Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Basketball Releases Tentative 2007-08 Schedule
7/23/2007 8:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
July 23, 2007
Fans are asked to keep in mind that the Patriot League's ESPNU television schedule has yet to be announced. The formulation of that schedule could necessitate moving scheduled game dates.
LEWISBURG, Pa. - A December home date with Penn State and a road trip to Duke highlight a demanding 2007-08 schedule for the Bucknell women's basketball team, which is coming off a regular-season Patriot League title and the third 20-win campaign in program history. The Bison, who have won 38 games over the last two seasons, open the campaign Friday, Nov. 9, with a contest at St. Bonaventure. The home opener is slated for Nov. 13 against James Madison.
For the first time since 1973-74, the first year of the Bucknell program, the Bison will host Penn State as the Nittany Lions will travel east to Sojka Pavilion on Dec. 15. The two teams last met in the 2002 Preseason WNIT. Six days later Bucknell will play at Duke, a team that went 32-2 last year and has advanced to four Final Fours since 1999. The Blue Devils return three of their five starters, although two of their top three scorers graduated.
In addition to those major-conference opponents, the Bison will play road games against New York foes Binghamton, Buffalo, Cornell and Marist during the non-conference portion of the schedule. Howard, George Mason, Saint Francis (Pa.) and Loyola (Md.) will join James Madison and Penn State on the list of teams that will visit Sojka Pavilion prior to the always difficult Patriot League slate.
Road games at Hampton, a team Bucknell is 3-0 all-time against, and Illinois-Chicago complete the non-conference ledger. Both squads finished above .500 last year, with the Flames falling just one win shy of 20.
The Bison non-conference schedule features three teams that won 20 games and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2007. Those three NCAA Tournament teams - Duke, James Madison and Marist - combined for an 88-14 (.863) record last season.
Bucknell is 22-6 in Patriot League play over the last two seasons and has won eight consecutive home games against league opponents. The Patriot League slate will open up on Jan. 12 at Navy. After a contest at American three days later, the Bison will open a three-game homestand with a Saturday contest against Holy Cross, the league's representative in the 2007 NCAA Tournament.
Two home games against Lehigh (Feb. 27) and Army (March 1) will close the regular season.
This season the first two rounds of the Patriot League Tournament will be hosted by Army at Christl Arena on March 8-9. The highest remaining seed will then host the championship game on March 12. The winner of that contest will earn the Patriot League's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
For season ticket information, please visit: \/fls\/32100\/old_site\/pdf\/m\-baskbl\/2007\-08BasketballTicketApp\.pdf
Bucknell returns eight letterwinners from last year's team that went 20-11, including Patriot League Player of the Year Hope Foster and Kesha Champion, the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year. Additionally, Le'Le' LeSeur, who was a member of the Patriot League All-Rookie Team, will be back in the lineup. The veteran-laden team will feature five seniors and three juniors on the 14-person roster.
