Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Holy Cross
Bison Improve to 10-1 in Patriot League with 74-64 Win Over Holy Cross
2/6/2016 5:06:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell remained in a tie for first place in the Patriot League women's basketball standings with a 74-64 win over visiting Holy Cross on Saturday at Sojka Pavilion. Junior Claire DeBoer, freshman Kate Walker, sophomore Jacquie Klotz and freshman Kaitlyn Slagus all scored in double-figures to lead the Bison to a season sweep of the Crusaders (9-13, 6-5 PL).
DeBoer and Walker led the way for Bucknell (16-6, 10-1 PL) for the second time this week. DeBoer followed a 25-point outing in a win over American on Wednesday with 17 points and six assists against the Crusaders. Just one game after reaching a career-high in points against American, Walker eclipsed that with 15 points while also adding a career-high seven rebounds.
The final score was not indicative of what was yet another closely contested Patriot League game for Bucknell. The Bison led by as much as 13 early in the fourth quarter, but that margin dwindled all the way down to one, 61-60, after a 3-point by Holy Cross's Tricia Byrne with 2:21 to play. The Bison responded on their next possession with a layup by Klotz, and junior forward Sune Swart helped her team start to put the game away with a huge 3-pointer to make the score 66-60 with 1:21 left. They made their final eight free throws, including six by freshman Kyi English, to clinch the win.
“I'm no longer ever surprised by the character of this team or the toughness of this team,” said Bucknell head coach Aaron Roussell. “In every adverse situation we have pulled through. We did that once again today.”
Bucknell actually trailed 31-30 at the half and needed a jumper by Walker and a 3-pointer by Klotz in the final two points to get to that point. The Bison came alive in the second half, including a 10-0 run midway through the third-quarter to take a 13-point lead. Slagus had five points during the run, Walker hit a key 3-pointer to put the Bison up nine, and DeBoer eventually capped the run with a fastbreak layup on an assist from Walker to put them up 51-38 with 2:13 to play in the quarter.
Klotz, who entered the game ranked fourth in the nation amongst guards in rebounding at 10.0 per game, led all players with 14 boards. She is one of just two players in the Patriot League averaging a double-double for the season. DeBoer, senior guard Tyler Craig and English pulled down five boards apiece as the Bison won the rebounding battle for the 21st time in 22 games this season.
Klotz added 11 points to her impressive rebounding total to notch her 12th career double-double, nine of which have come this season. Slagus finished with 10 points, while both players dished out three assists.
Bucknell weathered a solid statistical performance by the Crusaders' Infiniti Thomas-Waheed, who tallied 17 points, 11 rebounds and three steals. But, the Bison forced her to take 21 shots to get to the 17 points. Lisa Mifsud scored 11 points and eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for her career.
The Bison finished with a large advantage in points in the paint, scoring 30 to just 12 for the Crusaders. They did so despite giving up 14 offensive rebounds. Those boards resulted in just seven second-chance points.
Bucknell will have another key league game as it travels to play third-place Lehigh on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Bison erased a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter on their way to an overtime win in their first meeting against the Mountain Hawks this season.
