Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lafayette
Bucknell Women's Basketball Falls 60-54 in Loss at Lafayette
2/17/2010 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 17, 2010
EASTON, Pa. - Cosima Higham (Brooklyn, N.Y./Poly Prep Country Day) tallied a career-high 23 points and 11 rebounds to lead all players, but Bucknell women's basketball struggled down the stretch, taking a 60-54 loss to Lafayette at the Kirby Sports Center on Wednesday night. The Bison fall to 7-17 overall and 3-8 in the Patriot League.
Much like its last game, Bucknell got much of its offensive production early by pounding the ball inside. That strategy proved effective in the opening minutes as eight of the Bison's first nine points came in the paint. Lafayette (5-20, 3-8) soon clamped down on its perimeter defense, however, making it difficult for the Bucknell guards to get it into Higham and Joyce Novacek (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell).
That defense also kept Bucknell from getting good looks on its jumpers and made the Bison offense sporadic throughout much of the opening frame. Only Higham kept up her ability to score. The forward finished the half with a game-leading 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting and a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line.
With Bucknell's point production held to a minimum, Lafayette had the opportunity to pull away but was unable to capitalize. The Leopards had more success from the outside, connecting on a trio of 3-pointers, and cashed in on some fast break chances. By comparison, Bucknell was unsuccessful on both its 3-point attempts and did not manage a fast break bucket through the first 20 minutes.
Lafayette hit a scoring drought at perhaps the most inopportune moment of the half, however, making just one field goal in the final four minutes. Bucknell ended the half on an 8-2 run to tie the game at 28 apiece.
Higham and Trisha Krewson (Sandusky, Ohio/Perkins) combined for a majority of the Bison's points in the first half. The duo tallied 20 of their team's first 28 points, and that trend continued into the next half. Krewson connected for a pair of jumpers, including Bucknell's first 3-pointer of the night, and Higham continued her sure shooting with a pair of free throws.
Just as in the first half, however, Bucknell had a difficult time scoring on consecutive possessions. Nearly four minutes elapsed after Krewson's three before Rachel Voss (Cincinnati, Ohio/Loveland) hit a 3-pointer of her own to break the drought. That took Bucknell from being up 35-32 to trailing by one.
After tallying eight points in the first, Lafayette's Lauren Jackson put eight more on the board early in the second half. Any progress the leopards might have made to extend their lead was diminished by foul trouble. Bucknell was in a double bonus situation with more than eight minutes to play. Although the Bison again suffered nearly five minutes between field goals stretching to the 10:18 mark, they stayed in contention with their shooting from the charity stripe.
The Bison eventually regained their lead with 5:43 remaining as Felicia Mgbada (Edison, N.J./Blair Academy) connected for a layup despite being fouled. That advantage did not last long. Just as it looked as if the Bison would finally put some room between them and their opponent, their offense came to an abrupt halt. Lafayette ended the game on a 13-2 run.
Higham's double-double was the ninth of her career. The junior finished the night 11-for-12 from the free throw line, obliterating her previous career high of five made free throws set a year ago. Krewson added to her string of double-figure scoring nights, totaling 13 points. Both players shot 6-for-11 from the field.
Lafayette also put two players in double figures in Jackson with 21 points and LaKeisha Wright with 15. Elizabeth Virgin led the Leopards in rebounding with nine.
Bucknell will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 20 when it travels to Hamilton, N.Y., for a showdown with Colgate. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m.
