Bucknell University
Marist
Bucknell Women's Basketball Loses at Home for First Time this Year, 57-38 to Marist
12/2/2006 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 2, 2006
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Meg Dahlman and Rachele Fitz scored 15 points apiece as Marist opened the game with a 16-3 run and easily defeated Bucknell 57-38 in women's basketball action Saturday afternoon at Sojka Pavilion. Hope Foster (Washington, D.C./Dunbar) and Kesha Champion (Chesapeake, Va./Indian River) led the Bison with eight points apiece, marking the first time in just over two years they failed to place a player in double figures.
Bucknell, which shot a season-low 26.9 percent (14 of 52), missed its first 13 field goal attempts as Marist jumped out to a 16-3 advantage behind five points from Dahlman. Jacquie Seawright (Olton, Texas/Olton), who tallied four points off the bench, finally connected on a field goal for the Bison with a short jumper just over nine minutes into the contest.
Bucknell used a 6-0 run late in the first half to close the deficit to just seven at 22-15, but it missed its final three field goals and turned the ball over twice in the final three minutes of the first half as the Red Foxes went on an 8-0 run to take a 30-15 lead into the locker room.
Behind a driving right-handed layup from Amanda Brown (Richardson, Texas/L.V. Berkner) and a 3-pointer from the top of the key by Lauren Schober (Chicago, Ill./Regina Dominican), the Bison scored the first five points of the second half and looked poised to make a run. However, Marist was able to keep its lead in the low double-figures for much of the second half as Bucknell was unable to string baskets together.
Four consecutive points by Foster brought the Bison to within nine at 45-36 with just under six minutes to play. Julianne Viani, who was the third Marist player in double figures with 13 points, missed a 3-pointer and Bucknell pushed the ball up the court and got a wide-open 3-pointer in the left corner for Champion that would have pulled it to within six, but the ball glanced off the rim and into the hands of Lindsey Hollobaugh (Loganton, Pa./Central Mountain). Hollobaugh was fouled and converted both free throws to bring Bucknell to within seven. However, those were the final points for the Bison, as they turned the ball over three times and were 0-for-7 in the final five minutes of play.
Marist, which won its fourth consecutive outing to improve to 5-2, ended the game on a 12-0 run following Hollobaugh's two free throws. The 19-point final margin was the largest of the contest.
Overall, Bucknell turned the ball over 17 times, while Marist had just 10. The Red Foxes converted 41.5 percent of their field goals, including 43.3 percent in the deciding first half.
Foster led Bucknell with a game-high eight rebounds as she missed her fifth double-double of the season by just two points and two boards. Brown added a season high-tying six as the Bison totaled 36 caroms to 37 for Marist, which was paced by seven apiece from Alisa Kresge and Viani.
The 38 points for Bucknell, which is averaging just 44 points per game over its last three contests, was its lowest since tallying 37 against Albany in December of 2004.
The 19-point margin of defeat was the largest the Bison have lost by since falling 80-60 to Bowling Green, also in December 2004.
Bucknell (5-4), which fell to 3-1 at Sojka Pavilion this season, will aim for its second road victory of the season Tuesday night, Dec. 5, at Delaware State. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.
