Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Basketball Opens Thanksgiving Week Tuesday with Morgan State at Sojka Pavilion
11/21/2011 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 21, 2011
WHAT: Bucknell (1-3) vs. Morgan State (1-2) Women's Basketball
WHERE: Sojka Pavilion, Lewisburg, Pa.
WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 22, 7 p.m.
RADIO: WVBU 90.5 FM, BucknellBison.com 
Complete Game Notes 
ABOUT THE GAME
Both Bucknell and Morgan State are coming off road losses, and the Bison hope to be the team that breaks the streak when they square off at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Sojka Pavilion. The meeting will also start a new page in the history books as it is the first-ever between the Bison and the Bears. Fitting for Thanksgiving week, Bucknell basketball fans can feast throughout the week when the men's team hosts the Ticket City Legends Classic Nov. 25-27 with doubleheaders each day.
Live stats on GameTracker and live video on Bison Vision are both available at BucknellBison.com. Kevin Foedinger will continue to have the call on local radio at WVBU 90.5 FM and online at SportsJuice.com.
WITH A VICTORY OVER MORGAN STATE, BUCKNELL WOULD...
• Snap a three-game losing streak.
• Win its first-ever meeting with the Bears.
• Improve to 20-8 all-time against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference teams.
• Win its third consecutive game against a MEAC team.
• Face its first team with a Bear mascot since playing Baylor in 2002. The game was Bucknell's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
QUICK FACTS
• Bucknell outscored Buffalo in the second half, 35-29. It was the first time the Bison outscored their opponent in the second since Saint Peter's, 21-18, on Nov. 11.
• Lindsay Horbatuck (6-6) and Shelby Romine (4-4) combined to shoot 10-for-10 from the free throw line at Buffalo. The rest of the Bison went a combined 1-for-3 from the line.
• Bucknell has had at least two players score in double figures in each of its first four games.
• With a 57-56 defeat to Youngstown State on Wednesday, Bucknell suffered its first one-point loss since Jan. 3, 2007 (L, Iona, 45-44).
• Bucknell had a different leading scorer in each of its first three games.
• Although still early in the season, Bucknell led the Patriot League in rebounding defense (32.8), field goal percentage (.400) and three-point field goal percentage defense (.278) as of Nov. 20.
• Bucknell tied a Sojka Pavilion record against Youngstown State on Wednesday night when it recorded 10 blocked shots. Amy Zehner led the team with six.
• The Bison went 8-5 at home but 3-12 on the road during the 2010-11 season. All three road victories came during Patriot League play.
• The Bison were voted fourth in the 2011-12 Preseason Patriot League Poll.
• Bucknell returns three starters and eight letterwinners from the 2010-11 squad that went 11-17 overall and 7-7 in the Patriot League. Despite that, the squad is still relatively young. The Bison feature just one senior and six freshmen and two new assistant coaches on their 2011-12 roster.
HISTORY VS. MORGAN STATE/MEAC
• Tuesday's game will the first in program history between Bucknell and Morgan State.
• Bucknell has historically done well against the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Against those schools currently in the MEAC, the Bison are 19-8 all-time.
• The last time Bucknell took on a MEAC school, it was the battle of the Bison. Bucknell defeated Howard 63-53 in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 5, 2009.
ABOUT THE BEARS
Few teams will be logging the miles that Morgan State is to open the season. The Bears began their campaign with a 66-50 win over Division II Bowie State, a game that does not count toward their record. They will not return to Hill Field House until Jan. 14, 2012 when they host Norfolk State in conference play. Since the opener against Bowie State, Morgan State is 1-2 with losses to UMBC (72-50) and St. Bonaventure (79-55). The lone win so far came opposite George Washington (73-68).
Morgan State finished its 2010-11 season with a 17-15 overall record, which earned the team its first postseason appearance since becoming a Division I program. The Bears lost to Virginia 69-56 in the WNIT. Now in 2011-12, they were selected fifth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Preseason Poll.
A FIRST FOR EVERYTHING
For the first time in Patriot League history, the Rookie of the Week and the Player of the Week was the same person. Amy Zehner claimed both honors on Monday after a pair of 20-point performances. The freshman averaged 22.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 3.0 blocks and 3.0 steals against Youngstown State and Buffalo. She also shot .477 (21-for-44) from the field. It was the first Patriot League honor of any kind for Zehner, who becomes Bucknell's first weekly award winner since Shelby Romine was named the league's Rookie of the Week six times last winter.
