Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Loyola (Md)
Bucknell Women's Basketball Claims Second Straight Win, 67-60 Over Loyola (Md.)
11/24/2009 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 24, 2009
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Joyce Novacek (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell) battled her way to her second consecutive double-double, and three other Bison posted double-figure scoring nights as Bucknell women's basketball claimed its second straight victory, 67-60 over Loyola (Md.) Tuesday night at Sojka Pavilion. Novacek finished with a team-high 10 boards and with 15 points, was second only to Morgan Wrightson (Gaithersburg, Md./Notre Dame Academy (Va.)) who tallied 19.
Bucknell (2-3) dominated inside, outscoring Loyola (2-3) in the paint, 40-26. More than half of those points came in the second half with Novacek's help. The junior forward tallied 13 of her 15 points in the second frame, spurring the Bison to the overall advantage.
The Bison also recorded a season-low 18 turnovers, while forcing the Greyhounds into 22. That margin paid off offensively, as Bucknell had more than triple the points off turnovers Loyola had at 25-8. Lindsay Horbatuck (Avon, Conn./Avon) had a hand in that total, registering a career-high and game-high six steals, many of which resulted in Bison layups or a trip to the free throw line.
Horbatuck rewarded herself for her first steal of the night by taking the ball the length of the court and laying it in for her fourth points of the night. That gave Bucknell its first lead of the game at 6-4, but there was still more than 15 minutes remaining in the frame.
Despite the high-energy play, Bucknell struggled to gain any convincing momentum. Wrightson scored eight straight points for the Bison, but Loyola had its own offensive production scattered throughout that five minute stretch.
Wrightson's layup, which was a result of her steal at the top of the three-point arc after the Greyhounds got their signals crossed, brought the Bison to within one at 20-19 and set the stage for Novacek's lone points of the half to give their team the lead. Novacek hit a layup for 21-20 at 2:46, but the lead swapped hands two more times in the next 30 seconds. By the end of the half, there had been six ties and seven lead changes. Bucknell had the last word, however, as Trisha Krewson's (Sandusky, Ohio/Perkins) own layup gave Bucknell the 23-22 halftime lead.
Loyola's Erica DiClemente promptly re-tied the game less than a minute into the second half. After shooting 2-for-9 from the free throw line in the first half, DiClemente knocked down two free throws to keep her team in the mix.
There were two more lead changes and another tie before Bucknell completely regained control. Krewson drilled a three-pointer at 18:28 to put Bucknell up 28-25, and the Bison never relinquished the lead again. Things did get close a few times, however. A Krewson steal led to a layup by Novacek with 16:59 to play to put Bucknell up by eight. Loyola rallied back to within one, but encountered Rachel Voss (Cincinnati, Ohio/Loveland) who, after being held scoreless in the first half, started to heat up.
Voss hit a jumper to get Bucknell's lead back up to three and, coupled with some fastbreak layups and tough play in the paint, the Bison continued to grow that lead. Voss drained a pair of three-point shots and a layup consecutively to lead Bucknell to its largest advantage of the night at 58-46.
With less than four minutes remaining in the contest, Loyola ran out of time and options. The Bison's lead held steady as Greyhounds began fouling out. In the end, Bucknell proved too deep and headed into Thanksgiving with another home victory.
Voss finished the night with 11 points, all of which came in the second half. Joining Voss, Novacek and Wrightson in double figures was Krewson with 13. Krewson also set a career high in assists with six. Not only did Novacek lead the defensive effort on the glass - the Bison limited Loyola to six offensive boards - the junior also earned two blocked shots. That moves her into 10th place all-time at Bucknell with 52 career rejections.
Kaitlin Grant led the Greyhounds with 16 points, followed by DiClemente with 15. Miriam McKenzie, Loyola's leading scorer and rebounding entering the game, finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds. The forward also committed 10 turnovers.
Bucknell will be back in action at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 29. The Bison will host their second consecutive opponent from Baltimore, taking on UMBC at Sojka Pavilion. The showdown with the Retrievers is Take a Kid to the Game Day. Children get in free when an adult purchases a ticket. Kids can also stay after the game for a free clinic put on by the Bison.
