Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
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Bucknell Women's Basketball Stumbles at American, 71-63
2/11/2009 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 11, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Joyce Novacek (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell) scored 14 points in the first half, but the Bucknell women's basketball team struggled to hit shots in the second stanza, forcing it to a 71-63 defeat at Bender Arena on Wednesday night. Amanda Brown (Richardson, Texas/L.V. Berkner) led the team with 16 points and six assists.
The second meeting of 2009 between the Bison (12-10, 4-5) and the Eagles (17-7, 7-2) started of at a feverish pace with both teams running the floor early. Brown opened the scoring for the night, but Novacek was the early story for Bucknell. The sophomore tallied 14 points in the first half, reaching double digits with less than seven minutes into the contest. Novacek connected on several tough baskets in the paint and was able to get ahead of the defense a number of times down the court to add to her point total.
The Orange and Blue struggled from the outside, however, making it difficult to keep pace with American who had little trouble from behind the three-point arc in the early goings. American's Nicole Ryan sank back-to-back three pointers before the first media timeout to break an 8-8 tie.
Trisha Krewson (Sandusky, Ohio/Perkins) kept the Eagles from getting too far in front later in the stanza, scoring six straight points for Bucknell and the team's first three-pointer at 6:28. Despite the freshman's mini-burst of scoring, American continued to sink its shots. The Eagles cashed in on a four-point possession with under three minutes remaining. After getting fouled behind the three-point arc, Talicia Jackson made two of three foul shots, got the rebound on the miss and connected on a shot from Ryan.
Bucknell struggled to get a defensive stop in the waning minutes. With less than a minute remaining, the Eagles' Pam Stanfield eventually improved the home squad's lead to nine, its largest of the half. After being quiet through much of the opening 20 minutes, Brown stepped up to make sure the deficit remained in single digits. The senior posted eight points in the final 5:23.
The Bison's difficulties continued into the second half. American extended its advantage to 10 points with 17:55 remaining, and Cosima Higham (Brooklyn, N.Y./Poly Prep Country Day) earned three points the hard way with a layup and free throw. The team would continue to struggle to score from that point on, however.
Bucknell went 4:20 without a field goal, while the Eagles scored six during that stretch. Lauren Schober (Chicago, Ill./Regina Dominican) finally put an end to the drought at 7:24, but American had already given itself a 66-48 lead.
Bucknell scored six points in the final minute, getting baskets from Higham, Brown and Schober, but American's extra spark in its step closed the door on the Bison at the end, giving it an eight-point lead at the final buzzer.
Behind Brown's game-high 16 points was Schober with 11 and Krewson with 10. Novacek ended with 14 points after being held scoreless in the second half. The game marked just the second time four Bison scored in double figures but were unable to bring home a victory. Higham led the team in rebounds with eight.
Ryan led American with 15 points, followed closely by Michelle Kirk with 14. Kirk and Ebony Edwards shared the team lead with six rebounds apiece.
The Bison are back in action on Saturday, Feb. 14 when they take on Holy Cross at 7 p.m. at Sojka Pavilion. The Valentine's Day showdown is Think Pink Night, with the Bison wearing pink shirts during warmups that will be autographed and auctioned on BucknellBison.com as well as thrown into the stands during the game. The contest is also "Have Dinner on Us" Night. All fans in attendance will be eligible for $150 gift certificates to local restaurants.
