Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
George Mason
Women's Basketball Opens Season With 62-51 Win Over George Mason
11/14/2008 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
FAIRFAX, Va. - Senior Amanda Brown (Richardson, Texas/L.V. Berkner) scored 22 points, and sophomore Cosima Higham (Brooklyn, N.Y./Poly Prep Country Day) set a career high with 12 points and 13 rebounds as the Bucknell women's basketball team opened the 2008-09 season with a 62-51 win over George Mason at the Patriot Center on Friday night. With the victory, the Bison (1-0, 0-0) extend their winning streak over the Patriots to four games and earn their first road-opening win since 2001.
Bucknell trailed much of the first half but always stayed within striking distance. The game pace picked up with about two minutes remaining, and the half finished on an exciting run for the Bison. The team drove the lane with authority and crashed the boards. The team started to get to the free throw line, something it had not done through much of the half. Higham was successful on all three of her first-half attempts, including one to complete a three-point play at 1:52.
Sophomore Joyce Novacek (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell) totaled four rebounds in the half, three of them coming off the offensive board, and Higham had six. The Bison ended the half up 32-27.
The Bison started the second half in foul trouble. Senior Lauren Schober (Chicago, Ill./Regina Dominican) committed her fourth less than five minutes in. She did not return until 6:30 left in the game. George Mason also struggled with fouls, however, and sent Novacek to the line for her first of seven shots after a hard foul by the Patriots' Rashauna Hobbs at 11:53.
Nearly two minutes later, Novacek returned to the line. After missing her second from the line, Higham cleaned up, earning the basket and the chance for a three-point play. She successfully converted the free throw and the Bison saw their lead increase, 46-39. Although fouls slowed Bucknell's ability to extend the lead as quickly as they would have liked to, George Mason was unable to regain the lead. After the Bison put up a solid defensive stop to a Patriot fast break at 5:15, the road team never looked back, closing the door and earning the first win of the young season.
Schober and Novacek also ended the night with double-digit scoring, each with 10 points. Novacek also finished with six rebounds.
Brittany Poindexter had 20 points for George Mason, and Whitney Ward finished with 12. Eugenia Broadus led the Patriots on the boards with nine.
Bucknell takes to the court again on Tuesday, Nov. 18, when it takes on Yale in New Haven, Conn.
