Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
UMBC
Women's Basketball Cruises to 85-41 Win Over UMBC to Improve to 3-0 at Home
12/9/2014 10:16:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell made 11 3-pointers and improved to 3-0 at Sojka Pavilion this season with an 85-41 win over visiting UMBC on Tuesday night. The Bison were just one 3-pointer shy of tying the program's single-game record of 12, set in 1994 and equaled in 2009.
Bucknell went up 3-0 on a trey by sophomore Claire DeBoer 32 seconds into the game and never trailed, improving to 5-3 with the win. UMBC, which has already matched its season win total from a year ago dropped to 4-4. The Bison now lead the all-time series 5-3.
Junior Sheaira Jones scored a career-high 19 points on 6-of-13 shooting and a 4-of-6 mark from beyond the arc, while also adding a season-high six rebounds. The offensive outburst came just two days after she scored a then career-high 15 points at Delaware.
Jones led the best offensive effort of the season for Bucknell. The Bison set or matched season-highs in points (85), 3-pointers (11), points in a half (49), field goals (31), 3-point field goal percentage (.550) and rebounds (62). Three players reached double figures as senior Audrey Dotson scored 16 points and junior Claire Maree O'Bryan added 15. In all, 10 players scored for the Bison.
Bucknell was nearly flawless offensively in the first half as it pulled away early and took a 49-20 lead at the break. The Bison led 14-11 before going on a 17-0 run over a span of 4:20. O'Bryan scored eight points during the run, while DeBoer, Jones and Dotson all hit 3-pointers. The Bison went 6-of-7 from the floor during that stretch, including a perfect 4-for-4 from long range.
The defensive numbers for the Bison were nearly as impressive. They had a season-best eight steals and held their opponent to season-lows in points (41), points in a half (20), field goal percentage (.239), 3-pointers (1), 3-point field goal percentage (.059) and assists (2). They gave up few second-chance opportunities with a 62-30 advantage in rebounds.
Freshman Jacquie Klotz, who was coming off a 19-point game at Delaware, turned her attention to the boards against UMBC, leading all players with 12 rebounds. She also led the team with four assists. Senior Micki Impellizeri had an outstanding all-around game with eight points, eight rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block in 18 minutes of playing time.
The Bison had numerous young players make contributions. Sophomore Sune Swart set career highs with six points and nine rebounds in just 15 minutes. Sophomore Jorden Sneed hit a late free throw for her first career point, and freshman Julia Gnieser drove for a layup and her first career points on the ensuing possession.
Capree Garner led UMBC with 18 points, 10 of which came in the second half. The Retrievers opened the second half with a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 22, but that's as close as it would get.
Bucknell will have 10 days off as the student-athletes wrap up the semester with finals. The Bison return to action when they host Yale on Friday, Dec. 19 at 4:30 p.m.
