Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Colgate
Bison Women's Hoops Falls 58-51 at Colgate
2/13/2013 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 13, 2013
Box Score
HAMILTON, N.Y. - Three Bison scored in double figures but the team struggled offensively in a 58-51 to Colgate at Cotterell Court on Wednesday night. Felicia Mgbada (Edison, N.J./Blair Academy) and Alyssa Dunn (Mason, Ohio/Seven Hills School) each had 14 points to lead Bucknell (13-11, 4-5 PL), while Josie Stockill added 14 for the Raiders (7-17, 1-8 PL), who snapped a 10-game losing streak.
Bucknell's first four points all came at the free throw line, one area where it did have an early advantage over Colgate. The Bison were 18-for-27 (.667) from the line for the night, including 6-for-10 in the first half. The Raiders attempted just four free throws in the first, making three.
Bucknell took 5:20 to hit its first field goal, but the slow start didn't do much damage initially. With Dunn's bucket, the Bison took a 6-5 lead.
While Bucknell opened 0-for-6 from the field, Colgate was quicker to get on the board with a three less than a minute into the game. The Raiders went through cold stretches, however, allowing the Bison to stay in the mix and hang on to a small lead throughout much of the opening frame.
With 6:26 left on the clock, Lulu Brase hit her second free throw to put Colgate back in front 15-14. Bucknell went 5:35 between field goals at the end of the half and finished the stanza with just two buckets in the final seven minutes before intermission.
At the break, Colgate had taken a 23-20 lead. Neither team was posting banner shooting numbers with Bucknell at .259 (7-27) and Colgate at .300 (9-30).
Bucknell took a brief lead after play resumed in the second thanks again to its ability to get to the free throw line. The Bison were perfect at the stripe in three straight possessions to go up 28-26. Bucknell continued to get to the line as the game wore on, shooting in the bonus at the 10-minute mark and the double bonus just three minutes later, but it couldn't sustain that early pace. After starting 6-for-6, it hit just two of its next seven attempts.
Colgate took advantage of Bucknell's missed opportunities and found its own chances in the paint. After tallying two points in the first half, Stockill erupted for a dozen in the second. The Raiders also more than tripled their points in the paint in the final frame, finishing the night with a 26-16 advantage in scoring in the interior.
With its shots not dropping at the free throw line and the pace from the field not picking up much, Bucknell saw Colgate start to pull away. The Raiders went up by seven, 49-42, with about five minutes to go after Randyll Butler converted a three-point play.
A three-point play of a different kind sealed the deal for Colgate. With less than 10 seconds left on the clock, Bucknell trailed by four points and sent the Raiders to the free throw line. Butler made her first free throw but missed the second. Colgate got the offensive board and went back to the line for two, both of which went in to give Colgate its first Patriot League win of the season.
Mgbada's 14 points were a season high, but the senior did more than just score. She also had seven rebounds and two blocked shots. Mgbada now has 88 career rejections, moving her up to seventh all-time at Bucknell. Joining Mgbada and Dunn in double figures was Shelby Romine (Centreville, Va./Westfield) with 11 points. She added seven assists to the effort, just missing equaling her career high.
As a team, Bucknell finished the night shooting .320 (16-50) from the field. The Bison were also just 1-for-10 from 3-point range. Colgate came in at a .355 (22-62) clip overall was .150 (3-20) from behind the arc. The Raiders also finished their night at the free throw line 11-for-14 (.786).
Bucknell will return home for its next two contests, starting with Lafayette on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Sojka Pavilion.
