Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Holy Cross *
Bucknell Edged by Holy Cross, 66-61, in Women's Basketball
1/8/2005 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 8, 2005
WORCESTER, Mass. - Lindsey Hollobaugh scored a season-high 21 points, and Brooke Tomovich added 17, but Bucknell fell to Holy Cross in its Patriot League opener, 66-61, Saturday afternoon at the Hart Center. The loss ended a two-game winning streak in the series for Bucknell.
The Bison (5-8, 0-1 Patriot League) led by as many as four points on four separate occasions, including 57-53, after Tomovich connected on her sixth field goal of the game with 4:27 remaining. From that point on, the Crusaders (6-8, 1-0 PL) outscored the Bison 13-4 as they made 7 of 8 free throws down the stretch.
Bucknell, which took its first lead of the game (41-40) with 10:37 left, fell behind for the first time since then when Lisa Andrews, who had 16 points, converted a layup with 2:16 left in the game to give the Crusaders a 60-59 lead. On Bucknell's next possession, Lindsey Hollobaugh took a jumper from the baseline in an attempt to regain the lead, but it was blocked.
Bucknell took its final lead of the game after its defense, which forced 17 turnovers and limited Holy Cross to 39.1 percent shooting, made a key stop which resulted in a defensive rebound by Lindsey Geosits. Hollobaugh, an 82 percent free throw shooter, drew a foul on a hard drive to the basket on the ensuing fast break. She made both free throws to give the Bison a 61-60 lead with 1:29 on the clock.
Bucknell would not score again as the Crusaders converted layups on back-to-back possessions. The Bison had possession of the ball down 64-61 with 20 seconds on the clock and the length of the court ahead of them. After a number of screens to get her open, Hollobaugh, who was 8 of 17 from the field, attempted an off-balance three-pointer with a hand in her face that caromed off the rim. Geosits got a hand on the rebound, but could not corral it as the ball bounced out of bounds with less than two seconds to play. The Crusaders inbounded the ball and Maggie Fontana was promptly fouled and proceeded to make both free throws with 0.6 seconds on the clock.
In the first half, the Bison fell behind 4-0 early, which prompted Bucknell head coach Kathy Fedorjaka to call a timeout just 56 seconds into the contest. From that point on in the first half, Bucknell outscored the Crusaders 25-24 as Holy Cross held a 28-24 halftime lead. The Bison defense limited Holy Cross to just 34.3 percent (12 of 35) shooting in the first half. However, Holy Cross forced 16 Bucknell turnovers in the first half as the Bison knocked down 41.7 percent (10 of 24) of their field goals.
Despite the 16 first-half miscues, Bucknell finished with just 22 in the game.
Kesha Champion, who tallied a career-high 13 points, joined Hollobaugh and Tomovich in double figures for Bucknell. She made 4 of 7 from the field, while as a team the Bison shot 23 of 57 (40.4 percent). The Crusaders, who made 13 of 29 in the second half, finished 25 of 64.
Rachel Hanley, who finished with four points, led Bucknell with seven rebounds. Tomovich added six as the Bison grabbed 36. Holy Cross, led by seven from Brittany Keil, gathered 37.
For the second straight contest, Bucknell shot well from three-point range as it made 5 of 11 (45.5 percent). Tomovich led the way by making 3 of 3. Hollobaugh and Champion added one apiece. The Bison have made 13 of 21 their last two games.
Keil, who finished with a team-high 17 points, tallied 11 of 13 Crusader points during an eight-minute stretch early in the second half. She made back-to-back three-pointers to give Holy Cross a 38-32 advantage to open the stretch, was joined in double figures by Andrews and Fontana, who had 14 points.
Bucknell opens its home Patriot League schedule Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. against Colgate.
