Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
American
DeBoer Scores 25 as Bison Edge American 60-54 in Overtime
2/3/2016 10:33:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Junior forward Claire DeBoer scored 25 points, and Kate Walker tallied eight of her career-high 11 points in overtime to lift Bucknell to a 60-54 win over visiting American in a Patriot League women' s basketball game Wednesday at Sojka Pavilion.
The Bison, who improved to 15-6 overall and 9-1 in the Patriot League, trailed 46-44 before freshman guard Kyi English tied the game with six seconds left on the clock. She took a pass from beyond the arc, allowed the defender to pass her and stepped up to drain a mid-ranger jumper. American had a shot for the win at the other end, but the game went to overtime after the attempt hit off the front of the rim.
After putting the team on her back offensively in regulation, DeBoer got Bucknell off to a good start with the first bucket by either team in overtime, a 3-pointer to put her team up 49-46. American responded with a bucket at the other end, but Walker put the Bison up four, 52-48, with the team's second trey of the extra period. The Bison would hold at least a three-point lead the rest of the way.
"Those sort of games can go either way," said Bucknell head coach Aaron Roussell. "We made some big shots in key moments and they had a few that rattled out. Obviously, we will take the win. It was a tough one and a good battle. I thought they were physical and defended us very well."
The game was close throughout, with Bucknell taking the largest lead of nine points on a pair of Walker free throws late in overtime. The Bison led 11-10 after one quarter and maintained the one-point lead with a 24-23 advantage at the half. They upped the lead to three, 40-37, after three quarters, before needing the clutch basket by English to tie the game in the fourth.
For the second straight game Bucknell finished with a huge advantage on the boards, pulling down 48 compared to just 28 for American. Freshman forward Kaitlyn Slagus and sophomore guard Jacquie Klotz led the way with seven apiece. It was Klotz's 29th straight game with at least five rebounds, and it was the 20th time in 21 games this season that the Bison out-rebounded their opponent. They had 17 offensive rebounds, while the Eagles finished with three.
DeBoer's 25 points, which came on 10-of-19 shooting, were a season high. She logged 42 minutes despite picking up her fourth foul midway through the fourth quarter. Walker's 11 points were bolstered by a 5-for-6 mark at the foul line. She added three rebounds, including two big key boards in the overtime period.
Senior guard Tyler Craig tallied six points and three assists while committing zero turnovers in 38 minutes on the court. Slagus and English contributed five points apiece.
Ari Booth led American with 11 points, while Kaitlyn Lewis joined her in double-figures with 10. No one on the Eagles finished with more than five rebounds as they fell to 5-16 overall and 3-7 in the conference.
At 9-1, Bucknell remains in a tie with Army West Point, which beat Lafayette 84-57 on Wednesday, for first place in the league standings. Both teams hold a two-game lead and own a win over third-place Lehigh.
Bucknell swept the season series with American for the first time since 2007. The Bison will look to add a season sweep of Holy Cross when they host the Crusaders on Saturday at noon.
