Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Hartford
Bucknell Women's Basketball Season Comes to a Close with 70-54 Loss to Hartford in WNIT First Round
3/15/2007 8:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 15, 2007
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - Hartford used a 25-8 run over the first 11 minutes of the second half to open up game-high 24-point lead as the Bucknell women's basketball team fell to the Hawks 70-54 in the first round of the Postseason Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) Thursday evening at Chase Arena. The Bison, who were led by 11 points from Lauren Schober (Chicago, Ill./Regina Dominican) wrapped up their memorable season 20-11.
After trailing just 31-24 at halftime, Bucknell allowed Ikea Witt to tally the first six points of the second half as the Hawks opened up a double-digit lead for the first time at 37-26. Witt tallied 10 of her career-high 25 points during the deciding 25-8 run and shot 11 of 14 from the field in the game.
Bucknell did climb back to within 41-32 and it appeared as though the deficit was cut to seven when Kesha Champion went the length of the court and converted a layup, but the basket was waived off when she was whistled for a charge. The Hawks then proceeded to reel off a 15-0 run with Witt scoring six points during that four-minute stretch.
The Bison were able to narrow the gap to 58-42 following a 6-0 run, with all six points being tallied by Kristina Collymore (Montclair, N.J./Montclair) moments after entering the game for the first time.
The first half was tightly contested as there were eight lead changes and a pair of ties in the first 12 minutes of the stanza. The largest lead for Bucknell came when Kesha Champion swished a 3-pointer from the left corner to make the score 10-6.
Hartford opened up its seven-point halftime lead thanks to an 11-0 run that was bookended by a pair of baseline jumpers from Amanda Brown (Richardson, Texas/L.V. Berkner). The Bison went from leading 18-15 to trailing 26-18 in a matter of less than three minutes.
Hope Foster (Washington, D.C./Dunbar) joined Schober in double figures for Bucknell with 10 points. She also added a game-high eight rebounds, but the Bison were outrebounded 39-28 in the contest. However, Foster failed to record a block and finished with 93 on the season, two shy of her own school- and Patriot League-record.
Bucknell turned the ball over just two times in the second half after committing 10 miscues in the first half. The Bison, who played 2-3 zone most of the first half, forced just 14 Hartford turnovers.
Danielle Hood joined Witt in double figures with 11 points for Hartford (25-8). The Hawks, who shot 46.2 percent, including 56.5 in the second half, will move on and play at South Carolina in the second round of the WNIT Sunday at 5 p.m.
With the loss, the careers of two Bucknell seniors ended. Lindsey Hollobaugh (Loganton, Pa./Central Mountain) and Jacquie Seawright (Olton, Texas/Olton) played their final games in Orange and Blue. Hollobaugh, who had played just 41 minutes since injuring her knee in mid-January, saw 24 minutes of playing time and registered two points and three rebounds. Seawright also recorded two points and three rebounds in 16 minutes of playing time.
Bucknell, which earned an automatic berth into the WNIT by virtue of winning the Patriot League regular-season title, won 20 games this season for the third time in program history.
