Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Rider
Bucknell Women's Basketball Wins Season Opener Over Rider, 53-48
11/12/2010 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 12, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell's Shelby Romine scored a game-high 17 points in her first career game and the Bison used a late 8-0 run to defeat Rider, 53-48, in the women's basketball season opener on Friday night at Sojka Pavilion. Joyce Novacek posted her 10th career double-double for Bucknell with 11 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
Bucknell (1-0) built a 43-37 lead with 7:24 left in the game, equaling its largest lead to that point. However, the Bison then missed five straight shots and had five turnovers over the next 4:30 as Rider took a 44-43 advantage with just over three minutes to play. Bucknell answered quickly with its 8-0 run as Novacek connected on two free throws, Lindsay Horbatuck and Rachel Voss scored on layups, and Romine ended the run with two free throws of her own to put the game out of reach at 51-44 with 53 seconds on the clock.
The game was close throughout as neither team led by more than six points until the final minute. In fact, there were a total of three ties and eight lead changes. The Broncs held a 27-26 halftime advantage thanks to strong 5 of 11 3-point shooting, including 3 of 3 for Ali Heller, who finished with 14 points as she was the only Rider player in double figures.
The Broncs cooled off in the second half as they were just 1-for-9 from behind the arc. They shot 29.8 percent overall for the game, while Bucknell was at 32.1 percent.
Romine, who played 38 minutes, also dished out five assists, grabbed two rebounds and was 9-for-13 from the free throw line. She was 4-for-14 from the field, but drove the ball to the basket with ease. Her 17 points were the most in a season opener for a Bison freshman since Lindsey Hollobaugh netted 20 in the first game of the 2003-04 campaign at West Virginia.
Both teams were plagued by turnovers throughout as Rider finished with 29 miscues and Bucknell posted 24. The Broncs had 17 turnovers in the first half, while the Bison's first-half tally was 14.
Voss was the third Bucknell player in double figures as she posted 11 points to go along with five rebounds and three steals.
The Bison ended the game with a large advantage at the free throw line. They were 18-for-25, while Rider (0-1) was just 8-for-13.
With the victory, Bucknell won its home opener for the first time since 2006, and claimed its season opener for the second time in three years.
The Bison will head on the road for a meeting with Fordham on Wednesday, Nov. 17. Game time is set for 7 p.m. in Bronx, N.Y.
