Saturday, January 12
Easton, Pa.
2 p.m.
Bucknell University
3-112-4; PL
56
at
47
Lafayette
1-36-9; PL
1
2
3
4
F
Bucknell
6
14
21
15
56
Lafayette
9
11
12
15
47
Strong Effort Off the Bench Helps Women's Basketball Hold Off Lafayette
1/12/2019 5:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Bucknell's Bench Outscored Lafayette's 28-3
EASTON, Pa. – Senior Kaitlyn Slagus scored 20 points and freshman Taylor O'Brien added a career-high 13 to lead Bucknell women's basketball to a 56-47 win over Lafayette on Saturday at the Kirby Sports Center. The Bison improved to 12-4 overall and 3-1 in the Patriot League, while the Leopards dropped to 6-9 overall and 1-3 in the conference.
O'Brien led a Bucknell bench that scored half of the team's points in the game. Tessa Brugler added seven points and seven rebounds, Marly Walls scored all five of her points in the third quarter, and Ally Johnson drained a 3-pointer for her three points. The Bison bench outscored Lafayette's 28-3.
"I'm really proud of the way the bench stepped up today," Bucknell head coach Aaron Roussell said. "They provided great energy on the defensive end and were able to put points on the board as well."
Slagus was the lone Bucknell player to play more than 30 minutes with her 37 minutes on the floor. The Bison were playing without junior Ellie Mack due to an injury. Mack started the first 15 games of the season and averaged 11.2 points and 6.9 rebounds. She had scored in double-figures in each of the past five games.
The first half featured solid defense and little offense from either team as they battled to a 20-20 tie. Slagus took over in the second half, scoring 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting, including a 4-of-5 mark from beyond the arc, while playing all 20 minutes. Senior Rachel Dumiak, who played a season-high 17 minutes, was on the floor for 13 minutes in the second half and led a defensive effort that forced 10 Lafayette turnovers over the final two quarters. She finished with two steals.
Bucknell trailed 29-28 with 3:33 to play in the third, but closed out the quarter with a 13-3 run. Slagus scored seven points during that stretch, while Walls added four.
Both Slagus and O'Brien were efficient with their offense. Slagus was 7-of-12 from the field, 4-of-6 from long range, and 2-of-2 from the line. O'Brien shot 5-of-8 from the field and 2-of-3 on 3-pointers.
Natalie Kucowski turned in a solid performance for Lafayette, posting a double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds. The Bucknell defense didn't make it easy, holding her to 6-of-15 shooting.
Kyi English finished with three steals for the Bison, while Walls added two and also pulled down a career-high six rebounds. Autumn Ceppi picked up her first career start in place of Mack and contributed to the defensive effort against Kucowski.
"Our defense kept us in it early when we couldn't buy a bucket," Roussell said. "It wasn't the prettiest of games, but I was impressed with how this group found a way to get it done today."
Bucknell is at Sojka Pavilion on Wednesday when it hosts Lehigh at 6 p.m. The Mountain Hawks are coming off a loss to Boston University that dropped them to 11-4 overall and 3-1 in the Patriot League.
O'Brien led a Bucknell bench that scored half of the team's points in the game. Tessa Brugler added seven points and seven rebounds, Marly Walls scored all five of her points in the third quarter, and Ally Johnson drained a 3-pointer for her three points. The Bison bench outscored Lafayette's 28-3.
"I'm really proud of the way the bench stepped up today," Bucknell head coach Aaron Roussell said. "They provided great energy on the defensive end and were able to put points on the board as well."
Slagus was the lone Bucknell player to play more than 30 minutes with her 37 minutes on the floor. The Bison were playing without junior Ellie Mack due to an injury. Mack started the first 15 games of the season and averaged 11.2 points and 6.9 rebounds. She had scored in double-figures in each of the past five games.
The first half featured solid defense and little offense from either team as they battled to a 20-20 tie. Slagus took over in the second half, scoring 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting, including a 4-of-5 mark from beyond the arc, while playing all 20 minutes. Senior Rachel Dumiak, who played a season-high 17 minutes, was on the floor for 13 minutes in the second half and led a defensive effort that forced 10 Lafayette turnovers over the final two quarters. She finished with two steals.
Bucknell trailed 29-28 with 3:33 to play in the third, but closed out the quarter with a 13-3 run. Slagus scored seven points during that stretch, while Walls added four.
Both Slagus and O'Brien were efficient with their offense. Slagus was 7-of-12 from the field, 4-of-6 from long range, and 2-of-2 from the line. O'Brien shot 5-of-8 from the field and 2-of-3 on 3-pointers.
Natalie Kucowski turned in a solid performance for Lafayette, posting a double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds. The Bucknell defense didn't make it easy, holding her to 6-of-15 shooting.
Kyi English finished with three steals for the Bison, while Walls added two and also pulled down a career-high six rebounds. Autumn Ceppi picked up her first career start in place of Mack and contributed to the defensive effort against Kucowski.
"Our defense kept us in it early when we couldn't buy a bucket," Roussell said. "It wasn't the prettiest of games, but I was impressed with how this group found a way to get it done today."
Bucknell is at Sojka Pavilion on Wednesday when it hosts Lehigh at 6 p.m. The Mountain Hawks are coming off a loss to Boston University that dropped them to 11-4 overall and 3-1 in the Patriot League.
Team Stats
BUCKNELL
LAFAYETT
FG%
.400
.370
3FG%
.421
.353
FT%
.615
.538
RB
30
32
TO
18
24
STL
10
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
7
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
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