Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Army *
Bucknell Falls to Army 58-56 in Women's Basketball
2/19/2005 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 19, 2005
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Lindsey Hollobaugh scored 16 points, and three other Bison tallied nine, but it was not enough as Army overcame a pair of 14-point deficits to defeat Bucknell 58-56 in women's basketball Saturday night at Sojka Pavilion.
The Bison, who led or were tied for all but 2 minutes, 57 seconds of the game, had a chance to tie on their last possession, but a Rachel Hanley layup rimmed out as time expired.
A 3-pointer by Micky Mallette with 3:00 remaining in the game gave Army (14-11, 7-5 Patriot League) its first lead since early in the first half at 56-54. However, the Bison answered with a layup by Brooke Tomovich less than 90 seconds later to tie the game at 56-56.
On Army's next possession Lindsay Brent made 1 of 2 free throws to give the Black Knights a 57-56 lead with 1:17 to play. The Bison got a good look from Hollobaugh the next time down the court, but she could not convert a short jumper from the left side, and after an offensive rebound, Lindsey Geosits turned the ball over to give Army possession with 46 seconds on the clock. Bucknell played tough defense and forced a Shavonne Holden miss on a long jumper, but the ball went out of bounds off Hope Foster to give the Black Knights the ball with 13 seconds remaining and the shot clock turned off.
On the ensuing in-bounds play Kesha Champion fouled Jen Hansen, an 80.8 percent free throw shooter. Hansen made the first, but missed the second of two free throws. Bucknell hurried the ball down the court and got a good look from Hanley, but the shot came up short as she drove across the lane from the left block.
The Bison, who played perhaps their best half of basketball in the first half, led 34-25 at the break despite shooting just 35.5 percent from the floor. Bucknell built its halftime edge by forcing 15 Black Knight turnovers and limiting Army to 34.6 percent shooting.
Hollobaugh, who scored 14 of her 16 points in the first half, tallied eight during a 13-3 run that opened a 16-6 advantage for the Bison with 12:21 to play before halftime. Included in that stretch for Hollobaugh were two of her three 3-pointers in the game.
The Bucknell offense continued to shine as the Bison opened their lead to 25-12 behind another 3-pointer from Hollobaugh and a pair of jumpers from Tomovich, who finished with nine points on 4 of 14 shooting. Bucknell made eight of its first 19 shots in opening up the 13-point bulge.
Bucknell kept its lead above 10 points much of the remainder of the half, extending it to as much as 14 with a 32-18 lead with 3:31 to play after Hollobaugh converted a fast-break lay-up and made the ensuing free throw after she was fouled by Margaree King.
A jumper by Mallette with just over a minute to play in the first half narrowed the Bucknell lead to nine points, but it was the final basket for the Black Knights for more than four minutes as the Bison scored the first five points of the second half to take a 39-25 lead. Army's first point in the second half came on a Holden free throw with 16:34 remaining.
After taking a 12-point lead, 50-38, following a 3-pointer from Lindsey Geosits, who equaled her season high with nine points, with 11:44 on the clock the Bucknell offense began to struggle as it made just 3 of 13 field goals and turned the ball over five times while scoring just six points from that juncture on.
Army, which had just five turnovers in the second half, was led on the offensive end by Jillian Busch who had a career-high 17 points. Jen Hansen, who made 3 of 5 from 3-point range, finished with 15. Hollobaugh was the lone Bison in double figures, but Tomovich, Kristina Collymore and Geosits each netted nine. The nine points equaled a season high for Geosits.
Foster, who played just 21 minutes due to foul trouble, led Bucknell with seven rebounds, six on the defensive end. However, the Bison lost the battle of the boards 34-29. Brent led the way for the Black Knights with six.
Bucknell (9-16, 3-9 Patriot League) will host Holy Cross Wednesday night in the final home game of the year for the Bison. Prior to the game Molly Creamer '03, Bucknell's all-time leading scorer, will have her number hung from the wall of Sojka Pavilion. Additionally, it will be the last home game for seniors Emilie Barruet, Lillian Drumgold, Amy Ketcham and Tomovich. The game is set for 7 p.m.
