Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Closes Regular Season with Trip to Colgate
2/25/2005 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 25, 2005
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Heading into the final game of the regular season Bucknell can finish anywhere from fifth to eighth in the Patriot League standings. If the Bison win, and Navy loses to American, Bucknell will be the fifth seed. If the Bison win, and Navy defeats American, Bucknell will be the sixth seed by virtue of owning the tiebreaker over Colgate. If the Bison lose, and Lafayette loses to Lehigh, Bucknell will be the seventh seed. If the Bison lose, and Lafayette upsets Lehigh, Bucknell will be the eighth seed because the Leopards own the tiebreaker based on sweeping the regular-season series. If the Bison are the fifth or eighth seed, they will travel to Worcester, Mass., for the first round of the Patriot League Tournament. If they are sixth or seventh they will travel to Bethlehem, Pa., to open the tournament. Quarterfinal games will take place Thursday, March 3, at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Semifinal contests are scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, March 5. Holy Cross (#1) and Lehigh (#2) host as the top two seeds.
About Colgate
Colgate has had an up-and-down season one year after winning the 2004 Patriot League postseason title. Under first-year head coach Kristin Hughes the Raiders are 9-17 overall, 5-8 in the Patriot League. Colgate, which is in the midst of a four-game losing streak, has had four losing streaks of at least four games this season. However, at the end of January and beginning of February the Raiders posted five consecutive wins. Colgate has been strong at home, compiling a 6-4 mark at Cotterell Court, including 4-2 in conference play. A team that has used just two different starting lineups since Milaina Lagzdins suffered a season-ending injury in the first game, Colgate has been led by preseason co-player of the year Emily Braseth. The senior forward is second in the league in scoring at 16.0 points per game. She also leads the conference in rebounding, pulling in 7.6 boards per contest. Allison Lipinski, who is fifth in the PL in scoring at 14.3 points per game and teams with Braseth to form the second-highest scoring duo in the league, is the team's top 3-point shooter having made 73 this year. Colgate is averaging 67.8 points per game to top the PL by nearly three points per contest over second-place Lehigh.
Bison Versus the Raiders
Bucknell's 25-16 all-time record against Colgate is the second-most victories the Bison have posted over one opponent. Bucknell has defeated Lehigh 26 times in 53 all-time meetings. The Bison snapped a three-game losing streak to the Raiders with a 67-65 victory last month at Sojka Pavilion. In the last 12 games Bucknell holds a 7-5 advantage.
Final Regular Season Game for Seniors
Four seniors - Emilie Barruet, Lillian Drumgold, Amy Ketcham and Brooke Tomovich - will be playing their final regular season game Saturday afternoon. Below are the career totals for Bucknell's quartet of seniors:
Emilie Barruet's Career Totals
46 pts., 33 rebs., 17 assts.
Lillian Drumgold's Career Bucknell Totals
236 pts., 107 rebs., 37 assts.
Amy Ketcham's Career Totals
61 pts., 89 rebs., 12 blocks
Brooke Tomovich's Career Bucknell Totals
542 pts., 200 rebs., 43 assts.
Second Half Struggles
Despite posting just a 4-9 record in Patriot League play, Bucknell has had the opportunity to win nearly every one of its league contests. The Bison have lost by an average of just 5.8 points per game to conference foes. Bucknell has held a lead in the second half of seven of those losses. In those games, the Bison have led or been tied in the second half for 82:42 of a possible 140 minutes.
Game Largest 2H Lead Led/Tied in 2H at HC 4 10:25 at Lafayette 8 15:54 at Lehigh 2 2:55 vs. American 4 13:37 vs. Navy 8 12:10 vs. Lafayette 13 11:43 vs. Army 14 17:18
Success Over Holy Cross
Bucknell has experienced unprecedented success the past two years over the Patriot League's best program, Holy Cross. The Bison, who defeated the Crusaders for the third time in four meetings with a 72-71 victory on Feb. 23, became just the second current PL team to accomplish that feat. Lafayette beat Holy Cross three straight times in 1991-92. Also, Bucknell entered the 2004-05 campaign with a two-game winning streak against the Crusaders. In the 15-year history of the conference just two other current league teams have won at least two consecutive games opposite Holy Cross (Lafayette, 1991-92 and Navy, 1994-95-1995-96).
Rookie Starters
Head coach Kathy Fedorjaka inserted Kristina Collymore and Hope Foster into the starting lineup against American on Feb. 11. That freshman duo joined classmate Kesha Champion, who has started every game this season, to form the first trio of rookies to start a game for Bucknell since Beth Coffey, Shannon McGown and Chiara Sockel were part of the starting unit in the final game of the 1993-94 campaign against Fordham. The Bison started three freshmen nine times that season.
