Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Loyola (Md.) (Semifinal)
Bucknell Women's Basketball Falls to Loyola in PL Semis, 65-53
3/11/2016 9:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball
WEST POINT, N.Y. -- Bucknell's record-setting season took a disappointing turn on Friday night at Christl Arena, as hot-shooting Loyola Maryland defeated the Bison 65-53 in the Patriot League Tournament semifinals. The second-seeded Bison, who went 17-1 in the Patriot League during the regular season, fell to 24-7 overall and saw their school-record 10-game winning streak come to an end.
Bucknell had not lost a game since Jan. 30, when it fell 68-63 on the same floor to Army West Point, which also went 17-1 in league play. The top-seeded Black Knights routed fourth-seeded Lehigh earlier in the day to advance to Saturday's championship game, where they will face the third-seeded Greyhounds.
If Army wins that game, Bucknell would earn an automatic bid to the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT).
Bucknell went ice cold in the middle two quarters in Friday night's loss and finished the game shooting 35 percent. After taking a 10-9 lead through one quarter, the Bison were outscored 36-16 in the second and third quarters. They made six of their 23 field goal attempts during that stretch.
Meanwhile, Loyola had one of its best shooting performances of the season, going 20-of-43 for a 47 percent clip from the field. The Greyhounds were especially hot from beyond the arc, making seven of their 13 attempts, including a long range trey by Colleen Marshall to put them up 31-21 at the end of the first half.
“I thought we played well defensively early, but just couldn't find ways to score,” said Bucknell head coach Aaron Roussell. “Then they hit a few baskets and were able to take us out of our game as they played really slow and smart with the lead.”
Marshall, one of three Loyola players to play all 40 minutes, finished with 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting. She had 11 of those points in the first half. Steph Smith scored 20 points, and Bri Betz-White tallied 10. The trio helped the Greyhounds defeat the Bison for the first time in seven tries since Roussell became Bucknell's head coach in 2012.
“I give great credit to Coach (Joe) Logan, his staff and his players. They played great in all aspects of the game,” Roussell said. “We just didn't have it tonight and they played very well. Marshall and Smith were fantastic and the rest of the team really fed off them.”
Sophomore Jacquie Klotz recorded her 14th double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Junior Claire DeBoer scored a team-high 15 points, while freshman Kyi English finished with 13. Senior Tyler Craig and Klotz dished out four assists apiece. Craig also had all three of the team's steals.
