Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Holy Cross
Bucknell Women's Basketball Goes Cold in 55-42 Loss to Holy Cross
1/16/2010 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 16, 2010
LEWISBURG Pa. - Bucknell women's basketball twice led by as many as 12 points in the first half, but a 14-0 run by Holy Cross midway through the game ended the Bison's hopes of a win in their Patriot League home opener on Saturday afternoon. Holy Cross (5-13, 1-2) claimed the victory, 55-42, at Sojka Pavilion.
Neither team was quick out of the gates as the score stood at 4-4 at the first media timeout. Bucknell eventually got the ball rolling with some solid paint play by Cosima Higham (Brooklyn, N.Y./Poly Prep Country Day) and Joyce Novacek (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell). The duo combined for eight points by the 10:34 mark and gave the Bison the 15-4 advantage.
That lead was soon up to a dozen points following a three-point shot by Trisha Krewson (Sandusky, Ohio/Perkins) at 9:08. Although the Crusaders brought the score differential back down to single digits two minutes later, the Bison responded. Felicia Mgbada (Edison, N.J./Blair Academy) connected for three points on a layup and a foul, and Krewson scored her eighth point of the game to get the lead back to 12.
Unfortunately for the Bison, that was the last of the point production for some time. Holy Cross ended the half on an 11-0 run, bringing the halftime score to 25-24 in favor of Bucknell.
The Bison's scoring drought continued after returning from the locker room. Novacek scored on a put-back to tie the contest at 27-27 a minute after play resumed, but Bucknell never regained its handle on the game. At 15:24, the Crusaders capped off a 22-4 run following a three-point play from Alyssa May that gave them a six-point lead. That advantage was the biggest until the final minutes of the game when free throws pushed Holy Cross ahead by double digits for the first time.
Bucknell stayed within five points of its opponent for much of the second half and twice got within just two points. Dodgy free throw shooting and difficulty protecting the ball in the midst of Holy Cross' pressure defense slowed the Bison's progress, however. Bucknell was 1-for-4 from the charity stripe and committed 12 turnovers in the second stanza.
Holy Cross was solid with its free throws down the stretch, finishing the half 9-for-9 from the line. Six of those baskets came in the final minute to give the Crusaders' their first win of the Patriot League season.
Helping Holy Cross to its ultimate 13-point lead was its three-point shooting. The Crusaders were 7-for-21 (33.3 percent) from behind the arc, including a 3-for-9 performance from Bethany O'Dell. The Bison, however, concluded the afternoon just 2-for-17 (11.8 percent) in three-point field goals.
By the time the last whistle blew, Bucknell had been outscored 42-17 in the final 23:42 of the game.
Krewson and Novacek tied for the team high in scoring with 10 points apiece. Novacek also had eight rebounds and three blocked shots. Higham reclaimed her dominance on the glass, grabbing a game-high 16 rebounds, but narrowly missed a double-double with eight points. The Bison outrebounded the Crusaders as a team, 40-31.
O'Dell led all players with 16 points, while Whitney Fremeau finished with eight points and eight assists.
Bucknell will continue its home stretch with a 7 p.m. matchup with Lafayette on Wednesday, Jan. 20. The Bison will be hosting a coat drive. Fans who donate a coat at the game to the Lewisburg Food Bank will receive a voucher for a free hot dog at the concession stand.
