Women's Basketball Back in Sojka Pavilion Wednesday to Host American

Wednesday, January 15

Lewisburg, Pa.

6 p.m.

Bucknell University

American

Women's Basketball Back in Sojka Pavilion Wednesday to Host American

1/14/2020 10:42:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Bucknell returns to Sojka Pavilion on Wednesday for its second home Patriot League game of the season. The Bison, who are off to a 4-0 start to league play and winners in nine of their last 10 games, take on the American Eagles in a rematch of last season's Patriot League Championship.

Bucknell has won each of its Patriot League contests by double-digits and will look to continue its defensive dominance against one of three teams sitting at .500 in league standings. Bucknell and American last faced on March 17, 2019 when the Bison claimed a 66-54 victory to seal a Patriot League tournament title.

What: American (6-8, 2-2 PL) at Bucknell (11-4, 4-0 PL)
When: Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 6 p.m.
Where: Sojka Pavilion - Lewisburg, Pa.
Live Video: Patriot League Network
Radio: 90.5 WVBU
Internet Radio: BucknellBison.com
Live Statistics: BucknellBison.com
Game Notes

Bucknell Probable Starters
G: Taylor O'Brien (8.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 0.8 apg)
G: Ally Johnson (8.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.4 apg)
G: Abby Kapp (10.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 0.9 apg)
F: Tessa Brugler (10.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.1 apg)
F: Ellie Mack (14.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.6 apg)

With a win over American, Bucknell would...
• improve to 12-4 for a second straight season.
• improve to 5-1 in Sojka Pavilion.
• open Patriot League play 5-0 for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
• improve to 22-25 in all-time meetings with the Eagles.
• win a fifth straight game against the Eagles.

About Bucknell
• Bucknell is one of two remaining teams that are undefeated in Patriot League play following a 51-40 victory over Holy Cross on Saturday. The Bison have now won nine of their last 10 games and are 11-4 overall. Bucknell has won each conference game by double-digits.
• The Bison defense has been outstanding in conference play, allowing just 40.5 points per game and 28.9 percent shooting. Bucknell's 54.9 points allowed per game for the season ranks first in the Patriot League and 20th in the country.
• Bucknell has given up just eight made 3-pointers over the last three games and has held opponents to 21 percent shooting from the arc during that stretch.
• Ellie Mack posted her fourth career double-double last game with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Mack, who scored her 800th career point against Navy last week, has recorded three of her four double-doubles against conference opponents. She ranks fourth in the league with 14.3 points per game.
• The other Bison averaging double-figures are Tessa Brugler (10.1) and Abby Kapp (10). Brugler posted her seventh double-digit scoring effort with 19 points against Navy. Kapp is tied for first in the league with 36 made threes this season.
• Bucknell blocked seven shots in the win over Holy Cross. That's the most the Bison have recorded in a game since blocking 10 shots against Colgate on Feb. 19 of last season. Autumn Ceppi, Carly Krsul, and Mack all set/matched career highs in the category last game.
• Bucknell has allowed single-digit points to opponents in a quarter 12 times in 15 games this season. Five of those occurred in the last three games.

About American
• American fell 64-63 to Lehigh on Saturday and sits at 2-2 in Patriot League play. At 6-8 overall, the Eagles have struggled on the road but are 5-2 when playing at home.
• American graduated three regular starters from a season ago, including Patriot League Player of the Year Cecily Carl. Returning starters for the Eagles include Indeya Sanders and Kaitlyn Marenyi, as well as Jade Edwards, who started 20 games in 2018-19.
• Edwards has led the Eagles in scoring through 14 games and is third in the Patriot League at 15.1 points per game. The sophomore scored 20 in the team's first league game against Colgate, but has averaged just nine points in the last three games.
• Sanders notched her first double-double of the year last game with 16 points and 10 rebounds at Lehigh. Sanders is third in the league in both assists (5.1 per game) and steals (2.1 per game), and is fourth in blocks (1.0 per game).
• Marenyi is second on the Eagles' roster with 11.2 points per game. Marenyi has scored in double-figures in five of the last six games, including a season-high 19 against Army. Marenyi is also the team's leading 3-point shooter.
• The Eagles have been the second-best Patriot League team in terms of blocks this season. They average 2.9 per game and posted seven against Army.
• Over the last seven years, American head coach Megan Gebbia has led the Eagles to two Patriot League championship titles, three regular season titles, two WNIT appearances, and two berths into the NCAA Tournament.

Series History with American
• Bucknell is 21-25 in all-time meetings with the Eagles.
• Bucknell has won each of the last four matchups with American, including a 66-54 win in last season's Patriot League championship game.
• The Bison are 12-12 in home games against the Eagles.
• In the last meeting, Ellie Mack scored 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting and five rebounds. Abby Kapp scored six with one 3-pointer. The Bison shot 48.9 percent as a team.

Bucknell against the Patriot League
• The Bison have gone 68-8 in Patriot League play dating back to the start of the 2015-16 season, which includes two Patriot League titles.
• Bucknell also has the best overall record during that span at 113-34.

Up Next
Bucknell travels to Lehigh on Saturday, Jan. 18 to take on the Mountain Hawks. Lehigh is the only other undefeated team in the Patriot League at 4-0. Lehigh holds a 43-42 all-time advantage in the series, but Bucknell has won each of the last three. Saturday's game is set for 4 p.m.