POINTS ALL AROUND
For the first time this season, three Bison finished in double-digit scoring at Buffalo - Amy Zehner (20 points), Shelby Romine (11) and Audrey Dotson (10). Bucknell achieved the same feat seven times during the 2010-11 season, going 5-2 in those contests. Not surprisingly, Bucknell's 2010-11 scoring leader Shelby Romine reached double figures in all seven of those games. She also had the team's highest point total in five of them.
NEW TO THE SCHEDULE
Bucknell has a long history with several of its opponents, including the Patriot League's Lehigh, whom the Bison have played 68 times in the program's 38-year history. Some of their 2011-12 foes are a little less familiar, however. Bucknell will have its first-ever meeting with Morgan State and NJIT during non-conference play. It also be renewed its series with Saint Peter's, which until Friday was last contested during the 1986-87 season, and Mount St. Mary's. The last time the Bison and The Mount squared off was in 1994-95.
GOING OFF FOR 20
When Amy Zehner scored 25 points against Youngstown State on Wednesday, she became the 21st Bison to tally 20 or more points in at least one game during her freshman year. Bucknell has now had a rookie reach the 20-point mark at least once in each of the last four seasons, a stretch unequaled since the 1982-83 through 1985-86 campaigns. The Bison with the most 20-point games in their freshman seasons? Jane Meyer (1982-83), Molly Creamer (1999-2000) and Lindsey Hollobaugh (2003-04) with nine apiece.
BACK-TO-BACK 20s
Amy Zehner joined some rare company on Saturday when she scored 20 points at Buffalo. Paired with her 25 points vs. Youngstown State on Wednesday, she becomes the eighth Bison freshman in program history to score at least 20 in back-to-back games. Despite the elite achievement, it hasn't been that long since the seventh rookie became a member of the club. Zehner's teammate Shelby Romine went back-to-back with 20-plus last season, scoring 22 at Yale on Jan. 2, 2011 and 20 vs. Navy on Jan. 8.
BISON FRESHMEN WITH BACK-TO-BACK 20-POINT GAMES
| Player | Points | Date | Opponent |
| Amy Zehner | 25 | Nov. 16, 2011 | vs. Youngstown State |
| 20 | Nov. 19, 2011 | at Buffalo | |
| Shelby Romine | 22 | Jan. 2, 2011 | at Yale |
| 20 | Jan. 8, 2011 | vs. Navy | |
| Lindsey Hollobaugh | 28 | Feb. 20, 2004* | vs. Lafayette |
| 21 | Feb. 22, 2004* | vs. Army | |
| 28 | Feb. 27, 2004* | at Holy Cross | |
| 27 | Feb. 29, 2004* | at Colgate | |
| 25 | March 5, 2004* | vs. Holy Cross (PLT) | |
| 20 | March 7, 2004* | vs. Colgate (PLT) | |
| Desire Almind | 25 | Nov. 22, 2000 | at Hampton |
| 25 | Nov. 28, 2000 | at Marist | |
| Molly Creamer | 27 | Nov. 30, 1999^ | vs. Hampton |
| 20 | Dec. 3, 1999^ | vs. Hofstra | |
| 21 | Dec. 4, 1999^ | vs. Albany | |
| 25 | Dec. 18, 1999^ | vs. Coppin State | |
| 20 | March 4, 2000 | vs. Colgate (PLT) | |
| 20 | March 8, 2000 | at Holy Cross (PLC) | |
| Vicki Quimby | 24 | Feb. 3, 1999# | vs. Holy Cross |
| 20 | Feb. 10, 1999# | at Lehigh | |
| 20 | Feb. 13, 1999# | vs. Colgate | |
| 30 | Feb. 17, 1999# | at Army | |
| 22 | Feb. 21, 1999# | vs. Lafayette | |
| Jennifer Walz | 20 | Feb. 1, 1986 | vs. Rider |
| 22 | Feb. 5, 1986 | at Towson State | |
| Jane Meyer | 21 | Feb. 1, 1983* | at Navy |
| 20 | Feb. 4, 1983* | at Marist | |
| 20 | Feb. 5, 1983* | at Colgate | |
| 30 | Feb. 10, 1983* | vs. Gettysburg | |
| 21 | Feb. 15, 1983* | vs. Lock Haven | |
| 24 | Feb. 19, 1983* | at Towson State |
*6 consecutive games at 20-plus points
^4 consecutive games at 20-plus points
# 5 consecutive games at 20-plus points
A LITTLE ON THE LOW SIDE
Bucknell raised its scoring average slightly at Buffalo on Saturday, totaling a season-best 57 points. Through the first four games, the Bison's average comes in at 50.5 points per game. Only four times in program history has Bucknell averaged fewer points after four contests: 1973-74 (35.5 ppg), 1974-75 (48.0), 1981-82 (45.5) and 1994-95 (47.5). Despite the relatively low offensive production, however, the Bison have been able to stay in contention. Bucknell has a 54.5 mark in scoring defense.
