Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Navy
Bucknell Women's Basketball Wins Patriot League Opener at Navy, 71-45
1/12/2008 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 12, 2008
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ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Lauren Schober paced four Bison in double figures with 17 points and Kesha Champion added 15 points and a career-high 11 assists as the Bucknell women's basketball team opened Patriot League play with a 71-45 victory over Navy Saturday night at Alumni Hall. It was the third consecutive year the Bison began their conference schedule with a win of at least 20 points against the Mids.
Bucknell, which is now 12-6 all-time in Patriot League openers, including 7-2 against Navy, shot an impressive 55.6 percent in the first half and 44.8 percent overall.
Champion's double-double was the second of her career. She had already tallied a career-high nine assists when the Bison took a 42-22 lead into halftime. Overall, Bucknell had 20 assists on its 26 field goals.
Hope Foster (11 points) and Taylor Phillips (10) rounded out the quartet of Bucknell players in double figures. Phillips also pulled down a career-high eight rebounds as she started in place of the injured Amanda Brown. She also registered a team-high five steals and dished out three assists.
Bucknell sprinted to a 10-1 lead in the first five minutes of the first half as Navy missed its first nine shots. Foster established an inside presence for the Bison during that run as she converted a pair of turnaround jumpers in the lane.
Bucknell, which won its Patriot League opener for the third straight season, later extended the lead to 25-9 as it made 10 of their first 16 field goals. Freshman Jessica Lynch, who was playing for the first time since Dec. 18, converted the first of her two first-half 3-pointers to give Bucknell the 16-point advantage.
Bucknell, which scored its most points in a half against a Patriot League team since tallying 43 in the first half of last year's 76-66 victory at Navy, led 42-22 at halftime, equaling its largest lead of the game to that point.
In the slower paced second half, Bucknell turned up the defense, forcing 12 turnovers. Both teams shot 35 percent in the second half, but the Bison were able to extend their lead to as many as 28 on four occasions and Navy never closed the gap closer than 20.
Bucknell, which entered the game having outrebounded just three of its first 14 opponents, pulled down 44 boards compared to 30 for the Mids. Foster tallied seven, while Champion hauled in six.
In addition to their blistering first-half shooting, the Bison shot well from behind the arc, making 5 of 8. Lynch and Champion were both 2-for-2.
Kelly Altschul led Navy, which fell to 4-12 overall and 0-1 in the Patriot League, with 12 points in 26 minutes off the bench. Angela Myers and Cassie Consendine added 11 points apiece. Consendine also recorded a team-high seven rebounds and blocked four shots.
The win helped Bucknell improve to 6-9 overall this year and 1-0 in the Patriot League. The Bison will wrap up their current three-game road trip Wednesday night, Jan. 16, at American.
