Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Towson
Bucknell Women's Basketball Continues Slide at Towson, Falls 59-48
12/7/2009 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 7, 2009
TOWSON, Md. – Lindsay Horbatuck (Avon, Conn./Avon) finished with a career-high 13 points and led the Bison with three steals, but Towson was had too strong of a first half, handing Bucknell women's basketball a 59-48 loss at the Towson Center Monday night. Horbatuck also tied a personal record with six rebounds.
Bucknell opened the game by struggling to put points on the board, getting just six points in the first 10 minutes. Missed layups and frequent turnovers were the culprits for the Bison's low total. Horbatuck earned her team's first two buckets on the block. Morgan Wrightson (Gaithersburg, Md./Notre Dame Academy (Va.)) then got herself going on a putback at 11:06 and followed it up with a hard-earned three-point play two minutes later.
Wrightson and Horbatuck were the only two Bison able to stir up any offense through much of the opening frame. The duo combined for the team's first 15 points and 16 of its 20 in the half.
Despite the Bison's difficulties, they stayed right in the mix with the Tigers. Towson shot better than 46 percent in the half, but missed opportunities in the paint and foul trouble limited its halftime lead to 12 points at 32-20.
Bucknell shot 6-for-9 from the free throw line, and Wrightson's own 4-for-5 mark helped her to a team-best 10 points through the first half of play.
When play resumed in the second half, neither team looked to have a hot hand. Bucknell often went nearly two minutes between field goals, and Towson also had a tough time finding its stroke. The Tigers continued to grow their lead, however, as they made frequent trips to the free throw line. The home team made just one field goal in nearly six minutes of play midway through the half, but still managed an 8-2 run during that stretch to give it a 52-27 lead.
The Bison kept plugging away despite the deficit. Trisha Krewson (Sandusky, Ohio/Perkins) began to find her shot with just over five minutes to go, earning all nine of her points at the end. Krewson helped to keep the Bison going in the final minutes as they outscored the Tigers 21-7 after the 10:20 mark.
Joyce Novacek (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell) battled in the paint at both ends of the court. After being held scoreless in the first half, the junior posted eight points before fouling out at the 3:54 mark. She also ended her night with seven rebounds, two assists and a block.
Novacek's seven boards was a game-high. Close behind was Horbatuck who added six rebounds and three steals to her career-high point total. Rachel Voss (Cincinnati, Ohio/Loveland) finished with a career high of her own, posting a Bison-best six assists.
Katrina Wheeler had a team-high 13 points for Towson. Dovile Miliauskaite added 10 points, including 6-for-6 from the free throw line during the Tigers' run at the stripe, and six rebounds.
Bucknell will be back in action after a break for final exams, taking on Drexel on Dec. 21 in Philadelphia. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.
