Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Niagara
Bucknell Women's Basketball Stumbles in 61-55 Loss at Niagara
11/25/2011 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 25, 2011
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. - Shelby Romine (Centreville, Va./Westfield) scored a season-best 20 points, but Bucknell women's basketball could not fight off Niagara at the Gallagher Center, falling 61-55 on Friday night. Despite several near comebacks, turnovers told the story for the Bison who fall to 1-5 on the year.
The Bison took some time to heat up, but once they did, the game got much more interesting. Micki Impellizeri (Seaford, N.Y./St. Anthony's) gave Bucknell a spark off the bench that translated into more opportunities on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. The freshman hit a layup on one of her first offensive touches and later added a blocked shot to keep Niagara (1-4) honest in the paint.
Bucknell's defense, which put some tight pressure on the Purple Eagles and forced them to half court on several occasions, limited Niagara to just a handful of baskets after the 10-minute mark. Niagara went without a field goal for nearly four minutes. During that stretch, Bucknell went on a 7-2 run. The stretch was capped off with a jumper in the paint after Romine drove to the hoop and set the score at 20-20 with 8:28 remaining in the half.
Niagara eventually got back on track and regained the lead, 25-22, on a three-pointer from Kayla Stroman. At the break, the Purple Eagles' advantage was still just single digits at 32-28, although the Bison shot 50.0 percent (12-for-24) through the first 20 minutes. Turnovers played a major role in Niagara's ability to maintain control of action. Bucknell closed out the half with 15 miscues, and Niagara totaled 16 points off those turnovers.
Romine led all players with 12 points, including a pair of threes. It is the first time this season that a single Bison has hit more than one three pointer in a game.
After having a 12-6 edge in paint points in the first half, Bucknell returned to the interior in the second. Pounding the ball inside finally paid off at the 9:12 mark as Lindsay Horbatuck (Avon, Conn./Avon) powered her way in traffic for a layup. The basket gave the Bison a 47-46 lead.
The Bison defense also continued to force the Purple Eagles into some ill-advised passes and gave them more than one fast break opportunity. Alyssa Dunn (Mason, Ohio/Seven Hills School) was on the receiving end of many of those chances, and finished the night with a season-best nine points.
Niagara was limited to 10 of 18 shooting (35.7%) in the second half after shooting 12-for-28 (42.9%) in the first. In the end, it was turnovers that continued to plague the Bison, keep their lead short-lived and send them to their fifth consecutive loss. Bucknell finished the game with 28 turnovers.
Niagara entered the bonus with 6:30 remaining after Impellizeri fouled out. The foul shot opportunities gave the home team a key extra push as they shot 13-for-14 from the line. Bucknell was 7-for-11.
Stroman, Ali Morris and Lauren Gatto each finished with 10 points for Niagara. Rachel Voss (Cincinnati, Ohio/Loveland) had 10 for Bucknell as well.
Bucknell won't have much of a break before returning to the court. The Bison will take on Saint Francis (Pa.) in Loretto, Pa., at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