HOW DID SHE DO THAT?
You can't score 25 points without putting the ball in the basket, and Amy Zehner did just that. The Bison newcomer shot 12-for-23 (.522) from the field, making her the first Bucknellian to drain 12 field goals in a single game since Desire Almind. Almind was 12-for-16 (.750) against Iona on Jan. 6, 2004, finishing with 29 points and 20 rebounds. Bucknell won that contest, 86-76. Almind finished her career as Bucknell's third all-time leading scorer (1,581 points) with a .478 career field goal percentage.
RECORDS ALREADY AT RISK
Bucknell has played just two games at Sojka Pavilion this year, but already five facility records have been tied or broken. The most recent came against Youngstown State on Wednesday when the Bison tied the record with 10 blocked shots. They also had 10 rejections against Hampton (Nov. 10, 2006) and Colgate (Jan. 23, 2010). On the other end of the spectrum, Bucknell set a new low for three-point field goals attempted with just three against the Penguins.
SOJKA PAVILION RECORDS TIED OR SET IN 2011-12
• Blocks - Bucknell High: 10 (tie), vs. Youngstown State (11/16/11)
• 3FG Attempted - Bucknell Low: 3, vs. Youngstown State (11/16/11)
• 3FG Made - Bucknell Low: 0 (tie), vs. Saint Peter's (11/11/11)
• 3FG Percentage - Bucknell Low: .000 (tie), vs. Saint Peter's (11/11/11)
• Free Throws Made - Opponent Low: 3 (tie), vs. Saint Peter's (11/11/11)
INDIVIDUAL SCORING BREAKTHROUGHS
Felicia Mgbada and Christina Chukwuedo experienced some scoring breakthroughs in the first few games of the season. Mgbada, who scored 11 points in the first three games, now has consecutive double-figure point totals for the first time in her career. That streak extends to four games if you include her 19-point performance in the season-ending loss to Navy in last year's Patriot League Tournament semifinals. The junior entered the 2011-12 campaign with six career double-digit scoring games, all of which came last winter.
Chukwuedo just broke into double figures for the first time in her career. Before taking on Rider on Sunday evening, the senior's personal best was nine points against American on Jan. 12, 2011. The guard dropped 16 points on the Broncs last weekend with career highs in field goals made (7) and attempted (11).
A HALF TO REMEMBER
Bucknell got off to a good start at Rider on Nov. 13, shooting .586 (17-for-29) in the first half and taking a 36-32 lead into the break. The percentage for the half is the team's best since it shot .611 (11-for-18) in the second half at Army on Feb. 26, 2011. That average was a major turnaround from the first half when Bucknell went 4-for-25, or .160, against the Black Knights. Bucknell went on to win 44-40 at West Point.
The Bison posted a .600+ shooting average three times last season: .654 vs. Lehigh, Jan. 26; .607 vs. Holy Cross, Feb. 12; .611 at Army, Feb. 26.
A HALF TO FORGET
Bucknell suffered perhaps its worst stretch in program history on Nov. 13 when it shot just 1-for-21 (.048) from the field and totaled seven points in the second half against Rider. The next fewest field goals recorded in a half by a Bison squad was a 3-for-26 performance in the first half against Army on Jan. 20, 1993 and a 3-for-14 in the second at Fordham on Nov. 17, 2010. Despite the .115 shooting against the Black Knights in 1993, which is the lowest since at least the 1988-89 season, Bucknell still managed 16 points in that half. The lowest single-half scoring total (since at least 1983-84) was nine points at UMBC on Nov. 23, 1997.
FEWER THAN 40 FOR FOES
When Bucknell defeated Saint Peter's 46-35 on Nov. 11, it was the third time in four games, and the fourth in six outings, that it held opponents to 40 points or less. The Bison limited Army to 40 points twice at the end of last season, winning 44-40 and 54-40. The 35 points is the fewest allowed to a Bison opponent since beating Lafayette 46-34 on Feb. 16, 2011 and the third-lowest total during head coach Kathy Fedorjaka's tenure.
GETTING STRAIGHT TO WORK
Freshman Amy Zehner did not waste much time to show Bucknell fans what she was capable of. The guard recorded a double-double in her collegiate debut, claiming 10 points and 10 rebounds to help the Bison past Saint Peter's 46-35. Zehner becomes the first Bison to record a double-double in her rookie season since Joyce Novacek did it twice at the end of 2007-08. She is also the first Bison freshman to post a double-double in the first game of the season since Shannon McGowan tallied 11 points and 11 rebounds at Monmouth on Dec. 1, 1993.
STILL POWERFUL IN THE PAINT
The Bison might have been concerned about their paint play with the recent graduation of forwards Joyce Novacek and Cosima Higham. The departed duo accounted for 23.4 percent of the team's points and 36.9 percent of its rebounds last season. That worry seems to be unfounded after the first game of the 2011-12 season as 28 of the Bucknell's 46 points came in the paint. The Bison also out-rebounded Saint Peter's 43-29.
HORBATUCK HOUNDING THE BOARDS
Lindsay Horbatuck claimed her sixth career double-digit rebounding game on Nov. 11 against Saint Peter's with a team-best 11 boards. That marked the ninth time in her career that the junior has led the Bison in rebounding, an area that she has dominated in recent years with former teammates Joyce Novacek and Cosima Higham. Before that game, the last time a Bison other than Horbatuck, Novacek or Higham led Bucknell in rebounding was Jan. 8, 2010 when Trisha Krewson grabbed seven boards against Navy.
STARTING OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT
With its 11-point win on Nov. 11, Bucknell is now 17-22 all-time in season openers. The Bison had been alternating wins and losses in their openers since 2005, but with a 53-48 win over Rider last season, have now won back-to-back debuts for the first time since the 1999-2000 through 2001-02 campaigns. Bucknell beat Delaware State 79-68, American 79-73 and Albany 64-45 during that stretch.
MIXING IT UP
Bucknell did its fair share of mixing and matching when it came to starting lineups in 2010-11. The Bison used nine different combinations, but none was as successful as the grouping of Christina Chukwuedo, Felicia Mgbada, Joyce Novacek, Shelby Romine and Rachel Voss. The quintet went 6-10 when starting the game together. No other lineup recorded more than one victory during the season. Just four games into the 2011-12 season, Bucknell has already used three brand-new starting lineups.
POSTSEASON HONORS
For the third consecutive campaign, Bucknell earned at least two selections to All-Patriot League teams. Cosima Higham was a second team honoree in 2010-11, while Shelby Romine was named to the All-Rookie Team. After claiming a league-leading six Patriot League Rookie of the Week awards, Romine became the 17th Bison to be voted one of the conference's top newcomers.
CONTROLLING THE BOARDS
Bucknell's rebounding prowess continued throughout the 2010-11 season, and the team ultimately finished the year with a +5.0 rebounding margin. That gave the Bison a third consecutive season of outrebounding their opponents and their second straight at doing so at five or more boards per game.
ACADEMIC SUCCESS
Success in the classroom has long been the norm for Bucknell women's basketball, and last year was no different. For the second consecutive season, Bucknell led the way in the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll with 10 selections, while Joyce Novacek was named to the inaugural Academic All-Patriot League Team. The award was just one of many for the recent graduate, who also claimed her third Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team citation. Novacek joins Bucknell Hall of Fame member Jennifer Walz as the only Bison to be named All-District three times.
Bucknell was also ranked second nationally among Division I schools for its team grade-point average. The Bison were named a Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Academic Top 25 Team in July with a collective GPA of 3.632.
PATRIOT LEAGUE PRESEASON POLL
Bucknell is back in the top half of the Patriot League Preseason Poll in 2011-12. After finishing fourth in the regular season last year, the Bison remained in fourth in the vote of the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
Shelby Romine was also a unanimous selection to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team. She was one of three sophomores voted to the team, along with the Preseason Player of the Year Jade Geif of Navy and Alex Smith of Holy Cross.
UP NEXT
Three of Bucknell's next four games will be on the road. After the Morgan State matchup, the Bison will board the bus for Niagara on Friday, Nov. 25, followed by Saint Francis (Pa.) on Sunday, Nov. 27. A brief stopover at Sojka Pavilion to play Canisius is slated for Nov. 30, then it's off to NJIT for the first game of December.
