Sunday, March 17
Lewisburg, Pa.
12 p.m.
Bucknell University
vs
American
Photo by: Marc Hagemeier
#1 Bucknell Hosts #2 American in PL Title Game Sunday on CBS Sports Network
3/15/2019 8:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
 Â Â Â Â GAME NOTES Â Â @Bucknell_WBB Projected Starters G: Kyi English (7.8 ppg, 3.0 apg) G: Kate Walker (10.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg) G: Abby Kapp (9.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg) F: Ellie Mack (12.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg) F: Kaitlyn Slagus (12.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg) |
     GAME NOTES   @AU_WBasketball   Projected Starters   G: Kaitlyn Lewis (8.5 ppg, 3.4 apg)   G: Kaitlyn Marenyi (11.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg)   G: Jade Edwards (6.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg)   G: Elina Koskimies (11.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg)   F: Cecily Carl (15.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg) |
** Tickets are on sale right now for the upcoming Patriot League Women's Basketball Championship game between Bucknell and American on Sunday. The game tips off at noon in Sojka Pavilion and will be telecast live on the CBS Sports Network. Tickets are $14 for adults and $7 for children and seniors. Please contact the Campus Box Office at 570-577-1000 or you can purchase your tickets on-line at www.bucknell.edu/BoxOffice
FOUR-PACK SPECIAL -- Limited Offer
For $42 you can get two adult tickets, two youth tickets, and four meal vouchers (good for 4 hot dogs, 4 bags of chips, and 4 sodas) WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!!!
FREE YOUTH TICKETS -- Limited Offer
While supplies last, you can get free youth tickets to the game on Sunday. To claim the tickets simply email Todd Newcomb at tnewcomb@bucknell.edu. This offer is sure to go quickly!
Game Info
What: Patriot League Championship -- #2 American (22-9) at #1 Bucknell (27-5)
When: Sunday, March 17 (12 p.m.)
Where: Sojka Pavilion (Lewisburg, Pa.)
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: 90.5 WVBU
Internet Radio: BucknellBison.com
Live Statistics: BucknellBison.com
With a win over American, Bucknell would...
• improve to 28-5 overall and set the program record for wins in a season.
• win the Patriot League title for the second time in three seasons and the fourth time overall.
• receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
• improve to 21-25 in the all-times series with the Eagles.
• improve to 10-8 against the Eagles during the Roussell era.
• improve to 9-2 against the Eagles with the current senior class.
• improve to 153-73 all-time at Sojka Pavilion.
• improve to 56-6 at Sojka Pavilion over the last four seasons.
• improve to 15-1 at Sojka Pavilion this season.
How They Got Here
American (#2 Seed)
• Non-conference — American went 4-7 in non-conference play, including an 0-4 record in a tough final stretch against quality opponents (Virginia, Penn State, High Point, Ohio). The Eagles also had strong opponents in Stanford and FGCU. Their top non-league win came over Tulsa.
• Patriot League — The Eagles went 16-2 in league play. They opened with a 71-56 loss at Bucknell before reeling off 15 consecutive victories, the longest winning streak by a Patriot League team this season. The streak came to a close with a 65-64 home loss to Bucknell before the Eagles closed the regular season with a win over Navy.
• Patriot League Quarterfinal — American never trailed on its way to a 67-47 win over 10th-seeded Lafayette. Kaitlyn Marenyi paced the Eagles with 20 points and six assists.
• Patriot League Semifinal — The Eagles led third-seeded Lehigh by just five after three quarters, but pulled away in the fourth to get a 68-57 win. Cecily Carl had a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Kaitlyn Lewis tallied 17 points and four assists.
Bucknell (#1 Seed)
• Non-conference — Bucknell went 9-3 in non-conference play, including a 75-58 win over Quinnipiac. The Bobcats won the MAAC title and are 39th in the RPI. The Bison's losses came to two guaranteed NCAA Tournament teams (Syracuse and Iowa State) and another (Drexel) that is in the CAA Tournament Final on Saturday. Bucknell won the Brown University Turkey Tip-Off with wins over UMass, Fairfield, and Brown, and had another solid victory against Youngstown State.
• Patriot League —  The Bison went 16-2 in league play, including regular season sweeps over second-seeded American and third-seeded Lehigh. They suffered a home loss to Boston University and a road loss on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer at Holy Cross.
• Patriot League Quarterfinal — Ellie Mack (17), Kyi English (14), Kate Walker (12), and Abby Kapp (11) all scored in double-figures to lead Bucknell to an 88-63 win over eighth-seeded Loyola (Md.). The Bison shot 57% (31-55) from the field and 44% (12-27) from beyond the arc.
• Patriot League Semifinal — Bucknell set Patriot League Tournament records for fewest points allowed (31), margin of victory (35), and steals (18) in a 66-31 win over Holy Cross. Kaitlyn Slagus finished with 13 points, seven rebounds, and five steals.
Series History with American
• Bucknell and American will meet for the 46th time. The Eagles hold a 25-20 lead in the all-time series, but the Bison have won each of the past three meetings, including both games during this year's regular season. The Bison cruised to a 71-56 win in the first game, but won by just one, 65-64, in the second meeting.
• The current senior class is 8-2 against American.
• Kaitlyn Slagus has averaged 9.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in 10 career games against the Eagles. Kate Walker has averaged 10.9 points in eight career games.
Patriot League Tournament Series History with American
• Bucknell is 4-0 against American in Patriot League Tournament games, including three games with Aaron Roussell as head coach.
• Sunday will be the first championship game between the teams. Bucknell has beaten American in two semifinal games and two quarterfinal games.
• The teams will play each other in the tournament for the third time in four years.
Last Time Out
• Bucknell advanced to the championship game with a 66-31 win over Holy Cross on Thursday at Sojka Pavilion. It was the fewest points allowed in Patriot League Tournament history.
• Kaitlyn Slagus and Abby Kapp led four Bison starters in double figures with 13 points apiece. Ellie Mack and Kate Walker each tallied 12 points. Walker grabbed a team-high nine rebounds, while Mack had four boards and three steals.
• Bucknell's defense limited Holy Cross to single digits in three of the four quarters. The Bison posted the largest margin of victory ever in a Patriot League Tournament game (35) and their 18 steals were also a tournament record. It was the least amount of points allowed by the Bison since giving up just 30 against Elmira in 1980.
• Slagus added seven rebounds and five steals to go along with her 13 points.
Career Highs Set Last Game
Kaitlyn Slagus — steals (5)
About American
• American advanced to the title game with a 68-57 win over Lehigh in the semifinal round. The Eagles beat Lafayette 67-47 in the quarterfinal round.
• The Eagles are 22-9 with wins in 18 of their last 19 games. The lone loss during that stretch came to Bucknell, as did their most recent loss before that.
• Senior forward Cecily Carl was voted the Patriot League Player of the Year following the season. Senior Elina Koskimies made the All-Patriot League Second Team.
Bucknell vs. the Patriot League
• Bucknell is 285-236 against current members of the Patriot League.
• The Bison are 238-177 in Patriot League play.
• Bucknell has a winning record against six teams in the conference -- Army West Point, Boston University, Colgate, Lafayette, Loyola, and Navy.
• The Bison have won three Patriot League titles and have played in the title game four times.
Where Do They Rank?
• Bucknell is ranked 11th in the latest edition of the CollegeInsider.com Women's Mid-Major Top 25. The Bison are ranked 42nd in the most recent RPI.
• American is 11th in the Mid-Major Poll and 72nd in the RPI.
Up Next
The winner of Sunday's championship game will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The loser will receive an automatic bid to the WNIT.
Players Mentioned
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