Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Buffalo
Romine Scores Career-High 21 Points in Bucknell Women's Basketball's 72-53 Loss to Buffalo
11/21/2010 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 21, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. - With a team-best 21 points, Shelby Romine (Centreville, Va./Westfield) became the first freshman in program history to lead the Bison in scoring in each of her first three collegiate games, but the rookie's effort was not enough to push Bucknell women's basketball past Buffalo on Sunday afternoon at Sojka Pavilion. The Orange and Blue dropped the 72-53 decision to the Bulls, bringing their early season record to 1-2.
Romine broke the 20-point barrier for the first time in her career, shooting 8-for-17 from the field, including 3-for-4 from behind the 3-point arc in 40 minutes of play. Her scoring started early with a jumper in the paint that broke a scoreless tie two minutes into the game. She later hit her first 3-pointer of the year to tie the game at five apiece.
Despite tying the game twice in the first half, Bucknell never pulled in front with the exception of its 2-0 lead. Romine did her best to make it close, however. The guard drilled a second 3-point shot at the 10:34 mark, bringing the Bison to within one at 15-14. Buffalo (2-2) responded by taking 14 of the next 18 points. That gave the Bulls a 12-point advantage, and by halftime the spread had grown to 16.
At the break, Romine had claimed 10 of Bucknell's 23 points on 4 of 9 shooting. The Bison were 8 of 30 (.267) from the field through the opening 20 minutes, while the Bulls were at cruising at an easy 17 of 33 (.515) pace.
The game continued to go in Buffalo's favor throughout the second half. The Bulls opened on a 10-0 run that was only snapped by a Christina Chukwuedo (Monessen, Pa./Monessen) layup at 16:48. By that time the Bison were in a 49-25 hole that they never recovered from.
After being kept quiet as play resumed, Romine returned to her scoring role at the 12:30 mark. The guard tallied a free throw and claimed Bucknell's next four points. No matter how hard she or the rest of the Bison tried, however, their deficit was just too much. The Bulls' lead hovered around 20 points for the remainder of the game, and the scoreboard showed a 19-point difference at the final buzzer.
Bucknell's shooting did pick up in the second half as the Bison went 12-for-29 (.414). They ended the day 20-for-59 (.339). The team's four 3-pointers was a season high. Entering the game, the Bison had just one successful long-range shot in six attempts.
Buffalo finished the game at 29-for-60 (.483) from the field. Leading the way for the Bulls was Kourtney Brown, who tallied 24 points on 10 of 16 shooting. The senior forward also had nine blocks - the first time in four games she fell short of double digits - to go along with four blocks. Ashley Zuber also had a strong outing, recording 11 assists and one turnover.
Joining Romine among Bucknell's stats leaders was Chukwuedo. For the third game this season, the junior registered a team-best in assists with four. Cosima Higham (Brooklyn, N.Y./Poly Prep Country Day) finished with five rebounds. Her two blocks also gives her 80 for her career, which ties her with Shannon McGowan for seventh all-time in Bucknell history.
The Bison will continue their non-conference slate when they travel to Youngstown, Ohio to take on the Youngstown State Penguins just before Thanksgiving. The Wednesday, Nov. 24 game is slated for 5:15 p.m.
