Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lehigh *
Bucknell Women's Basketball Falls to Lehigh, 52-44
1/23/2005 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 23, 2005
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Lindsey Hollobaugh scored a team-high 12 points, nine in the first half, and Rachel Hanley added 10, but the Bucknell women's basketball team fell to Lehigh, 52-44, Sunday afternoon at Stabler Arena. The Bison fell to 7-11 overall, 1-4 in the Patriot League. The first-place Mountain Hawks improved to 13-5, 5-0 in the Patriot League.
After trailing by as many as nine points in the first half, Bucknell closed the gap and evened the score at 24-24 at halftime. The Bison took their first lead since holding a 7-6 edge early in the second half when Brooke Tomovich, who tallied nine points, scored to give Bucknell a 26-24 advantage.
The two teams played evenly in the early stages of the second half as Lehigh held a 39-35 lead with less than 12 minutes to play. The Mountain Hawks extended that lead to 43-35 before Tomovich scored on a jumper to close the gap to 43-37. That was the final basket for the Bison for nearly five minutes as Lehigh extended the lead to 48-37, its largest of the game, with just under five minutes to play.
The Bison then scored seven of the next nine points to draw within 50-44. Hanley scored four points during that stretch, while Kesha Champion added a basket and Kristina Collymore converted a free throw. A pair of free throws from Sara Ellis, who Bucknell limited to five points, 11 below her season average, with 12 seconds remaining sealed the game for Lehigh.
Bucknell jumped out to an early 7-4 lead within the first three minutes of the first half behind a three-pointer by Tomovich and a pair of baskets by Hanley. However, Hanley's bucket with 17:23 on the clock was the last field goal for the Bison for more than seven minutes as Lehigh reeled off 12 straight points with Jessica DePalo and Jenny Callan each scoring six straight. Callan led Lehigh in scoring with 18 points. DePalo added 15, four points below her season average.
Ashton Sprouse ended Bucknell's drought with a three-pointer, just her second of the year, from the left wing with nearly 10 minutes remaining in the half. After a basket by Callan, Lindsey Geostis knocked down a three-pointer, her only basket of the game, to narrow the deficit to 18-13.
The Bison held the Mountain Hawks to just two field goals over the final nine minutes of the first half, and went on an 11-6 run to end the half with the score tied at 24-24. Lindsey Hollobaugh, who did not score her first points until 7:12 remained before halftime, tallied nine of her team-high 12 points during that stretch. She and Tomovich each netted baskets in the final minute as Bucknell scored the final four points of the half.
Hanley led Bucknell in rebounding with six, although the Bison were outrebounded 45-34. Mary Hynoski tallied 13 rebounds for Lehigh, while Callan added 10 as the Mountain Hawks had 20 offensive boards.
After forcing 13 turnovers in the first half, the Bucknell defense caused just seven in the second half. The Bison, who turned the ball over 13 times in the first half as well, had 22 turnovers in the game.
After making 41.7 (10 of 24) percent of its shots in the first half, Bucknell converted just 29.0 (9 of 31) percent after intermission. The Bison made 34.5 (19 of 55) percent for the game. Lehigh also converted 34.5 (20 of 58) percent of its field goals, but made 12 of 17 from the free throw line, while Bucknell was just 2 of 5.
Geosits, who was third in the Patriot League in assists entering the weekend, dished out five. It marked the ninth time this season she has registered at least four assists.
Bucknell returns home Friday night, Jan. 28, to face American. It marks the first of four consecutive home games for the Bison. Bucknell is 6-0 at Sojka Pavilion this year, but 1-11 away from home.
