Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Basketball Welcomes Fordham to Sojka Pavilion Saturday
11/20/2009 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 20, 2009
WHAT: Bucknell (0-3) vs. Fordham (1-1)
WHERE: Sojka Pavilion, Lewisburg, Pa.
WHEN: 5 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 21
RADIO: WVBU 90.5 FM, SportsJuice.com
STREAMING VIDEO: BucknellBison.com
LIVE STATISTICS: BucknellBison.com
Complete Bucknell-Fordham Game Notes 
About the Game
The Bison women's basketball game will be the second contest in a Bucknell tripleheader on Saturday. Bucknell football kicks off at 1 p.m. against Holy Cross at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium, and the men's hoops team tips off against Saint Francis (Pa.) at 7:30 p.m. at Sojka Pavilion.
Bucknell will be aiming for its first win of the season. The Bison have battled with some tough teams in their opening three games and are looking for that first successful result to show for their hard work.
Saturday is Applebee's Spirit Night. All fans in attendance will receive free pom-poms, sponsored by Applebee's of Lewisburg. Fans are also encouraged to bring nonperishable food items to the game. All donations will be given to the Lewisburg Food Bank.
With a Victory Over Fordham, Bucknell Would...
► Win back-to-back games against the Rams for the first time since Dec. 3, 1986 and Nov. 28, 1987.
► Defeat Fordham in Lewisburg for the first time since 1993. The Bison beat the Rams 64-58 in Davis Gym in that contest. Fordham has never played at Sojka Pavilion.
Last Meeting - Nov. 22, 2008
► Bucknell 47, Fordham 46 (Rose Hill Gym)
► Cosima Higham recorded her second double-double of the season and of her career, posting 16 points and 14 rebounds against the Rams. Both marks were game highs.
► The win gave Bucknell its third straight and allowed it to open the season 3-0 for the first time since 2001-02. It also put them at 3-0 in road games for the first time since 1986-87.
► By squeaking out the victory, Bucknell snapped a five-game losing streak to the Rams.
Quick Facts
In their Sojka Pavilion debut, the Bucknell freshmen scored half of their team's 62 points vs. Penn State ... Cosima Higham recorded the first double-double of the season and the seventh of her career with 11 points and 11 boards against the Lady Lions ... 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. Fordham
► Bucknell and Fordham first met in 1983 and played at least once a season nearly every year until 1995. The series was brought back last season after a 12-year hiatus with the Bison earning the 47-46 victory.
► Bucknell has had just one winning streak against Fordham, taking back-to-back victories in 1986 and 1987. Those wins were followed by a seven-game losing streak from 1988-93, the longest winless streak for the Bison in series history.
► Bucknell was just 1-11 against Fordham when the Rams were in the Patriot League from 1990-91 to 1994-95. That record includes a 0-2 tally in the Patriot League Tournament.
► Recent Results:
Feb. 5, 1994: Fordham, 65-41
March 3, 1994: Fordham, 57-51 (PL Tournament)
Jan. 14, 1995: Fordham, 61-54
Feb. 8, 1995: Fordham, 59-49
Nov. 11, 2008: Bucknell, 47-46
About the Rams
Although just 8-21 last season, that record was a huge improvement over Fordham's 2007-08 results. The Rams finished 0-29 two years ago.
Fordham has played twice this season, opening the year with a 76-56 home victory over Albany on Nov. 13. Three players finished in double-digit scoring, led by Tiffany Stokes with 25. Stokes also finished with a game-high 12 boards. The Rams then lost 64-57 to Central Connecticut State on the road on Wednesday. Becky Peters and Randall Hurst each finished with 20 or more points.
Doubling Up Again
With her 11 points and 11 rebounds vs. Penn State on Thursday night, Cosima Higham recorded her seventh career double-double, which leads the team. Six of those feats came last year during her sophomore campaign.
Pickpockets
All 10 Bison who saw game action against Penn State on Thursday registered at least one steal in the contest with Alyssa Dunn, Christina Chukwuedo and Lindsay Horbatuck each earning a team-high two steals. The defensive effort marks the only time since at least the 1984-85 season that every Bison recorded a steal during their time on the court.
Young but Effective
If Bucknell's freshman class was nervous heading into its Sojka Pavilion debut, it did not show. The newest group of Bison, including Alyssa Dunn, Lindsay Horbatuck, Felicia Mgbada and Rachel Voss, scored 31 of the team's 62 points against Penn State. All four put up career-high scoring totals in the process. The freshmen shot a collective 12-for-18 (.667) from the floor, earned six steals and grabbed nine rebounds.
Tough Stretch
At 0-3 against a tough series of opponents this season, Bucknell is in the midst of its longest winless streak since late November and early December of last year. The 2008-09 Bison lost four in a row, starting at home vs. Drexel and ending on the road against Penn State. The streak was snapped with a 74-66 win over Wofford at Sojka Pavilion.
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 averaged 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
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
Bucknell is now in the thick of its longest homestand of the season. Including Thursday's game with Penn State, the Bison play five of six within the friendly confines of Sojka Pavilion. After the matchup with Fordham, Bucknell will host Loyola (Md.) (Nov. 24), UMBC (Nov. 29) and Yale (Dec. 5). Only a trip to Niagara on Dec. 2 breaks up the home 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 until last night's contest with the Lady Lions. The teams' latest meeting drew an attendance of 1,847, which is now the third-largest crowd to see a women's basketball game at Sojka Pavilion. 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 256-199 (.562) record and is 189-161 (.540) 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.
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.
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
Bucknell will continue its homestand on Tuesday, Nov. 24, taking on Loyola (Md.) at 7 p.m. at Sojka Pavilion. All fans in attendance will receive a free Damon's t-shirt, sponsored by Damon's Grill.
