Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Fordham
Bucknell Women's Basketball Comes Through in Low-Scoring Affair, Upends Fordham 49-39
12/6/2011 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 6, 2011
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LEWISBURG, Pa. - Lindsay Horbatuck (Avon, Conn./Avon) registered her second double-double of the season, propelling Bucknell women's basketball to a 49-39 win over Fordham at Sojka Pavilion on Tuesday night. While it was Horbatuck who stood out with her 12 points and 14 rebounds, the Bison (2-8) also benefited from a balanced effort as three other players finished with at least eight points to end their eight-game losing streak.
Horbatuck completed the double-double with 2:24 left in the game. The junior was left open on the right block, and Shelby Romine (Centreville, Va./Westfield) fired a pass down low to help put Bucknell up 46-33. That put a major hole in Fordham's comeback hopes. The Rams (5-3) scored just six more points after that, four of which came from the free throw line, putting Bucknell in a comfortable position for their 10-point win.
Bucknell led by double figures for much of the final 10 minutes of play. A 9-0 run early in the second half gave the Bison an 11-point lead before the Rams cut into that with an 11-3 run of their own. Amy Zehner (Tamaqua, Pa./Tamaqua Area) then began to come alive, hitting a jumper from the wing. A three-point play from Christina Chukwuedo (Monessen, Pa./Monessen) and four more points from Zehner gave Bucknell another 11-point advantage, 40-29, with just over eight minutes remaining. Fordham never drew any closer than seven points after that.
As much as the Bison were in control in the second half, play was anything but simple in the first. Neither team was particularly sharp, resulting in several turnovers and not much scoring. After 10 minutes of play, both squads had combined for more turnovers than points, and although that trend reversed before halftime, the score at the midway point was still just 19-14.
Bucknell held Fordham to .262 (7-31) shooting in the first half, setting a new season low for opponents. The Rams were also 0-for-11 from behind the three-point arc in the half and ultimately ended the night at 1-for-21 (.048) from long range. Coming into the night, Fordham was averaging seven three-pointers per game and was .350 from behind the arc.
The Bison took an early lead in the game and only relinquished it at 8-7 on a layup from Arielle Collins. Bucknell recovered the advantage a few possessions later as Horbatuck hit a layup for 10-8. The score stayed closed until the break, never deviating by more than four points until the last minute when a Chukwuedo layup gave the Bison its 19-14 edge.
After committing 10 turnovers in the first half, Bucknell regrouped and ended the game with a season-low 13. Fordham committed 15 turnovers, which the Bison converted to 11 points. Bucknell also had the advantage in second-chance points, 14-13, despite being outrebounded 42-37.
Zehner provided a huge boost off the bench for the Bison, scoring eight points and collecting one assist. At halftime, all 19 of Bucknell's points had come from its starting lineup. Zehner was the only non-starter to score in the game.
Following Horbatuck's 12 points, which came on 4-for-6 shooting from the field and 4-for-6 from the free throw line, were nine points from both Romine and Chukwuedo. Chukwuedo also led the team with five assists. Of Horbatuck's game-best 14 rebounds, 11 came on the defensive glass.
Fordham's Collins led all players with 16 points. Christina Gaskin added seven rebounds.
Bucknell will now have some time off before focusing on its next game. Following the exam break, the Bison will make the trip to Ithaca, N.Y., for a 1 p.m. matchup with Cornell on Dec. 18.
