Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Saint Francis (Pa.)
Bucknell Women's Basketball Closes Tight Matchup with Saint Francis (Pa.), 61-56
12/28/2008 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 28, 2008
LORETTO, Pa. - The Bucknell women's basketball team came out on top 61-56 after a close final minutes at Saint Francis (Pa.) on Sunday afternoon. Morgan Wrightson (Gaithersburg, Md./Notre Dame Academy) led the Bison (5-5, 0-0) with 14 points, while the Orange and Blue held the Red Flash (3-7, 2-0) to just 13 percent from behind the three-point arc.
Although the game started with a fast tempo and scrambling play at both ends of the court, the Bison were slow to make their mark on the scoreboard. Wrightson started the ball rolling at 13:07 with a jumper, making the score 13-8. Saint Francis committed a turnover on the next possession, giving Bucknell its first opening of the afternoon.
The Red Flash's zone defense kept Bucknell from getting the ball in the paint in the early stages. The strategy slowed the Bison's offense enough that sparking a scoring run was difficult. The visiting team eventually cracked the code, however, getting two inside buckets from Cosima Higham (Brooklyn, N.Y./Poly Prep Country Day) around the 11-minute mark. Wrightson brought her team closer to earning the lead when she hit a three-point shot off an inside-outside play. With 10:29 to go, the score was set at 18-15.
Just over two minutes later, Higham hit a free throw to tie the score at 18 and set the stage for teammate Trisha Krewson (Sandusky, Ohio/Perkins). Krewson's jumper from the top of the key gave the Bison the lead for the first time during the afternoon at 20-18.
Although the Red Flash would eventually pull ahead again in the first half, Bucknell would keep the contest close. Lauren Schober (Chicago, Ill./Regina Dominican) drained a three-point shot at 3:41 to re-tie the game at 26. Bouncing back from an inability to make a three-point shot in their last game at James Madison, the Bison sank three in the half and held the Red Flash to just a pair of free throws in the final 3:50 to take their biggest lead of the half into the locker room.
If the Bison started the first half slowly, the opening of the second was the opposite. Joyce Novacek (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell) finished a layup just 12 seconds into play. Wrightson came out with the hot hand early, however, scoring seven points in the first 3:49. The freshman's third basket came from behind the three-point arc, giving Bucknell the 44-32 lead and putting the team ahead by double digits for the first time in the game.
Saint Francis struggled to maintain control in the high speed of the game, frequently beating the Bison down the floor but unable to convert on any opportunities. The Red Flash eventually ended the game with 21 turnovers.
Krewson went on a scoring streak of her own. After registering just one basket in the first half, the freshman guard connected for a pair of shots from the charity stripe and two jumpers. The lead was quickly extended to 52-36.
With the advantage looking solid for Bucknell, the Bison began to deliberately slow their offensive sets. Saint Francis was not aiming to take the final minutes of the half easy, however, and attempted a run that saw them to within nine points again. Amanda Brown (Richardson, Texas/L.V. Berkner) momentarily deadened the energized home team and crowd. On a Bison fast break, Wrightson fed a nice bounce pass to Brown on a two-on-one break for a 60-49 lead.
Saint Francis battled its way back into contention in the final minutes, however. As Bucknell's scoring stalled out, the Red Flash received strong play from Britney Hodges and Alison Daly. Soon, the Orange and Blue's advantage was down to a mere four points. With the home team fouling, the Bison struggled from the free throw line with Brown sinking just one of her three attempts in the final three minutes.
Saint Francis ran out of time in the end to fall by five points.
Behind Wrightson in scoring was Higham with 11 and Brown with 10. It was the second game this season Wrightson has led the Bison in scoring. Higham led the team in rebounding with nine, while Brown had a team-best six assists.
The Red Flash's Janie Killian led with 13 points and 13 rebounds. The team's leading scorer Samantha Leach was held to just four points on the day.
Bucknell is back on the court in just a few days as it takes on the Buffalo Bulls on Friday, Jan. 2. Tipoff in Sojka Pavilion is slated for 7 p.m.
