Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Basketball Opens Patriot League Action Friday at Navy
1/7/2010 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 7, 2010
WHAT: Bucknell (4-9, 0-0) vs. Navy (8-7, 0-0)
WHERE: Alumni Hall, Annapolis, Md.
WHEN: 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 8
RADIO: WVBU 90.5 FM, SportsJuice.com
STREAMING VIDEO: Patriot League All-Access
LIVE STATISTICS: BucknellBison.com
Complete Bucknell-Navy Game Notes 
ABOUT THE GAME
Bucknell opens the 2010 Patriot League season at Navy on Friday. The Bison also started league play with a win over the Midshipmen last season before going on to finish in a third-place tie at 8-6 in the Patriot League. Tipoff in Annapolis, Md., is set for 7 p.m.
Bucknell will go for its 28th win in the series with Navy. That is the fourth-most wins against a Patriot League foe for the Bison with the most coming against Colgate (33), Lehigh (30) and Lafayette (29). Bucknell also has 27 total wins against Army.
WITH A VICTORY OVER NAVY, BUCKNELL WOULD...
► Win its fifth consecutive Patriot League opener. The previous four victories have also come against Navy.
► Win its 23rd game against the Mids in the last 26 tries.
► Claim it second consecutive road win after starting the year 0-6 away from Sojka Pavilion.
► Have its second winnings streak of the season and its first since late November. The Bison defeated Fordham (63-56) and Loyola (Md.) (67-60) at Sojka Pavilion.
LAST MEETING - MARCH 7, 2009
► Navy 53, Bucknell 51 (Stabler Arena)
► No. 6 Navy won its first game against Bucknell in 10 tries and knocked the third-seeded Bison out of the Patriot League Tournament in the quarterfinal round.
► Cosima Higham posted a career-high 19 rebounds in the tournament matchup. She paired that with 13 points to give her the sixth double-double of her career.
► Both teams got off to a slow start at Lehigh's Stabler Arena. After seven minutes of play, the score stood at just 9-4 in the Bison's favor. The pace eventually picked up, and Bucknell's four-point deficit at halftime grew to 12 in the second half. Despite a late effort, the Bison took an opening-round league loss a year after claiming the tournament championship.
QUICK FACTS
Bucknell has recorded at least one block in every game this year, including a season-high 10 at Cornell ... Cosima Higham's blocked shots ties her for sixth at Bucknell for most rejections in a single game ... three Bison have scored in double figures in each of the last four games ... Trisha Krewson became the first Bison this year to score better than 20 points in two consecutive contests, posting 30 vs. Lycoming and 25 at Buffalo ... Krewson's performances in those two games earned her Patriot League/Anaconda Player of the Week ... Bucknell also outrebounded Lycoming 44-21 and outscored the Warriors in the paint 40-14 ... Joyce Novacek has recorded at least one blocked shot in nine of the last 11 games ... Bucknell got a second consecutive game with a player scoring 20-plus points as Morgan Wrightson posted 22 against Yale on Dec. 5 ... Novacek had a career-high 22 points and led the team in blocks (3) and rebounds (7) at Niagara Dec. 2 ... Rachel Voss and Lindsay Horbatuck have each been named the Patriot League/Anaconda Rookie of the Week this year ... Novacek earned the third double-double for Bucknell in as many games by posting 10 points and 15 rebounds vs. Fordham, followed by 15 points and 10 rebounds vs. Loyola (Md.) ... in their Sojka Pavilion debut, the Bucknell freshmen scored half of their team's 62 points vs. Penn State ... Higham was named to the Iona Tip-Off All-Tournament Team after leading the Bison in scoring, rebounding and blocks in the opening weekend.
HISTORY VS. NAVY
► Bucknell has posted a winning record against Navy, regardless of the situation. The Bison are 13-6 against the Mids in Lewisburg, 11-8 in Annapolis, 3-2 on neutral courts and 3-1 in the Patriot League Tournament.