Veteran Reserves
Senior Brooke Tomovich and junior Lindsey Geosits were both moved out of the starting lineup against American on Feb. 11. It was just the second time in 80 career games, and the first time in 50 contests, that Geosits did not start. Tomovich, who came off the bench four times earlier this season, had started 11 consecutive games. The duo combined for 23 points, including a season high-tying nine points from Geosits, six rebounds and five assists as Bucknell halted a six-game losing streak. Two days later against Navy they came off the bench again and totaled 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Geosits rejoined the starting lineup Feb. 19 against Army, while Tomovich was part of the starting unit again on Feb. 23 against Holy Cross.
Better on the Road
Bucknell, which had a 10-game home winning streak snapped earlier this season, and is just 3-11 away from Sojka Pavilion, actually has a chance to finish the season with more league wins on the road than at home. The Bison have won two at home and two on the road. The last time Bucknell finished a season with more conference road wins than home wins was 2000-01 when it was 5-1 on the road and 4-2 at home.
Tough Defense
Bucknell's defense is allowing opponents to shoot just 38.2 percent from the field this year to lead the Patriot League. The Bison have not held their opponents to that low of a percentage since the 1994-95 season when the opposition connected on just 37.6 percent of its field goals. Along with the low field goal percentage defense, Bucknell is allowing only 62.8 points per game. That figure is the lowest the Bison have allowed per game since the 1980-81 campaign when opponents scored an average of 61.7.
Bucknell's PPG Allowed Year PPG Allowed 1975-76 56.9 1979-80 59.0 1974-75 59.0 1976-77 61.5 1980-81 61.7 1978-79 62.1 2004-05 62.8
Bucknell's Points Allowed Breakdown Points Times Allowed 40-49 2 50-59 7 60-69 13 70-79 2 80-89 2
6-0 Start at Home
With its 80-64 win over Fairleigh Dickinson on Jan. 17, Bucknell improved to 6-0 at home. The start was the best since the 1997-98 squad won its first six home games. Bucknell's best-ever home start came in 1995-96 when it finished the campaign 12-0 at Davis Gym.
Bucknell's Most Consecutive Home Wins to Start Season 1995-96 12 1988-89 7 2004-05 6 1997-98 6
Sojka Success
Bucknell opened Sojka (pronounced SOY-ka) Pavilion with a 74-67 loss to Lehigh on Jan. 15, 2003. The Bison have posted an 19-12 (.613) record all-time in Sojka. Entering the 2004-05 campaign, Bucknell had a four-game home winning streak in progress. The Bison extended that streak to 10 with an 80-64 victory over FDU in their sixth home game this season. The streak ended with a 56-53 loss to American on Jan. 28. The Bison went 362 days in between losses at Sojka.
Bucknell's 10-Game Home Win Streak
(ended 1/28/05) 2/7/04 American* W, 51-39 2/11/04 Lehigh* W, 74-59 2/20/04 Lafayette* W, 81-63 2/22/04 Army* W, 73-68 11/24/04 Cornell W, 86-63 12/7/04 Buffalo W, 68-56 12/20/04 Maryland-Eastern Shore W, 60-48 1/3/05 Iona W, 90-66 1/12/05 Colgate* W, 67-65 1/17/05 Fairleigh Dickinson W, 80-64
One Block Short - Twice
Freshman Hope Foster blocked a career-high six shots during an 80-64 win over Fairleigh Dickinson on Jan. 17. That figure was one short of tying the Bucknell single-game mark of seven, set by Ann Kirwin in 1986. All of Foster's six rejections came in the first 13 minutes of the game as she fouled out in the second half after spending just 17 minutes on the court. She equaled that six-block figure three weeks later on Feb. 6 against Lehigh. Foster is the only player in Bucknell history to block at least six shots in a game twice. She has broken Desire Almind's year-old single-season Bucknell record with her 63 blocks. That figure also ranks seventh on the BU career list. Her 2.4 blocks per game leads the Patriot League and ranks 28th nationally.
Bucknell Single-Game Blocked Shots Ann Kirwin 7 2/8/86 Hope Foster 6 2/6/05 Hope Foster 6 1/17/05 Susie Hopper 6 2/3/90 Hope Foster 5 12/7/04 Susie Hopper 5 1/16/88 Susie Hopper 5 12/6/86 Susie Hopper 5 12/27/85 Marie Kocornik 5 12/27/85 Jill Henry 5 12/5/80
Weekend Wins
After losing the first 14 games it played on weekends - Friday, Saturday and Sunday - Bucknell finally won a game that was not played during the week Feb. 11 against American. The Bison followed that with another weekend victory two days later on Sunday, Feb. 13, versus Navy. However, Bucknell has yet to win on a Saturday, going 0-6.
Cool Her Down
Senior Brooke Tomovich has been playing the best basketball of her career in 2005. Dating to the Iona game Jan. 3, Tomovich has increased her scoring average from 7.7 points to 10.8 points per game. She is averaging 12.8 points per game, including 10 double-figure scoring games, during the 15-game stretch since the beginning of 2005. Discounting a pair of scoreless games, Tomovich is averaging 14.8 ppg since Jan. 1. Additionally, Tomovich has showed off her endurance, playing at least 26 minutes in 11 of the games, and topping 30 five times. While scoring 16 points in a win over Fairleigh Dickinson on Jan. 17, Tomovich played a career-high 39 minutes. Tomovich played more than 30 minutes just twice in the season's first 11 games.
Iron Woman
Sophomore guard Lindsey Hollobaugh has been too valuable for head coach Kathy Fedorjaka to take out of the lineup this season. Hollobaugh is averaging a 37.0 minutes per game, and has played all 40 minutes 11 times this season. She has played 541 out of a possible 560 minutes the last 14 games. She has played at least 30 minutes every game this season.
Highway Robbery
Junior guard Lindsey Geosits recorded seven steals during a 67-65 win over Colgate Jan. 12. That figure easily eclipsed her career high of four, and gave her the most steals by a Bison since Desire Almind had eight swipes against Holy Cross Feb. 27, 2004.
Unselfish Geosits
Junior guard Lindsey Geosits has a team-high 103 assists this year. For her career, she has 286 assists to rank fifth on Bucknell's career list. Geosits and Kathryn Hudock, who has one assist and no turnovers, are the only Bison to have positive assist-to-turnover ratios. She is just five assists shy of equaling her career high, which ranks 10th on Bucknell's single-season list.
Foster Rebounds
Freshman Hope Foster ranks seventh in the Patriot League, and leads the team, in rebounding with 6.0 per game. The last freshman to lead the Bison in rebounding was Vicki Quimby, who averaged 7.4 boards per game in 1998-99.
Six in a Row
Bucknell's loss to Lehigh on Feb. 6 was its sixth consecutive defeat. The Bison last lost six in a row in 1997-98. Bucknell's 66-60 victory over American on Feb. 11 halted the skid and helped the Bison avoid their first seven-game losing streak since the 1991-92 campaign.
Block Party
Through 26 games Bucknell has blocked a school-record 118 shots as a team. That mark easily eclipses the previous record of 106 that was originally set in 1989-90, and equaled last year. Hope Foster leads this year's squad with a Bucknell single-season record 63 blocks (2.4 per game), which ranks first in the Patriot League. She also stands seventh on the Bison career list. Through games of Feb. 21, Foster ranked 28th nationally in blocks, while Bucknell was 42nd. Foster's 63 blocks would rank just one rejection short of tying the 2002-03 squad for 10th on Bucknell's team blocked shots list.
Eight Straight 20-Point Performances vs. PL
Sophomore guard Lindsey Hollobaugh scored 26 points against Colgate on Jan. 12. It marked the eighth consecutive game against league foes that Hollobaugh scored at least 20 points. That string was broken Jan. 15 against Army when she scored just 10 points. The Loganton, Pa., native has reached double figures in 28 of her last 31 games and is fourth in the Patriot League in scoring at 14.8 points per game. She has scored at least 10 points in 48 of 55 career games.
Record-Tying Assists
In its 90-66 win over Iona on Jan. 3, Bucknell equaled a 29-year-old record with 28 assists on its 32 field goals. The total equaled a mark that was set Feb. 9, 1976, during a 66-49 victory over Juniata.
Hollobaugh Eclipses 800 Points
Lindsey Hollobaugh, who scored a Bucknell-record 483 points as a freshman, has added to that toal this season. With 384 points this season, she has increased her career point total to 867. Her 15.8 ppg career scoring average ranks fourth in Bucknell history.
Molly Creamer Returns
Former Bucknell star Molly Creamer '03 had her jersey retired during halftime of Bucknell's final home game, Feb. 23 against Holy Cross. The all-time leading scorer in the history of the Bison program joined Jen Walz '89 as the only two Bucknell players to have their jerseys hung from the wall of Sojka Pavilion.
Preseason Accolades For Hollobaugh
Sophomore guard Lindsey Hollobaugh was selected to the preseason All-Patriot League team in a preseason poll of coaches and sports information directors. The Loganton, Pa., native was second on the team with 16.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game as a freshman. Her 483 points broke Molly Creamer's freshman scoring record of 475. Hollobaugh was the only non-senior to appear on the preseason all-league squad. The 5-9 Hollobaugh became the fourth Bison to be named Rookie of the Year in the Patriot League last year.
Team Captains
Seniors Amy Ketcham and Brooke Tomovich, along with junior Lindsey Geosits were chosen as team captains by their teammates prior to the season. It is the first time since 2001-02 Bucknell has had more than two captains.
Up Next
Bucknell will travel to either Lehigh or Holy Cross for the first round of the Patriot League Tournament Thursday, March 3. The Bison could finish as high as fifth in the standings, or as low as eighth. If they finish fifth or eighth they will travel to Worcester, Mass. If they finish sixth or seventh they will travel to Bethlehem, Pa.
