Bucknell University
Mercyhurst
Balanced Scoring, Strong Defense Lead Bucknell Women's Water Polo to 10-3 Victory Over Mercyhurst to Open Eastern Championship
4/26/2013 8:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -Tara Murao, Emily Nowlin and Hannah Sunday scored two goals apiece and Rena Heim equaled her season high with 12 saves as the eighth-seeded Bucknell women's water polo team opened the Eastern Championship with a 10-3 victory over ninth-seeded Mercyhurst Friday morning at Michigan's Canham Natatorium. The Bison advanced in the bracket and will play top-seeded Indiana, which is ranked 15th nationally, in the quarterfinals at 3:20 p.m.
Bucknell (7-17) posted its fourth win over the Lakers this year as it limited them to the fewest points by an opponent this season. The Bison led 5-2 at halftime and held Mercyhurst (14-15) without a goal for more than 16 minutes from the second quarter to the fourth quarter. Bucknell scored the first three goals in the game and its lead was never trimmed below two scores.
Heim posted 12 saves in a game for the fifth time this season as she boosted her season save percentage to .509. It was her 15th double-digit save performance this year.
Murao's two goals equaled her season high, while it was the first multi-goal outing of Nowlin's career. Sunday's two goals boosted her team-leading season total to 34. Sunday also added an assist to tie Krystle Morgan for team-high honors in points. Morgan scored one goal and dished out a pair of assists.
All-conference selection Julianne Valdes scored one goal, had one ejection drawn and one steal as she moved into sole possession of 11th place in program history in goals (135).
Bucknell will square off with Indiana (19-12) for the first time since 2011 Friday afternoon. The Bison have lost three in a row to the Hoosiers. A win will move Bucknell to the semifinals and guarantee the program's first top-four finish at the Eastern Championship since 2006.
MERCYHURST 1 1 0 1 -3
BUCKNELL 3 2 2 3 -10
Goals: Nowlin (2), Murao (2), Sunday (2), Ovalle, Valdes, Bozorghadad, Morgan.
Assists: Barnett (2), Morgan (2), Ferry, Bozorghadad, Sunday, Fester.
Field Blocks: Ovalle, Smith.
Ejections Drawn: Morgan (4), Sunday (2), Valdes, Bozorghadad.
Saves: Heim (12 svs., 3 ga., 32:00 min.).
Steals: Ovalle, Valdes, Ferry, Barnett, Bozorghadad, McCarthy, Heim.
Sprints: Marrs (1-1), Ovalle (0-2), Valdes (0-1).
Bucknell Record: 7-17.
