Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Buffalo
Second-Half Comeback Falls Short as Bucknell Women's Basketball Loses 78-65 at Buffalo
1/2/2008 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 2, 2008
BUFFALO, N.Y. - A strong defensive effort in the second half helped the Bucknell women's basketball team cut an 18-point halftime deficit to five with just under five minutes to play, but the Bison could not climb in front and lost to Buffalo by a 78-65 margin Wednesday night at Alumni Arena. Amanda Brown (Richardson, Texas/L.V. Berkner) led Bucknell with 14 points, while Jessica Fortman paced the Bulls with a career-high 21.
After trailing 50-32 at halftime, Bucknell (5-9) opened up the second half on a 10-3 run with Kristina Collymore (Montclair, N.J./Montclair) netting six of her seven points during that stretch.
Later, a Brown 3-pointer from the top of the key brought the Bison to within 66-58, the closest they had been since it was 14-6. Minutes later a short jumper by Lauren Schober (Chicago, Ill./Regina Dominican), who scored six of her eight points in the second half after playing just four minutes in the first half, made the score 67-60. On Buffalo's next possession, Kesha Champion (Chesapeake, Va./Indian River) beat Ashley Zuber to a ball she knocked away and tapped it to Schober, who converted the layup to cut the deficit to 67-62. However, the Bulls outscored the Bison 11-3 the rest of the way as Bucknell made only 1 of 10 from the field over the final 4:30.
Buffalo (7-6) came out of the gate in the first half on fire, making its first five field goals, and six of its first eight, to open an early 14-2 lead. Heather Turner tallied eight of her points during this span and had 14 of her 15 points at halftime. Bucknell was as cold as the Bulls were hot, missing eight consecutive field goals after Schober's layup off the opening tip.
The Bulls extended their lead to 28-12 before Bucknell got on track offensively. Champion and Taylor Phillips got hot from outside as they helped the Bison to a 12-4 run. A Champion jumper was sandwiched by a 3-pointer and a jumper from the right wing by Phillips. Champion concluded the run with another jumper and a 3-pointer on back-to-back possessions to cut the deficit to 32-24.
Just as quickly as Bucknell cut the lead to single digits, Buffalo went back up by 16 when it scored eight unanswered points in just over a minute with a three-point play by Bridgette Kendricks capping the run.
Bucknell's 50-32 deficit at the half marked the second time in the last four games a team netted at least 50 points in a half against its defense. It was also the first time since February 2006 the Bulls tallied at least 50 points in a half.
The Bison limited Buffalo to 28 second-half points largely because of its defense that forced 13 turnovers after halftime and 22 for the game as Champion recorded a season-high four steals. However, the Bulls made 30 of 49 field goals and shot 61.2 percent. Bucknell was 28 of 68 (41.2 percent) from the field.
While Bucknell won the turnover battle 22-14, it was outrebounded 34-26, including 21-10 in the first half. Cosima Higham led the Bison with a career-high five rebounds off the bench. Schober and Andrea Wright added four apiece. Jamie Schiebner led the Bulls with 11, while Turner added seven.
Buffalo had a distinct advantage in 3-point field goals, with Stephanie Bennett knocking down five, including four in the first half. The Bulls shot 6 of 11 from long range, while the Bison were 5 of 20.
Bucknell's freshman trio of Phillips, Joyce Novacek and Higham had solid games, playing most of their minutes in the first half. Phillips scored five points, while Novacek posted four. Higham tallied just one free throw, but hauled in her five boards.
Champion and Hope Foster joined Brown in double figures with 12 points apiece. It marked the second consecutive contest the same trio has netted double figures for Bucknell.
Bucknell will now be idle until it opens Patriot League play Jan. 12 at Navy.