► Trisha Krewson had one of the best performances of her freshmen year when Bucknell traveled to Navy last year. The guard posted a then career-high 18 points on 6-for-11 shooting. She was also 4-for-5 from three-point distance, also a career-best mark until her recent performance vs. Lycoming. Her seven rebounds tied a career high.
► Joyce Novacek and Cosima Higham have both posted double-doubles in their careers against the Midshipmen. Novacek tallied 11 points and 12 boards when the two teams met for the second time in 2008. Higham opened up the 2009 series this season with 17 points and 13 rebounds, and finished with 13 points and 19 rebounds at the Patriot League Tournament.
► The last time the Bison lost at Navy's Alumni Hall was Feb. 14, 2004. The Mids came out on top 65-42. Navy outscored the Orange and Blue 11-3 over the final 5:08 of the first half, taking the lead back for good. A scoring drought to open the second half dampened any hopes of a Bucknell comeback. Navy eventually built its lead to as many 30 (60-30) with 7:07 left in the game, Bucknell's largest deficit of the season. The loss marked the first to Navy in 14 tries.
► Recent Results:
Jan. 12, 2008: Bucknell, 71-45
Feb. 9, 2008: Bucknell, 65-50
Jan. 10, 2009: Bucknell, 66-50
Feb. 7, 2009: Bucknell, 66-54
March 7, 2009: Navy, 53-51 (PL Tournament)
ABOUT THE MIDSHIPMEN
Navy ended its non-conference schedule with back-to-back losses against Harvard and Dayton, falling to 8-7 on the year. The Mids' last win came 54-48 vs. Air Force in late December. Like the Bison, they also defeated Loyola (Md.) (67-57) and lost to Towson (56-43).
Cassie Consedine has been putting up some big numbers for the Midshipmen, leading the team in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots and field goal percentage. Angela Myers, last year's Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, also leads the squad in assists and steals.
DYNAMIC DUO
Cosima Higham (21 pts.-13 reb.) and Joyce Novacek (16 pts.-11 reb.) each recorded a double-double when the Bison defeated Cornell on Wednesday. That marks the first time two players recorded double-doubles in the same contest since Desire Almind and Lindsey Hollobaugh on Jan. 2, 2004. Almind had 13 points and 18 rebounds, while Hollobaugh added 18 points and 11 boards, but the Bison fell 54-49 to Manhattan.
Although it has been six years between accomplishments, the 2004 squad did not have to wait so long between repeat performances. Almind and Hollobaugh also had double-doubles when Bucknell defeated Coppin State, 69-64, earlier that season.
REJECTED
Bucknell finished the game at Cornell with a season-best 10 blocks as a team. Cosima Higham and Taylor Phillips each set career highs in the blocks with six and two, respectively. The Bison had not reached 10 or more rejections in a single game since facing nationally ranked Michigan State on Nov. 17, 2006. Against the No. 17 Spartans, Bucknell had 12 blocked shots. Hope Foster also set the school record for rejections with 11 in that game.
NO SLUMPING HERE
Joyce Novacek bounced back in a big way against Cornell after struggling at Buffalo earlier in the week. After tallying just six rebounds and one point on 0-for-4 shooting in 29 minutes against the Bulls, the junior recorded her third double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 boards in 27 minutes against the Big Red. Novacek shot 7-for-12 in Ithaca, putting her shooting percentage back over .500. She has now shot .500 or better in nine of the last 10 games.
LEAGUE'S BEST
A third Bison earned weekly honors from the Patriot League on Monday, as Trisha Krewson earned her first Player of the Week citation. Krewson's award came on the heels of back-to-back career-best shooting nights, combining for 55 points against Lycoming (30 pts.) and Buffalo (25). The sophomore shot .633 (19-30) from the field, including .652 (15-23) from three-point distance. She also totaled five rebounds, five assists and two steals in those two games.
