Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
6-3,0-0Patriot
Drexel
5-4,0-0CAA
Women's Basketball Wins Fourth Straight, Defeats Drexel 60-49
12/8/2019 4:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Tessa Brugler recorded her third double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds, Ellie Mack posted 13 points, nine rebounds and six assists, and Ally Johnson scored a team-high 15 points to lead the Bucknell women's basketball team to a 60-49 win over Drexel Sunday afternoon at Sojka Pavilion. The Bison have now won four games in a row and are 6-3 on the season, while the Dragons saw their two-game winning streak come to an end and fell to 5-4.
Bucknell led for more than 39 minutes in the contest, including a game-high 12 points in the fourth quarter. The Bison's offense was powered by strong shooting from 3-point range (7-of-16) and at the foul line (15-of-19). They also shot 43.2 percent overall from the field, while Drexel made 34.6 percent of its field goals.
Bucknell had a 28-27 edge at the half and held Drexel to 11 points in each of the final two quarters.
Brugler and Mack combined for 20 of Bucknell's 33 rebounds and the Bison limited the Dragons to just 22 boards. Four of Brugler's rebounds were at the offensive end.
The Bison were hot out of the gates in the first quarter, sinking 53.8 percent of their field goals and limiting Drexel to 3-of-12 (25%). The Dragons also did not find points through the first 3:35 of the contest. Meanwhile, the Bison were powered by six quick points from Johnson and back-to-back 3-pointers from Abby Kapp and Mack. Kapp then hit one from beyond the arc at the buzzer to give the Bison a 19-10 lead heading into the second.
It was Drexel that came out with the hot hand in the second quarter, outscoring Bucknell 17-12 with three made from the arc to make it a one-point game by halftime. Johnson hit a 3-pointer with 4:31 left in the quarter to help preserve the lead and ended the half 4-for-4 with nine points.
The Dragons' only lead of the game came from a Bailey Greenberg layup in the opening seconds of the second half, but it was quickly erased by a 9-0 Bison run that stretched Bucknell's lead to eight with 4:37 left in the third. However, Drexel went on to score each of the next four field goals, including one from beyond the arc to cut the Bison lead to one once more. The Bison entered the final 10 minutes holding onto a 41-38 lead.
Bucknell buckled down defensively in the fourth quarter and held Drexel under 30 percent shooting for a second time in the game. Mack, who scored 10 of her 13 points in the second half, hit a jumper in the paint with 4:27 to play that gave the Bison their largest lead of the game to that point (51-41). Drexel would get no closer than seven in last four minutes of play.
Kapp finished the game with 11 points and three made 3-pointers, and Marly Walls added a pair of steals and five points. Bailey Greenberg was one of only two Drexel players in double figures with 16 points. She also had a team-high six rebounds.
Bucknell's four-game winning streak, which dates back to the Nov. 27 victory over Howard, is currently the longest in the patriot League. Bucknell's opponents have averaged just 52 points per game during that stretch.
The Bison will have two weeks off before returning to play at Saint Francis (Pa.) on Saturday, Dec. 21. That game is set to begin at 2 p.m. and will be broadcast on NEC Front Row.
