Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
19-6,12-2Patriot
Holy Cross
15-10,8-6Patriot
Women's Basketball Defeats Holy Cross 63-45 for Fourth Series Sweep This Season
2/19/2020 8:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Abby Kapp scored a game-high 16 points, Ellie Mack recorded her second double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds, and the Bucknell women's basketball team outscored Holy Cross by 14 points in the second half to defeat the Crusaders 63-45 Wednesday evening at Sojka Pavilion.
The Bison (19-6, 12-2 PL) have now won three in a row against the Crusaders and swept the season series from Holy Cross (15-10, 8-6 PL).
The game was close early with 12 lead changes in the first half. Bucknell held a 28-24 edge at halftime and went on an 8-1 run to open the third quarter. The Bison led by at least seven the rest of the way, with the final 18-point margin the largest lead of the day.
Bucknell's defense forced 15 Holy Cross turnovers and the Bison scored 17 points off those miscues. The defense also limited one of the country's top 3-point shooting teams to two makes from beyond the arc.
Bucknell held a large rebounding edge as well, winning the battle of the boards 40-29. Taylor O'Brien led the way with a career-high 11 rebounds, while Kapp added seven to go along with her 16 points.
"They stuck in there and fought through some poor play at times, but if you can defend and rebound like that, you have a chance," said head coach Trevor Woodruff.
Lauren Manis led the Crusaders with 14 points on 6-for-17 shooting.
For Bucknell, the win was its fourth in a row and the team's eighth straight victory in Sojka Pavilion.
It took either team more than two minutes of game time to find a basket in the first quarter, and both struggled shooting in the opening frame. Seven of the game's 12 lead changes occurred in the initial 10 minutes.
Lead changes carried over into the second quarter before Bucknell began to heat up from beyond the arc. The Bison made 3-of-6 attempts from deep in the second, including one from Mack at the halftime buzzer that put the Bison up by four heading into the locker rooms.
HALF | Ellie Mack at the BUZZER‼️ Bison lead 28-24 at the break. Both teams shot better than 45% in the second quarter, and the first half saw 12 lead changes. Ally Johnson has 8 pts, and Taylor O'Brien has 8 rebs.
— Bucknell WBB (@Bucknell_WBB) February 19, 2020
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Holy Cross opened the second half 0-for-7 from the field, allowing the Bison to stretch the lead to double digits. The Crusaders finished the quarter 3-for-13 (23.1%) and Bucknell carried a 42-33 lead into the fourth.
Bucknell outscored Holy Cross 21-12 during the final 10 minutes with 6-for-13 (46.2%) shooting and three more makes from 3-point range. Holy Cross made both of its triples in the final quarter before the Bison finished the game on a 7-0 run.
Tessa Brugler chipped in nine points to the Bison effort along with six rebounds, four of which were on the offensive end. O'Brien added eight points and a team-high three steals.
"Not the cleanest night for us. Not the best execution. Certainly not what we're going to need if we want to reach our goals, but good enough. I give our kids credit for that," said Woodruff.
Bucknell is back in Sojka Pavilion on Saturday, Feb. 22 to host the Lehigh Mountain Hawks. Bucknell won 71-50 over the preseason favorites in Bethlehem back on Jan. 18. Saturday is also Bucknell's Play4Kay pink game, and fans are encouraged to wear pink. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on the Patriot League Network.
