Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lehigh
Novacek Scores 24 in Bucknell Women's Basketball's 72-58 Loss to Lehigh at PL Tourney
3/6/2010 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 6, 2010
WORCESTER, Mass. - Joyce Novacek (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopwell) scored a career-high 24 points, including 19 in the first half, but No. 8 Bucknell women's basketball could not pull off the upset over No. 1 Lehigh, falling to the Mountain Hawks 72-58 in the Patriot League Quarterfinals at the Hart Center on Saturday afternoon. Bucknell finishes its 2009-10 campaign with a 7-21 overall record.
Bucknell came out of the gates showing a confidence that Bison fans have not seen in a while. The Orange and Blue got early production on both ends of the court to earn a quick lead and only add to the belief they had coming out of the locker room.
Bucknell got a good stop on the Lehigh's first offensive set of the game. The second defensive effort was equally successful as Cosima Higham (Brooklyn, N.Y./Poly Prep Country Day) blocked a layup attempt by the Mountain Hawks' Erica Prosser. That rejection led to a fastbreak layup as Novacek slipped ahead of the defense. That play put Bucknell up just 2-0, but it gave Lehigh a taste of what it would face throughout the remainder of the half.
Novacek's early layup became the norm throughout the opening 20 minutes. The forward shot 8-for-8 from the field, leading to 19 points. The Bison also shot well as a team, going 14-for-24 (58.3 percent) in the first.
Although Bucknell showed tenacity early on, Lehigh was not willing to let things get out of control. The Mountain Hawks took a 7-6 lead at 16:57 on a bucket from Courtney Dentler. The score fluctuated back-and-forth throughout the rest of play with eight lead changes and three ties.
The last two minutes was a flurry of scoring for both squads. Novacek knocked down a pair of free throws to put Bucknell up 30-27 with 1:46 remaining in the frame. Dentler then drilled a 3-pointer almost a minute later to tie the contest. Trisha Krewson (Sandusky, Ohio/Perkins) got the lead back for the Bison with a jumper, giving her team the 32-30 lead at the half.
Lehigh opened play after the break determined to prove why it is the top seed in the tournament. The Mountain Hawks started things off with a 9-2 run that included a pair of 3-pointers from Alex Ross. That streak put Lehigh ahead 39-34 and forced Bucknell into a timeout.
Bison fouls and turnovers kept them from making much of a push in the first part of the second half. Although Bucknell was able to cash in on some baskets from Higham, the Lehigh lead hovered around six points for several minutes.
That advantage for the Mountain Hawks jumped up to double figures for the first time at 11:58 on a layup by Prosser, making the score 56-46. Emily Gratch was a major player in Lehigh's push. After being held to two points in the first half, the forward erupted for 11 in the second with many of those coming before the 10 minute mark.
The Bison managed to get Lehigh's advantage back down to five points a few minutes later as Morgan Wrightson (Gaithersburg, Md./Notre Dame Academy (Va.)) earn a layup and a foul for 56-51 with 8:53 remaining.
Bucknell could not maintain its progress, however. Just as quickly as the Bison got the point differential down to single digits, the Mountain Hawks got it back up to double figures. A layup by Ross for 66-53 at 5:27 gave Lehigh one of its biggest leads of the day.
With the win in sight, Lehigh refused to give Bucknell another run at the upset. The Mountain Hawks overpowered the Bison down the stretch, ending Bucknell's season with a 14-point loss.
The Bison shot well in the second half despite being outscored 46-24. Bucknell finished the half 10-for-22 (45.5 percent) from the field, bringing its shooting percentage to 52.2 percent for the game. Lehigh finished at 44.6 percent.
Bucknell also dominated on the boards. The Bison led in rebounds at the half, 24-10, and that total improved to 39-25 as the final buzzer sounded.
Joining Novacek in double-figure scoring was Higham with 11 points, and Krewson finished with 10. Novacek also led the Bison in rebounding with nine.
Lehigh did one better, putting four players in double figures. Dentler led the way with 17, followed by Gratch with 13, Prosser with 12 and Ross with 10.
With the loss, Bucknell's season comes to a close. Lehigh will continue into the tournament semifinals, taking on Holy Cross, who defeated Army, 57-53, in the first game of the day.
