Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Cornell
Bison Women's Basketball Comes Back to Defeat Cornell, 62-57
12/20/2005 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 20, 2005
ITHACA, N.Y. - The Bucknell women's basketball team limited Cornell to just one field goal in nearly 17 minutes to come back from a 16-point first-half deficit and defeat the Big Red 62-57 Tuesday evening at Newman Arena.
Bucknell, which improved to 5-4 and is in the midst of its first three-game winning streak since 2003-04, shot just 1 of 10 on field goals early in the first half as Cornell (3-6) opened up a 16-3 advantage with Lindsay Krasna and Jeomi Maduka netting four points apiece for the Big Red. That duo tied for team-high honors with 10 points apiece.
Amanda Brown (Richardson, Texas/L.V. Berkner) and Ashton Sprouse (Dayton, Ohio/Archbishop Alter) hit back-to-back 3-pointers mid-way through the half to narrow the deficit to just 18-11, but Cornell extended its lead back out to a game-high 16 points at 31-15 after a 3-pointer by Gretchen Gregg. However, the Bison defense, which totaled seven steals in the first half, forced 11 turnovers in the first half and limited the Big Red to just one field goal in the final seven minutes of the half.
A last-second steal and layup by Jacquie Seawright (Olton, Texas/Olton) narrowed the halftime deficit to 32-24.
Bucknell's defense, which limited Cornell to 19 of 58 (35.8 percent) shooting and forced 21 turnovers, continued its strong play in the second half as the Big Red did not net their first field goal until just over 10 minutes remained. By that time the Bison had opened up a 41-37 advantage. Kesha Champion (Chesapeake, Va./Indian River), who tallied double figures for the sixth time in seven games with 12 points, scored seven of her 11 second-half points as Bucknell built its four-point cushion.
The Bison lead did not last long as Cornell scored 11 points on four consecutive possessions, highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers from Gregg.
Cornell was able to jump ahead by a many as five points, but Bucknell took a 52-50 lead on a fast break layup by Sarah Latham (Mystic, Conn./Fitch) and relinquished the lead just briefly when the Megan Hughes made 1 of 2 free throws to put the Big Red ahead 53-52.
A driving layup by Champion that resulted in a three-point play gave the Bison a 57-54 lead. Clinging to a 57-56 advantage, Brown, who scored a game-high 13 points, knocked down a pair of free throws to give Bucknell a 59-56 cushion. A technical free throw by Champion after Cornell was whistled for having six players on the court and two more free throws by Brown in the final seconds rounded out the scoring for the Bison.
After making just 8 of 34 field goals in the first half, Bucknell shot 13 of 22 after halftime.
Brown, Champion and Corrine Keller (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Athena), who registered 11 points, all reached double figures for Bucknell. Latham tallied a career-high eight points. Champion led the team in rebounding (7) and assists (5), although the Bison were outrebounded 40-33. Gregg led the Big Red with 10 boards.
Bucknell made 16 of 21 free throws, including 6 of 6 by Latham and 4 of 4 by Brown. The Big Red were just 12 of 17 from the charity stripe.
Hope Foster (Washington, D.C./Dunbar) equaled her career high and the school record with seven blocks despite fouling out with 36 seconds remaining. She is now averaging 4.1 blocks per game.
The Bison continue their five-game road trip Wednesday, Dec. 28, at Buffalo. Game time is slated for 5 p.m.
