Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
American
Women's Basketball Closes Regular Season with 65-55 Loss at American
2/28/2015 6:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Bucknell shot 46 percent from beyond the arc but just 27 percent from the rest of the floor in a 65-55 loss at American in a Patriot League women's basketball game on Saturday at Bender Arena. The Bison finished the regular season at 18-11 overall, their best mark since the 2006-07 season, and 10-8 in the Patriot League, while the Eagles won the conference regular season title at 21-8 overall and 16-2 in league play.
Bucknell will be the No. 4 seed in the Patriot League Tournament and will host No. 5 seed Navy in the quarterfinal round on Friday at a time to be announced. The Bison swept the Mids during the regular season, winning the two games by a combined three points.
Bucknell, which suffered a five-point defeat to American earlier this season, hung with the Eagles in the first half, battling to a 28-28 tie at the break. Freshman Jacquie Klotz and senior Audrey Dotson had nine points apiece for the Bison. The pair finished with 16 and 14 points, respectively.
American pulled away in the second half, shooting 54 percent from the floor and connecting on three of its four 3-point attempts.
The game was still close midway through the second half as Klotz hit a 3-pointer to bring Bucknell within three, 41-38, with 11:00 left in the game. American then went on an 18-6 run, starting with a 3-pointer by Ari Booth with 10:34 to play and ending with a trey by Shaquilla Curtis with 4:46 left on the clock. Booth scored eight points during that stretch, including three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt.
Senior Jen Dumiak, a strong contender for Patriot League Player of the Year this season, led American with 16 points, 11 rebounds and four steals. Curtis finished with 11 points, and Booth tallied 10.
Sophomore Megan McGurk had nine points and six rebounds in the loss, while sophomore Claire DeBoer finished with eight points, five boards and four assists. Klotz led the team in rebounds with seven, giving her seven straight games with at least five boards.
Bucknell's Patriot League quarterfinal game will be against either Navy or Lehigh. The game will be played on Friday, March 6 at a site and time to be determined.
