Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
American
Bucknell Women's Basketball Holds on for 67-64 Overtime Win Over American
1/16/2008 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 16, 2008
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Bucknell women's basketball team converted 13 of 19 free throws in overtime as it held on to defeat American 67-64 Wednesday night at Bender Arena. Lauren Schober led the Bison with a season-high 21 points and nine rebounds in a career-high 44 minutes and Kristina Collymore poured in a career-high 15 points, including three free throws in overtime.
Andrea Wright also came through in the overtime stanza, making 6 of 8 free throws and scoring eight of Bucknell's 15 points in the period. She finished with 13 points total, as she was one of four Bison in double figures, marking the second straight game they accomplished that feat.
Bucknell overcame a slow start to the game to open up a lead of 12 points late in the first half before American closed the stanza on a 10-0 run over the final 2:32 to cut the Bison's halftime advantage to 28-26.
A short jumper by Hope Foster opened the scoring less than a minute into the game, but Bucknell did not score for nearly five minutes as the Eagles, keyed by four points from Liz Hayes, tallied seven straight points. The Bison responded with an 8-0 spurt as they held American without a field goal for 6:27 and took the lead for the rest of the half.
Collymore and Schober helped Bucknell to its 12-point advantage, registering 13 of the team's final 15 points in the opening stanza. Collymore tallied three field goals and a pair of free throws over the final 10 minutes of the half, while Schober connected on a short baseline jumper with the shot clock running down and a 3-pointer from the left wing as the shot clock expired on back-to-back possessions. Her 3-pointer, one of three she made in the contest, was the last field goal of the half and gave the Bison their 28-16 lead.
Hayes, who led American with 21 points, helped cut the halftime lead, converting a three-point play with 2:18 left in the half to begin the 10-0 run. She later hit a 3-pointer seconds before halftime.
Bucknell opened the second half on a roll, leading 37-29 just over four minutes in, but Foster then picked up her fourth foul. Kesha Champion was also whistled for two quick fouls and went to the bench with four less than 90 seconds later with the Bison still leading by eight.
The Eagles cut the lead in half during the six minutes Champion was on the bench, while they took their first lead since early in the game during the 10 minutes Foster was sidelined. Hayes connected on a pair of free throws to give American a 46-44 advantage immediately following Champion's fifth foul with 6:46 to play.
A pair of free throws from Collymore with 2:28 left gave Bucknell a 52-48 lead, but it was all the scoring in regulation for the Bison as Michelle Kirk hit a pair of jumpers in the final minutes to send the game to overtime.
Bucknell did have a chance to win the game on its final possession, but Foster missed a turnaround jumper from the right block.
The overtime period was a free-throw shooting contest as the teams combined to go 17-for-25 from the line in the frame. Bucknell led by as many as seven points in overtime, but a pair of Hayes 3-pointers in the final 30 seconds help cut the final margin to just three.
Bucknell, which has now gone 7-1 over its last eight overtime contests, improved to 7-9 over this year and 2-0 in the Patriot League. The Bison have now won two games in a row for the first time this season. American fell to 6-11 overall and 0-2 in the Patriot League and has now lost seven straight.
Foster totaled 10 points and four rebounds to round out the list of Bison with at least 10 points. Collymore also pulled down six rebounds and was 9-for-11 from the free throw line.
Bucknell returns to action on Sunday, Jan. 20, when it hosts Holy Cross at 12 p.m. at Sojka Pavilion. The game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
