Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Fairleigh Dickinson
Women's Basketball Survives Overtime Scare at Fairleigh Dickinson, Wins 61-60
11/22/2014 6:03:00 PM | Women's Basketball
HACKENSACK, N.J. – A layup by sophomore Megan McGurk with 1:44 to play in overtime gave Bucknell its first lead in over 17 minutes of play, and the Bison hung on for a 61-60 win at Fairleigh Dickinson in non-conference women's basketball action on Saturday.
Bucknell overcame a poor shooting performance and costly turnovers to improve to 2-1 on the season. Fairleigh Dickinson dropped to 1-2, losing its last two games by a combined five points.
The Bison trailed 51-43 with 6:41 left in regulation before going on an 8-0 run to tie the game. Freshman Carly Richardson started the comeback with a jumper, while McGurk, sophomore Claire DeBoer and senior Audrey Dotson all hit a pair of free throws. Both teams hit two more free throws, including McGurk to tie the game 53-53 with 1:31 left on the clock, to complete the scoring in regulation.
FDU hit a 3-pointer on its first possession in overtime and later added a free throw to take a 57-53 lead, but Bucknell responded with a 6-1 run to take the final lead of the game. At the line shooting two, senior Tyler Craig made the first, but missed the second. DeBoer was there for the rebound and putback to cut the deficit to one (57-56).
Craig added another free throw on Bucknell's next possession to tie the game at 57-57, and following an FDU free throw DeBoer made the layup that put the Bison up for good.
Craig had a career night in the win, one that may have been even better if she didn't miss a large portion of the second half with foul trouble. She finished with a career-high 14 points on 3-of-4 shooting and an 8-of-10 mark from the line. She had 12 points at the half to help the Bison take a 33-25 lead.
Bucknell struggled to break FDU's press, finishing with 18 turnovers that resulted in 19 points. When the Bison did get past the press to get good looks at the basket they had trouble finishing. They shot 19-62 (31%) from the field, made just one of their 15 shots from beyond the arc, and missed 19 layups.
However, the Bison stayed in the game and pulled out the win thanks to a great night at the foul line, something typical of head coach Aaron Roussell's teams at Bucknell. They made 22 of their 27 free throws, including 18-19 in regulation.
The Bison also shared the ball better than they did in the first two games of the season, tallying 13 assists. Dotson and DeBoer scored 12 points apiece and McGurk finished with 10 to join Craig in double figures. DeBoer added 13 rebounds for a double-double, the sixth of her career.
"Certainly we are happy to get a win," Roussell said. "But obviously I'm not happy with the way we played today. Anytime you shoot 1-for-15 (on 3-pointers) and make the mistakes that we did but still come out on the winning end we'll take it."
Kelsey Cruz came off the bench to lead FDU with 16 points and four steals. Amanda Andrades had 12 points, while the reigning NEC Player of the Week, Erika Livermore, scored 11 and grabbed nine rebounds.
Bucknell will play its fourth road game to open the season when it travels to play Youngstown State on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Bison will play its home opener on Saturday, Nov. 29, when it hosts Cornell.
