Bucknell University Athletics
A Chance to be One of the Best
11/4/2005 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 4, 2005
By Todd Merriett, Bucknell Athletic Communications
Molly Creamer: 1,008. Jennifer Walz: 973. Lindsey Hollobaugh: 899.
In just two years, Bucknell junior guard Lindsey Hollobaugh has etched her name into the record book alongside a pair of greats of the Bison women's basketball program. Only Creamer and Walz scored more points during their first two seasons on the court than Hollobaugh did the past two campaigns. Both Creamer's and Walz' jerseys adorn the concourse wall of Sojka Pavilion. There is a good chance Hollobaugh's No. 20 could hang from that same wall by the time her career is over.
Hollobaugh, who owns a career average of 15.8 points per game, already surpassed Creamer's Bucknell freshman record with 483 points her rookie season. If she can score 1,101 points over the next two seasons she will join Creamer, who tallied 2,462 career points, and Walz, who finished her four-year career with 2,112 points, as the only Bison to surpass the 2,000-point plateau.
Even though she is already mentioned along with the all-time greats of the 33-year-old program, Hollobaugh's career is just half over and she has much more to accomplish as she looks to leave her mark in Bucknell history.
"I don't look at it like I am following them," comments Hollobaugh. "They are different players who were completely amazing. I am just trying to play the best I can."
With five newcomers on a 12-person roster that does not include a senior, Hollobaugh has taken it upon herself to become more of a leader. The veteran of 57 career games, she has played more than twice as many contests in Orange and Blue as her next most experienced teammate. Due to her veteran presence and increased leadership, Hollobaugh, along with classmate Jacquie Seawright, a transfer from South Plains College in Olton, Texas, was elected captain by her teammates during the preseason.
"It is really exciting to be selected as a captain," smiles Hollobaugh, who is just the third junior to be named captain during ninth-year head coach Kathy Fedorjaka's tenure. "I am ready to be in the captain role. I am not one of the most vocal people, but I have been working on it by encouraging my teammates. A lot of them have already commented on how I have been talking more."
Hollobaugh expects her newfound vocal leadership, along with her tireless work ethic, to help the team to its most successful season since she arrived on the Lewisburg, Pa., campus of Bucknell from nearby Loganton, Pa., in the fall of 2003. The Bison have posted a 25-32 mark since Hollobaugh arrived one year after the first NCAA Tournament trip in school history.
"I am so excited for this season because I think we have a really strong team," explains Hollobaugh. "We are a quicker team this year. All of the new people have blended in seamlessly and their personalities fit the team well."
One of the team's goals as the 2005-06 campaign approaches is to win the second Patriot League title in program history. On an individual level, Hollobaugh has the Patriot League Player of the Year award in her sights. Hollobaugh, who was the 2004 Patriot League Rookie of the Year, chose to come to Bucknell, which is located just over 30 miles from her hometown of Loganton, for a myriad of reasons. Among them were the closeness to home, the chance to play Division I basketball, the smaller size of the university and the academics. Additionally, Hollobaugh, who is a 5 feet, 9 inch guard that enjoys playing up-temp basketball, was attracted to Fedorjaka's coaching style.
For Hollobaugh, who was also recruited by Boston College and Saint Francis (Pa.), it was an easy decision when choosing to become a Bison. A regular at Bucknell's summer camp since ninth grade, she really wanted her tight-knit family to be able to watch her play on a regular basis.
"My family is my biggest supporter," says Hollobaugh, who travels home as much as possible. "I look for them in the stands. My mother makes every game. She is even trying to get tickets to Colorado (for the Air Force Classic Dec. 3-4). She just takes off work and says `I don't care'."
Hollobaugh is fortunate she will be playing the first weekend in December. A Second Team All-Patriot League selection in 2005, she injured her finger during conditioning drills last spring, ironically enough on her birthday, and was forced to have surgery. The operation was successful and she has been practicing with just some tape wrapped around the bent finger.
"My shot hasn't been affected," explains Hollobaugh. "Everything is fine. I am a little disappointed it doesn't look nicer, but it hasn't hampered basketball."
With her finger fully healed, Hollobaugh will once again be the focus of opponents' defenses. Of course, she must become used to being the center of attention since the elementary education major with a grade-point average of nearly 3.4 plans on becoming a teacher following graduation.
"I already tell people `I am going to teach your kids someday'," laughs Hollobaugh, who is affectionately known as "Boog" by her teammates. "It is something I have always wanted to do. I would rather work with younger kids than older ones since they are still interested in learning."
In addition to her success on the basketball court and in the classroom, Hollobaugh excelled on the track at Central Mountain High School. Three years removed from last competing, Bucknell head track and field coach Kevin Donner is still trying to talk her into competing for a second Bison team. Hollobaugh, mainly a long and triple jumper, advanced to the state championships in the long jump in each of her three years after joining the team as a sophomore as a conditioning tool for basketball. Her best finish was third in the state as a senior when she missed out on the title by just one-half inch.
As her college basketball career races past its mid-way point, Hollobaugh has a couple of memories that stick out to her. One is positive. The other is helping to keep her motivated for the upcoming season.
"It was exciting to beat Holy Cross last year," recalls Hollobaugh of the 72-71 victory over the perennial power. "It was senior night and we were pumped up and ready to go.
"Even though we lost, the playoff loss to second-seeded Lehigh last season was a memorable game. We came so close to beating them. We want to come back and get revenge for that one."
With two more seasons, Hollobaugh has time to make better memories than those two games. If her goals are met she could look back on a career that features a Patriot League title and a Patriot League Player of the Year Award. Though it is not one of her stated goals, she could be reflecting on her outstanding career as she stands next to her jersey as it decorates the wall of Sojka Pavilion, forever linking her to Creamer and Walz.
