year.
37 Points
Bucknell tallied just 37 points during a 64-37 loss to Albany on Dec. 4. That point total was the lowest for the Bison since a 52-35 loss to UMBC in 1997-98. The game, the third of Kathy Fedorjaka's career as head coach of the Bison, equaled Bucknell's lowest output since the 1974-75 campaign.
Gap Between 20-Point Victories
Bucknell defeated Cornell 86-63 for its first win of the season on Nov. 24. The 21-point margin was the first time the Bison won a game by at least 20 points since a 96-69 thrashing of Colgate on Feb. 16, 2002. In 2000-01 Bucknell posted five victories of at least 20 points, while in 2001-02 it totaled three. A pair of 19-point wins last year were the largest winning spreads the last two years.
Big Losses
Bucknell's 77-49 loss to Manhattan on Nov. 28 was the largest for the Bison since an 89-54 loss at Villanova Dec. 29, 2000. That year Bucknell rebounded to post the first 20-win campaign in school history. Since head coach Kathy Fedorjaka took over at the helm of the program prior to the 1997-98 season, the Bison have experienced only three losses worse than the 28-point margin against the Jaspers.
More Big Losses
The Bison followed up their 28-point loss to Manhattan with a 27-point setback to Albany. The combined 55-point deficit in back-to-back games is the largest for Bucknell since losing to Kent State (103-61) and Penn (92-73) by a combined 61 points in back-to-back games in 1999-2000. In their 32-year history, the Bison have lost by more than 55 points in consecutive contests 13 times.
Don't Waste the Points
Since the beginning of the 2001-02 season Bucknell has scored at least 85 points in a win 13 times. In the contests immediately following those victories, the Bison have posted just a 5-8 mark, including 0-3 last year. In those games the Bison have averaged just 68.0 ppg. This season, Bucknell is 0-1 following wins in which it scores at least 85 points.
500 Points for Sophomore
In just the second game of her sophomore season Lindsey Hollobaugh eclipsed the 500-point mark for her career. After scoring 16 points in the opener against Florida International, the Loganton, Pa., native needed just one point to reach the 500 mark. With 15:33 remaining in the first half against Texas A&M, the school's all-time freshman scoring leader made a jumper to even the score at 8-8 and give her 501 career points. Since that time Hollobaugh has increased her career point total to 564. Her 16.1 ppg career scoring average ranks fourth in Bucknell history.
All-Tournament Selection
Sophomore guard Lindsey Hollobaugh was named to the All-Tournament Team for her performance at the season-opening Florida International Tournament. In the two games, both losses, Hollobaugh tallied 29 points, six rebounds and 10 assists. She was joined on the All-Tournament squad by Tamea Scales (Texas A&M), LaQuetta Ferguson (FIU), Lasma Jekabsone (FIU), and Jessica Dickson (So. Florida). The tournament MVP was Ezria Parsons from first-place South Florida.
Wide Margins
With a team that features six freshmen and three sophomores Bucknell head coach Kathy Fedorjaka is excited to see how her squad handles close games. However, through the first six contests she has not been able to see her youngsters in pressure-packed situations as each game has been decided by at least 15 points. The Bison have never started the season with their first six games all decided by margins larger than 15 points. The average margin of victory by the winning team through Bucknell's first six contests has been more than 21 points.
Rookie Production
Despite just two of the six heralded freshmen earning spots in the starting lineup during the first six games of the season, the rookies have had success in their first taste of college action as three freshmen rank among the team leaders in scoring. Kristina Collymore, who has netted double figures on two occasions, is third on the team with 6.7 points per game. Kesha Champion (6.3 ppg.) and Hope Foster (5.8 ppg.) are fifth and sixth on the squad in scoring.
Foster Rebounds
Freshman Hope Foster ranks second in the Patriot League in rebounding with 8.2 per game. The last freshman to lead the Bison in rebounding was Vicki Quimby, who averaged 7.4 boards per game in 1998-99. The last Bucknell freshman to register at least 8.2 rebounds per game was Marie Kocornik in 1984-85. She grabbed 8.5 rebounds per game that season.
Increased Shooting Percentage
Freshman forward Hope Foster had a tough time in her college debut by going 0 of 10 from the floor against Florida International. The Washington, D.C., native rebounded to make her first six shots against Texas A&M. Overall, she has made just 13 of 43 shots, but was a combined 1 of 19 versus FIU and Manhattan. Taking those two contests out of the equation, Foster has made 12 of 24 field goals.
Great From the Line
Bucknell is shooting 75 of 106 (.708) from the free throw line. The Bison have shot better than that figure just seven times in the history of the program, but rank sixth in the Patriot League as six of the eight conference teams are making at least 70.0 percent of their free throws. Three Bison have not missed a free throw this year, led by Lillian Drumgold's 4-for-4 shooting.
Block Party
Through six games Bucknell has blocked 25 shots as a team. If the Bison continue averaging 4.2 blocks per game they will finish the regular season with 112. That figure would rank as the most in the history of the program. Last year's squad tied the 1989-90 team for the top position with 106. Hope Foster leads this year's squad with nine blocks, which ranks second in the Patriot League.
Tough Starts
With an 0-2 start to the season, Bucknell started the year with two consecutive losses for the third straight year. On just six occasions have the Bison opened a season 0-3. The last time that occured was the 2002-03 season when they rebounded from the 0-3 start with a three-game winning streak.
Tough Starts II
Bucknell has started the season with a 1-5 record for the first time since the 1994-95 season. The Bison began that season 1-9, but rebounded to win 10 of their final 18 games to finish at 11-17.
Preseason Accolades For Hollobaugh
Sophomore guard Lindsey Hollobaugh was selected to the preseason All-Patriot League team in a preseason poll of coaches and sports information directors. The Loganton, Pa., native was second on the team with 16.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game as a freshman. Her 483 points broke Molly Creamer's freshman scoring record of 475. Hollobaugh was the only non-senior to appear on the preseason all-league squad. The 5-9 Hollobaugh became the fourth Bison to be named Rookie of the Year in the Patriot League last year.
Patriot League Preseason Poll
Bucknell finished the 2003-04 season with a 7-7 record in Patriot League play to place fifth in the eight-team league's standings. The Bison are picked to finish in the same position in 2004-05. In a preseason poll of coaches and sports information directors, Bucknell was picked behind Holy Cross, Colgate, American and Lehigh, but ahead of Army, Navy and Lafayette. Colgate, which knocked Bucknell out of the postseason tournament last year, was the conference's representative in the NCAA Tournament where they lost to Tennessee in the first round.
In-Season Tournaments
Since the 1977-78 season, Bucknell has participated in at least one in-season tournament every year. The Bison have won three tournament titles, but own just a 34-81 (.296) mark in those tournaments. Since the 1998-99 campaign, Bucknell posted a nearly .500 record, going 10-11 entering this season. However, the Bison dropped both games at the season-opening FIU Tournament this year.
Veteran Presence
Seniors Emilie Barruet and tri-captain Amy Ketcham are the only two Bison in their fourth year with the program. Bucknell has four seniors on its roster, but Brooke Tomovich and Lillian Drumgold are in just their second years in orange and blue after transferring from Loyola (Md.) and UNC Wilmington, respectively. Tomovich played in all 29 games last year and was third on the team in scoring at 9.4 points per game. The 6-2 center connected on 15 of 38 3-point attempts to lead the team at 39.5 percent. Drumgold, who battled an injury during the preseason, brought a streak of 18 consecutive starts into this season. The 5-9 guard has provided valuable minutes off the bench so far this season.
Three-Point Struggles
After three consecutive years of connecting on at least 31.8 percent of its shots from three-point range, Bucknell dipped below .300 last year. The Bison made 96 of 324 from behind the arc and had just Lindsey Hollobaugh (38), Lindsey Geosits (27) and Brooke Tomovich (15) make more than 10 3-pointers. This year Bucknell has continued its struggles from long distance, making just 11 of 51 (21.6 percent). Kristina Collymore's total of three field goals from behind the arc leads the team.
Welcome Freshmen
Head coach Kathy Fedorjaka welcomed a six-person recruiting class to the Bucknell campus this fall. Kesha Champion, Kristina Collymore, Hope Foster, Jessie Lang, Sarah Latham and Ashton Sprouse comprise the freshman class. Fedorjaka expects as many as four or five of the rookies to be in position to start games this year, although for the opener, just one (Kesha Champion) drew a starting assignment.
Replacing a Legend
Just one year after losing Bucknell's all-time leading scorer Molly Creamer, the No. 10 pick by the New York Liberty in the 2003 WNBA Draft, the Bison must figure out how to replace Desire Almind, the third-leading scorer in program history. Almind, who played professionally in France in 2004, finished her career with 1,581 points and 873 rebounds. As a senior, the Blairstown, N.J., native led the team in scoring with 17.3 points per game. She also led the squad and the Patriot League with 13.4 rebounds per contest. Her 390 rebounds broke Bucknell's single-season mark of 289 by Kirsten Ellison in 1989-90. The Patriot League Rookie of the Year in 2000-01, Almind was a two-time second team all-league selection. She also added a first team honor to her list of awards last year.
Team Captains
Seniors Amy Ketcham and Brooke Tomovich, along with junior Lindsey Geosits were chosen as team captains by their teammates prior to the season. It is the first time since 2001-02 Bucknell has had more than two captains.
Sojka Pavilion
Bucknell will be playing its second full season in its 4,000-seat arena -- Sojka Pavilion (pronounced SOY-ka). The facility is a part of the new Kenneth G. Langone Athletics & Recreation Center, which also includes a 16,000-square foot fitness center, a state-of-the-art natatorium featuring a 50-meter-by-25-yard pool, a new sports medicine center and new office suites for coaches and staff. Bucknell went 8-5 at home last season and ended the season on a four-game home winning streak. With the 86-63 win over Cornell on Nov. 24, the Bison extended that streak to five games.
Setting The Standard Of Excellence
Bucknell garnered a 2003 USA Today Academic Achievement Award after leading the nation in graduation rates with a perfect 100% showing, and the Bison again ranked in the top 10 in the most recent graduation rates survey that was recently released with an 88% figure. Bucknell also ranks third among all Division I institutions (behind Nebraska and Notre Dame) in total number of Academic All-Americans, with 108 since 1970. Bison teams also get it done on the playing fields, winning the Presidents' Cup -- the Patriot League's all-sports crown -- in 11 of 14 years, including the last seven in a row.
Up Next
Bucknell has an 11-day hiatus for exams following Tuesday's contest with Buffalo. However, when the Bison resume play Dec. 18 at Coppin State, they will have two games in three days. The game with the Retreivers is slated to begin at 2 p.m., while two days later Bucknell will host Maryland-Eastern Shore at Sojka Pavilion at 7 p.m.
