Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
James Madison
Bucknell Women's Basketball Drops 76-56 Decision at James Madison
12/21/2008 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 21, 2008
HARRISONBURG, Va. - Three Bison scored in double digits, including 14 points from Cosima Higham (Brooklyn, N.Y./Poly Prep Country Day), but the outside shooting of the James Madison Dukes proved to be too much as the Bucknell women's basketball team fell 76-56 on Sunday afternoon at the JMU Convocation Center.
Bucknell outrebounded its opponent for the fifth consecutive game, this time by a count of 41-33. Unfortunately for the Bison faithful, however, James Madison put four players in double-figure scoring, making a fourth road victory difficult to pull off.
James Madison pushed the pace from the opening tip, making it difficult for the Bison to find their rhythm early. Bucknell eventually settled down, however, using multiple screens to create more scoring opportunities for itself. Although the Dukes started on a 12-0 run, Bucknell eventually brought the score to within six with 11:41 to go. A basket in the paint by Joyce Novacek (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell) set the point tally at 20-14.
The home team continued to try to pull away, but Bucknell was not about to let that happen easily. Higham earned a pair of points in the lane at 7:48, to bring the Bison within seven.
James Madison extended its lead to double digits for the sixth time of the half with a three-pointer from Courtney Hamner, but the Bison continued their hard work on the offensive side of the court. Taylor Phillips (South Parkersburg, W. Va./Parkersburg South) connected for a bucket on a hard drive to the basket, and Trisha Krewson (Sandusky, Ohio/Perkins) hit a jumper from the free throw line at 4:27 to bring the Dukes' lead down to nine.
Bucknell struggled to keep the lead to single digits in the final minutes of the half, however, and James Madison kept at its relentless effort offensively. As the halftime buzzer sounded, the Dukes led 44-31 on the strength of 15 points, including a trio of three-point baskets, from Dawn Evans. Bucknell was in the opening stanza by a crew of scorers. Novacek, Higham, Krewson and Amanda Brown (Richardson, Texas/L.V. Berkner) registered six points a piece through the opening 20 minutes.
James Madison committed fouls early in the second half, and Bucknell capitalized on those mistakes. Higham earned the first two baskets of the half, both in paint, putting the score at 47-35 just over a minute after play resumed.
Bucknell played tight defense in the early goings, particularly in the post position. Physical play and double teams made it difficult for the Dukes to get an easy basket in the paint. James Madison continued to shoot well from behind the three-point arc, however, as Hamner and Sarah Williams each hit a trey before the 17-minute mark.
Lauren Schober (Chicago, Ill./Regina Dominican) kept things interesting when she earned three points the hard way. The senior's extra effort paid off when she earned a pair of points in the paint and hit her second free throw of the afternoon, making the score 54-40 in favor of James Madison.
Effort was again rewarded a few minutes later when Higham battled on the boards off a missed jumper by a fellow Bison. After tipping the ball away from a defender several times, the sophomore forward finally grabbed the ball. Higham made the putback and drew a foul in the process. Although she missed the free throw, Schober out-worked the Dukes, getting the board. The play nearly repeated itself two minutes later with Higham earning the bucket and a foul, and Schober rebounding the missed free throw. At 9:24, Bucknell trailed 67-46.
James Madison's success from behind the three-point arc continued to burn the Bison, diminishing the evidence on the scoreboard of their hard work. Bucknell was also slowed down as James Madison switched to a zone defense with about seven minutes remaining in the game, further inhibiting the Orange and Blue from getting some quick points.
A series of free throws as the Dukes continued to foul throughout the second half helped Bucknell to stay as close as possible. The Bison scored six straight points from the charity stripe, getting two apiece from Christina Chukwuedo (Monessen, Pa./Monessen), Schober and Le'Le' LeSeur (Snellville, Ga./Wesleyan). James Madison proved to be too much, however, finishing the game 20 points up.
In addition to her 14 points, Higham finished with eight rebounds. Schober equaled her season-best 10 points, including going 4-for-5 from the free throw line, and Krewson set a new career high with 10 points as well.
Evans finished with a game-high 19 points for the Dukes, followed by Hamner with 17, Williams with 14 and Lauren Jimenez with 10. Evans also led all players with eight assists on the day.
The Bison are back in action on Sunday, Dec. 28 to take on Saint Francis (Pa.) in Loretto, Pa. Tipoff for the matchup with the Red Flash is slated for 2 p.m.