Rachel Voss and Lindsay Horbatuck have each been named the Patriot League/Anaconda Rookie of the Week this year as well. Voss earned the award Nov. 30 after averaging 10.0 points and 5.0 rebounds, helping the Bison to a 1-1 record against Loyola (Md.) and UMBC. Horbatuck was named the League's top rookie on Dec. 14 after scoring a career-high and team-best 13 points at Towson. The freshman forward also tied her career high with six rebounds in the contest.
HOT-HANDED KREWSON
Trisha Krewson had her own stellar night against Lycoming, recording the best offensive night of her career. The sophomore finished with 30 points, making her the first Bison since Desire Almind had 30 against Holy Cross on Feb. 27, 2004. Helping Krewson to her points total was an 8-for-12 shooting performance from behind the arc. Her eight three-pointers tied her with Molly Creamer, who had eight vs. Army on Jan. 16, 2002, for most long-distance shots in a single game. It also doubled the previous Sojka Pavilion record.
Krewson had an equally impressive outing against Buffalo a few days later, tallying 25 points on 9-for-14 shooting, including 7-for-11 from behind the arc. Her 15 made three pointers last week is the highest two-game total in program history.
Krewson's previous scoring career high was 18 at Navy last season. The guard also had the hot hand from behind the arc in that game, finishing 4-for-5.
MAKING IT A HABIT
By tallying 55 points last week, Trisha Krewson became the first Bison to reach the scoring total in two games since Lindsey Hollobaugh combined for 55 against Holy Cross (28 pts.) and Colgate (27) in February 2004. Hollobaugh's feat came in the middle of a streak in which she recorded at least 20 points in six consecutive games to end the 2003-04 season.
RECORD-BREAKING PERFORMANCES
Bucknell produced a number of record-breaking marks in the matchup with Lycoming on Dec. 30. The team's 93 points was a Sojka Pavilion record and the most scored since the Bison defeated Maryland-Eastern Shore 93-92 in triple overtime on Dec. 17, 2005. The 43-point margin of victory was also a Sojka record.
At 12-for-24 from three-point distance, Bucknell broke the Sojka Pavilion record and tied the program mark for three pointers made, as well as tied the facility record for threes attempted in a single game.
BUCKNELL-HOLY CROSS SLATED FOR 2 P.M.
Bucknell will open its Patriot League home schedule with Holy Cross on Saturday, Jan. 16. Tipoff at Sojka Pavilion is scheduled for 2 p.m. The Bison will be available for autographs following the game.
GETTING UP EARLY
Getting off to a good start has been crucial for the Bison this season, as they are 4-1 when leading after the first half. The only game in which they were unable to hold on to their advantage came against Iona in the second contest of the season.
Bucknell has also outscored its opponents in the second half on seven occasions and is 4-3 in those games.
CONTROLLING THE PAINT
Bucknell outscored Lycoming in the paint, 40-14, on Dec. 30. That was the fifth consecutive game in which the Bison had overpowered their opponent inside. During that stretch, Bucknell was averaging 12.4 more points in the paint than its opponents.
Those numbers are a direct result of the strong play by Joyce Novacek and Cosima Higham. Including the games against Lycoming and Drexel, when the Bison won the battle in the paint 28-14, the juniors combined for 21-for-28 (.750) shooting from the field.
APPROACHING MILESTONES
A number of Bison have been collecting some career milestones over the last few games. Cosima Higham scored her 400th point and Joyce Novacek grabbed her 400th career rebound at Cornell. Morgan Wrightson also surpassed the 300-point mark. Even more career milestones are on the horizon as Trisha Krewson (293 pts.), Taylor Phillips (193) and Rachel Voss (82) are all looking to reach some key scoring marks.
BLOCK PARTY
Bucknell women's basketball hosted quite the block party in 2008-09 and that has not changed much in the new season. With her first of two blocks against Loyola (Md.) on Nov. 24, Joyce Novacek moved into the top 10 all-time at Bucknell in career blocks. Since that game, she has improved her career total to 62 and is tied for eighth on the list. Cosima Higham posted a career-high six blocks at Cornell on Jan. 6, to give her 57 in her two-plus years in the Orange and Blue. That ranks her 10th all-time at Bucknell.
Last season, Higham and 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 their marks as teammates during the 1985-86 season.
LET'S COMPARE
Despite having a 4-9 record, the Bison's statistics show that they are not far from where they were at this time last season. Many of this year's squad's averages closely resemble those put up by the 2008-09 team, which was 8-5 through its first 13 games. Eight of the 13 opponents were the same in each season, including Penn State, Fordham, Loyola (Md.), Yale, Towson, Drexel, Buffalo and Cornell.
| 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
| Points/gm | 57.6 | 59.2 |
| Rebounds/gm | 40.2 | 38.5 |
| Rebounding margin | +2.9 | +4.9 |
| FG% | .399 (394-736) | .430 (290-675) |
| 3FG% | .291 (44-151) | .342 (55-161) |
| Steals/gm | 6.6 | 8.6 |
| Assists/gm | 13.9 | 14.0 |
HELPING HANDS
Three Bison are averaging 2.1 assists or better this year. Morgan Wrightson and Rachel Voss have been taking turns for the turn lead with Wrightson now holding the top spot with 2.7 per game. Voss is second with 32 (2.5) and Christina Chukwuedo is third with 31 (2.4). Trisha Krewson completes the group with 27 (2.1).
The distribution is a different trend from one year ago when Amanda Brown had a commanding team lead with nearly five assists per game. Second on the squad was Lauren Schober with a 2.5 average.
NO STOPPING NOVACEK
In a season in which she already has posted back-to-back double-doubles, Joyce Novacek had yet another career night at Niagara on Dec. 2. The forward recorded a career-high 22 points on 10-for-16 (.625) shooting. That scoring total gave her better than 53 percent of her team's points on the night. It was also her first career game with 20 or more points.
Novacek also tied for the game high in rebounds with seven and claimed three of her team's four blocked shots.
HIGH SCORING
With a career-high 25 points vs. Fordham on Nov. 21, Morgan Wrightson became the first Bison this season to hit 20-plus. The sophomore did so on 8-for-17 shooting from the field and 7-for-7 shooting from the free throw line. Wrightson nearly repeated that mark by putting up 22 vs. Yale on Dec. 5 on 10-for-14 shooting. The guard also had a 20-point game vs. Wofford last year.
DOUBLE THE DOUBLE-DOUBLE
When the Bison took on Loyola (Md.) on Nov. 24, Joyce Novacek recorded her second double-double in as many games. After posting 10 points and a career-high 15 rebounds vs. Fordham, the junior forward put up a season-high 15 points and 10 boards against the Greyhounds. The last Bison to earn a double-double in consecutive games was Hope Foster on Feb. 9 and Feb. 13, 2007. Foster had 19 points and 10 boards against Holy Cross, followed by 16 points and 11 rebounds vs. Lafayette. Like Novacek, both Foster's high-production nights came at Sojka Pavilion.
BALL THIEF
Lindsay Horbatuck swiped a career-high six steals against Loyola (Md.) on Nov. 24. The last Bison freshman to earn as many steals in a single game was current teammate Taylor Phillips. Now a junior, Phillips recorded six against Holy Cross on Jan. 20, 2008.
CRASHING THE BOARDS
Bucknell outrebounded Lycoming 44-21 on Dec. 30. The 23-board margin is the largest of the season. The last time the Bison recorded at least 20 more rebounds than their opponent was Nov. 25, 2001 against Saint Francis (Pa.). Bucknell outworked the Red Flash 46-26. During the 2009-10 season, the Bison have outrebounded nine of 13 opponents.
PICKPOCKETS
All 10 Bison who saw game action against Penn State 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.
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.
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.
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 | 545 |
| 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
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 closes out its four-game road trip with a stop in Washington, D.C., to take on American on Wednesday, Jan. 13. Tipoff at Bender Arena is slated for 7 p.m.
