Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
American *
Bucknell Women's Basketball Drops 56-53 Decision to American
1/28/2005 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 28, 2005
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Brooke Tomovich tallied a career-high 25 points and a career-high 10 rebounds for her first career double-double, but the Bucknell women's basketball team's 10-game home winning streak came to an end as American edged the Bison 56-53 Friday night at Sojka Pavilion.
In a tight game where neither team led by more than six points, Bucknell (7-12, 1-5 Patriot League) scored just two points over the final 3:09 as the Eagles (8-10, 3-3 Patriot League) went from trailing by four to a three-point advantage with a 9-2 run with Joanna Barnes scoring six of her 16 points during that stretch.
The Bison, who trailed 29-25 at halftime, and 33-27 two minutes into the second half, opened up a two-point lead at 39-37 with a 12-4 run keyed by five points from Tomovich, who finished 10 of 16 from the field, including 4 of 7 from 3-point range. She made all six of her shots in the first half, including all three from behind the arc to tally 15 of Bucknell's 25 first-half points.
The Bison kept the lead, with American only drawing even at 39-39, until Barnes netted a jumper with 6:08 on the clock. That basket gave the Eagles their first lead since the 17:36 mark.
Bucknell then scored the next five points, all by Lindsey Hollobaugh, who finished with 13 points. She converted a pair of layups, one coming on a fast break, and a foul shot within a 73-second span to give the Bison a 51-47 advantage with 3:09 on the clock. Bucknell would score just one more time, that coming on a jumper from Tomovich with 2:12 remaining.
Bucknell was down one (54-53) with the ball and 27 seconds on the clock. Following a timeout, Emilie Barruet attempted a shot from the left baseline with 18 seconds left, but it was blocked out of bounds by Chanel Hunt. After the inbounds pass, the Bison turned the ball over and fouled Barnes with five seconds on the clock. Barnes made both free throws to give the Eagles a 56-53 lead. Hollobaugh pushed the ball up the court for Bucknell, but the Bison were unable to get a potential game-tying 3-point shot off in the final seconds.
Despite making just 2 of 9 field goals, Barruet played a solid all-around game in a career-high 29 minutes of playing time. She scored five points and had career highs in both rebounds (5) and assists (4). Lindsey Geosits, who entered the game third in the Patriot League in assists, registered six, while grabbing a season-high seven rebounds.
Bucknell held its own on the glass, pulling down 39 rebounds, while American had just 33. Tomovich led the way with 10, while Barnes had eight to pace American.
For the second consecutive game the Bucknell defense, which limited American to 39.7 percent shooting, held its opponent without a 3-point field goal. The Eagles were 0 of 4, while the Bison were 5 of 14 with Tomovich and Barruet accounting for all five of the makes.
Despite holding American to below 40.0 percent shooting, Bucknell forced just 12 turnovers. American's defense tallied 12 steals, four by Jenyce Woodruff, and forced 20 Bison turnovers.
The loss was the first at home for Bucknell since a 71-55 loss to Holy Cross last Feb. 1. The 10-game home winning streak was tied for 19th-longest in the country and was just five short of tying the longest in Bison history. Bucknell is now 18-8 all-time at Sojka Pavilion.
The Bison, who are in a seventh-place tie in the Patriot League standings with Lafayette, return to action Sunday, Jan. 30, against Navy at 2 p.m. at Sojka Pavilion. The contest is the second in a four-game homestand.
