Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Basketball Hosts Penn State in Home Opener
11/18/2009 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 18, 2009
WHAT: Bucknell (0-2) vs. Penn State (2-0)
WHERE: Sojka Pavilion, Lewisburg, Pa.
WHEN: 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 19
RADIO: None
STREAMING VIDEO: BucknellBison.com
LIVE STATISTICS: BucknellBison.com
Complete Bucknell-Penn State Game Notes 
About the Game
Bucknell will be looking for a number of firsts as it takes on Penn State at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Sojka Pavilion. The Bison will be looking for their first win of the season as well as the first victory against the Lady Lions in program history. Penn State will be aiming for its third straight win this season.
Thursday has been designated an Orange Out game and Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night.
With a Victory Over Penn State, Bucknell Would...
► Win its first game of the 2009-10 season.
► Win its first game against Penn State since women's basketball became a varsity sport at Bucknell in 1973-74.
► Win its first home opener since 2006-07. The Bison defeated Hampton 85-77 at Sojka Pavilion.
Bucknell-Penn State Series
Penn State has never lost in five tries against the Bison. The closest contest came in 2007, with the Lady Lions sneaking through with just a nine-point win.
Last Meeting - Dec. 9, 2008
► Penn State 81, Bucknell 44 (Bryce Jordan Center)
► Former Bison Amanda Brown led Bucknell with 14 points, including 4-for-7 shooting from 3-point distance. The Lady Lions' Tyra Grant recorded a game-high 24 points.
► Bucknell out-rebounded Penn State at the Bryce Jordan Center, 43-36. It was the third consecutive opponent the Bison had outrebounded. Bucknell went on to grab more rebounds against six of its next seven foes.
Quick Facts
Cosima Higham was named to the Iona Tip-Off All-Tournament Team after leading the Bison in scoring, rebounding and blocks last weekend ... Trisha Krewson was named the Patriot League Rookie of the Year last season ... in addition to Krewson's All-Rookie Team selection, former teammates Amanda Brown (First Team) and Lauren Schober (Second Team) were honored by the Patriot League ... Cosima Higham (36) and Joyce Novacek (33) both rank in the top 10 at Bucknell for single-season blocked shots in 2008-09 ... Higham and Novacek are also on the verge of breaking into the top 10 for career blocks with both needing fewer than five rejections to join the list ... Bucknell has finished with an overall record of .500 or better in 17 of the program's 36 years ... the Bison were ranked among the national leaders in field goal percentage defense, scoring defense, blocked shots, rebounding margin and assist/turnover ratio in 2008-09.
History vs. Penn State
► Although not the most frequently contested series, the matchup between Bucknell and Penn State is one of the oldest in program history. The two teams first met in 1973-74, the first year of women's varsity basketball in Lewisburg.
► Former Bison Hope Foster scored her 1,000th career point in the Orange and Blue during the teams' 2007 meeting. Foster finished her career with 1,256 points and now ranks 10th all-time in scoring at Bucknell.
► Penn State has taken the victory in all five of the teams' meetings, but Bucknell got closest in 2007, the only time in series history the Bison have hosted the Lady Lions. Bucknell fell by a score of 64-55 in that game at Sojka Pavilion. In University Park, Pa., however, Penn State is averaging 73.8 points, compared to 47.5 points per game for the Bison.
► Head-to-Head Results:
Feb. 19, 1974 Penn State, 49-30
Feb. 6, 1975 Penn State, 79-44
Nov. 15, 2001 Penn State, 86-72
Dec. 15, 2007 Penn State, 64-55
Dec. 9, 2008 Penn State, 81-44
About the Lady Lions
Penn State comes to Sojka Pavilion with two wins already under its belt. The Lady Lions defeated Drexel in Philadelphia in their season opener, 71-61. Tyra Grant, who is the team's leading scorer in the early goings, posted a double-double with 25 points and 11 rebounds.
Penn State went on to beat NJIT 79-57 in University Park, Pa., last Sunday. Penn State held NJIT to just 29 percent shooting in that contest, while Grant, Alex Bentley, Julia Trogele and Zhaque Gray all finished in double-digit scoring.
All-Tournament Team for Higham
Cosima Higham opened the 2009-10 season on a high note. After the first weekend of play at the Iona Tip-Off Tournament, Higham is averaging 12.5 points and 8.5 rebounds. Her performance earned her Bucknell's only selection to the All-Tournament Team last weekend.
Three in Double Digits
In each of its games at the Iona Tip-Off Tournament, Bucknell put three players in double-figure scoring. Cosima Higham accomplished the feat twice with 10 points vs. Miami (Ohio) and 15 vs. Iona. Also in on the action against the RedHawks were Morgan Wrightson (12 points) and Rachel Voss (10). Trisha Krewson (14) and Joyce Novacek (11) also chipped in double-digit points against the Gaels.
Quick Start for Voss
Bison fans did not have to wait long to see what Rachel Voss is capable of. The freshman guard opened her Bucknell career in the team's season opener last Saturday vs. Miami (Ohio) with 10 points, four assists and three steals. Voss also earned her first start in the Orange and Blue.
This Week's Community Outreach
The Bison are wasting little time in getting their community outreach efforts underway. Thursday's contest vs. Penn State has been designated an Orange Out game, with the Bison encouraging fans to wear orange in support of the team. It is also Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night. Bucknell faculty and staff will be invited to participate in a halftime spirit contest with the winners earning the use of a courtside suite at a future women's game.
Saturday's game vs. Fordham is Applebee's Spirit Night. All those in attendance will receive pom-poms, sponsored by Applebee's of Lewisburg.
Home Stretch
The contest with Penn State is just the first of several games at Sojka Pavilion for the women's squad early in 2009-10. Including the matchup with the Lady Lions, the Bison will play five of their next six games on their home court. Bucknell will host Fordham (Nov. 21), Loyola (Md.) (Nov. 24), UMBC (Nov. 29) and Yale (Dec. 5) during that stretch.
Filling Sojka Pavilion
The Bucknell-Penn State matchup in 2007 drew one of the largest crowds for a women's game at Sojka Pavilion since the facility opened in 2003. That game drew 1,682 fans, ranking it fifth in the court's brief history. The best attended women's game at Sojka Pavilion came in 2003 when Bucknell hosted Lehigh in front of 2,641 fans.
Lycoming Added to Schedule
Bucknell has added a game to its 2009-10 slate. The Bison will host Lycoming at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 30 at Sojka Pavilion. The Bucknell men's basketball squad will follow by welcoming Marist at 7 p.m. the same night.
400 Program Wins
Bucknell women's basketball recorded the 400th win in program history against Lafayette on Feb. 18, 2009. In their 36 years, the Bison have accumulated a 402-481 record. Bucknell began a varsity team in 1973-74 and, since its inaugural season, the Orange and Blue have made two trips to the NCAA Tournament, won two Patriot League regular-season titles and recorded three 20+ win seasons. Bucknell is the sixth team in the Patriot League to hit the 400-win mark, following Holy Cross (615 wins at the end of the 2008-09 season), Army (467), Navy (454), Lafayette (417) and Lehigh (414).
PL Postseason Honors
A trio of Bison earned Patriot League postseason honors prior to the league tournament last year. Former Bison Amanda Brown was named First Team All-Patriot League, while classmate Lauren Schober was a Second Team All-Patriot League selection. Trisha Krewson started off her career in the Orange and Blue with a bang, adding Rookie of the Year to her All-Rookie Team nod. Krewson is the fifth Bison to be named the Patriot League's top rookie.
Bucknell has now placed 15 players on the league's first team, including one in each of the last four years in Hope Foster (2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08) and Brown (2006-07). The Orange and Blue have also had 15 Second Team selections and 15 All-Rookie selections. Schober is the first Bison named to the Second Team since Lindsey Hollobaugh in 2005-06, while Krewson is the first member of the All-Rookie Team since current teammate Le'Le' LeSeur was chosen in 2006-07 and the first Rookie of the Year since Hollobaugh in 2003-04.
250 Wins for Fedorjaka
With the win over Colgate on Jan. 24, 2009, head coach Kathy Fedorjaka earned her 250th career victory. Now in her 17th year as a head coach, Fedorjaka has amassed a 256-198 (.564) record and is 189-160 (.542) in just over 12 seasons at Bucknell. Prior to Bucknell, Fedorjaka coached at Connecticut College and Bloomsburg. She returned to Lewisburg after serving as a Bucknell assistant from 1990-93 to take over as head coach in 1997. Since then, she has led two teams to the NCAA tournament and twice earned Patriot League Coach of the Year honors.
Wins, Wins...
By finishing the 2008-09 season with a 16-12 record, Bucknell women's basketball put together four consecutive seasons with a winning percentage of .500 or better for the first time in program history. During that stretch, the Bison are 70-49.
... and More Wins
Bucknell finished its 2008-09 Patriot League campaign with an 8-6 record, giving the team a .500 or better record in each of the last four seasons as well as 14 of the last 15. The Bison also posted an 8-6 record in 2007-08, a 12-2 tally in 2006-07 and a 10-4 record in 2005-06 to start the streak.
Taking the Nation by Storm
Bucknell was ranked in the top 100 nationally in three categories and nearly made it five for the second year in a row. The Bison were among the country's best teams in field goal percentage defense (.366), scoring defense (57.6) and blocked shots (3.8 bpg).
National Ranking
35. FG% Defense (.366)
54. Scoring Defense (57.6)
98. Blocked Shots (3.8)
105. Rebounding Margin (+2.1)
119. Assist/Turnover Ratio (0.79)
Fluid Lineup
For the second consecutive year, the Bison used nine different starting lineups in 2008-09. That total ranks second in program history, tying the 1981-82, 1983-84, 1992-93 and 2007-08 teams. They trail only the 1991-92 squad, which used 13 different lineups over the course of the year.
The 2008-09 team started its season with six different crews in the first eight games before settling in for the final stretch. After trying out some different combinations, Bucknell finished the season with the same lineup in each of its last 11 games, playing to a 7-4 record.
Strictly 40 Minutes
Two seasons ago, the Bison tied the program record with four overtime games played. A year later, Bucknell did not find itself in any such situations despite playing in eight games that were decided by six points or less. It was the first time since the 2004-05 season Bucknell did not take part in any extra periods.
Fifty or Fewer
Bucknell held its opponent to 50 points or fewer on eight occasions last season. The most recent instance came against Colgate on Feb. 21, 2009 when the Bison defeated the Raiders 53-35 at Sojka Pavilion. Bucknell also held Fordham (46 points), Drexel (44), Cornell (45), Navy (50), Army (50), Holy Cross (44) and Lafayette (40) to fifty or fewer during the season.
Block Party
Bucknell women's basketball hosted quite the block party in 2008-09. Cosima Higham and Joyce Novacek both joined the program leaders in single-season blocked shots. Higham completed her sophomore year tied for seventh with Marie Kocornik with 36, while Novacek finished tied for 10th with Anne Kirwin with 33. Interestingly, Kocornik and Kirwin also set those marks as teammates during the 1985-86 season.
Two More for the Club
For the second straight year, two Bison broke the 1,000-point barrier in the same season. Amanda Brown achieved the milestone in just the fifth game of the season at Loyola (Md.), while Lauren Schober followed suit against Army later in the season. Brown finished her career with 1,344 points, ranking her seventh all-time at Bucknell. At 1,129 points, Schober is 15th all-time.
Teammates Who Reached 1,000+ Points During the Same Year
1. Jennifer Walz & Marie Kocornik (1987-88)
2. Jennifer Walz* & Lynne Walshaw (1988-89)
3. Molly Creamer & Vicki Quimby (2000-01)
4. Molly Creamer*, Desire Almind, Kate Franks (2002-03)
5. Hope Foster & Kesha Champion (2007-08)
6. Amanda Brown & Lauren Schober (2008-09)
* Scored 2,000th point
Patriot League Preseason Poll
Bucknell was picked fifth in the 2009-10 Patriot League Preseason Poll. The Bison were also picked fifth prior to the 2008-09 season on their way to finishing in a tie for third place by season's end. Bucknell has now finished at or better than predicted eight times in the last 11 years.
Lehigh was picked first in the 2009-10 poll with 97 points, including 13 first-place votes. The Mountain Hawks were trailed by American and Holy Cross, which tied for second with 76 points and Navy (54) in fourth place.
2009-10 Patriot League Preseason Poll
| Team (First-place votes) | Points | |
| 1 | Lehigh (13) | 97 |
| 2. | American (3) | 76 |
| Holy Cross | 76 | |
| 4. | Navy | 54 |
| 5. | Bucknell | 52 |
| 6. | Army | 50 |
| 7. | Colgate | 22 |
| 8. | Lafayette | 21 |
Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Michelle Kirk, American
Erin Anthony, Army
Briana McFadden, Holy Cross
Erica Prosser, Lehigh (Player of the Year)
Alex Ross, Lehigh
Connecting with the Community
Bucknell spent a lot of time in the community last winter. Among their activities, the Bison spent an afternoon playing basketball and other games with children at the Donald Heiter Community Center, and visited with families at the Danville Ronald McDonald House and residents at the RiverWoods senior living community. The team regularly officiates games for Upward Youth Basketball as well.
In the (Pink) Zone
The Bison will again be joining the national effort to promote the fight against breast cancer. Last season, Bucknell hosted a Pink Zone Night when it played Holy Cross on February 14. Bucknell players wore pink t-shirts during warm-ups, with two of those shirts being autographed by the team and auctioned on BucknellBison.com. More than 30 of the same shirts were also tossed into the stands during the game.
In 2009-10, those efforts will continue when the Bison welcome American on Feb. 10. Among the planned activities is another t-shirt giveaway, sponsored by Evangelical Community Hospital. The Bison are very pleased to be teaming up with Evangelical's Women's Resource Center to help spotlight breast cancer and promote women's health.
Up Next
When Bucknell women's basketball takes to the court again, it will be part of a busy day in Lewisburg. The team plays Fordham at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21. Prior to tipoff, Bucknell football takes on Holy Cross at 1 p.m. at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium in its final game of the regular season. The Bison men's team will follow its female counterparts at Sojka Pavilion with the contest vs. Saint Francis (Pa.) slated for 7:30 p.m.
