Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
20-6,13-2Patriot
Lehigh
16-10,8-7Patriot
Mack Scores 1,000th Career Point in Women's Basketball's 67-56 Win Over Lehigh
2/22/2020 3:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Ellie Mack became the 26th Bucknell player to score 1,000 career points when she connected on a 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter and the Bison women's basketball team reached the 20-win plateau for the fifth consecutive season thanks to a 67-56 win over Lehigh Saturday afternoon at Sojka Pavilion. Mack finished with a game-high 21 points and nine rebounds. Abby Kapp was also in double figures with 18 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks.
Mack, who entered the game with 980 career points, scored 15 of her 21 points in the second half as Bucknell (20-6, 13-2 PL) stretched its winning streak to five games. The Bison are now 11-1 at home this season, including 8-0 in Patriot League play.
Bucknell used a 20-6 run in the second half to take control of a close game. The Bison led 38-34 midway through the third quarter. A Tessa Brugler layup with just under six minutes to play in the fourth made it 58-40, the largest lead of the game for Bucknell.
Hannah Hedstrom led Lehigh (16-10, 8-7 PL) with 13 points. She was the lone Mountain Hawks player in double figures. The Bucknell defense limited Lehigh to 8-of-28 (28.6%) in the first half and forced 15 Mount Hawk turnovers in the game.
Bucknell shot 50 percent in the second half, including a 7-for-13 third quarter that created the first real separation between the two teams. Mack hit one of her three triples to open the scoring in the third that pushed Bucknell's lead to 32-22. The quarter ended with Ally Johnson hitting a deep 3-pointer that had the Bison leading by 13 entering the fourth.
Lehigh never got back within single digits during the final quarter and scored just one basket through the first 4:23 of the fourth. The Mountain Hawks did make three of their four 3-pointers in the last 10 minutes and shot 53.8 percent in the final frame.
Mack's 1,000-point milestone happened with 1:39 left in the game when she shot from the top of the arc and drilled her third 3-pointer of the contest. It was the final bucket of the game for Bucknell.
Here's a look at the shot that put Ellie Mack over 1⃣,0⃣0⃣0⃣ career points! They were the final three points of an all-around great day for the Bison.#rayBucknell | #TST pic.twitter.com/dx8z867NPG
— Bucknell WBB (@Bucknell_WBB) February 22, 2020
Johnson finished the game with eight points and three assists. Tai Johnson followed with seven points on 3-of-6 shooting and one 3-pointer, and Taylor O'Brien dished out three assists as well.
"We talked about at halftime, the reason we focus on defense and rebounding is for days like today when the offense isn't really crisp," said head coach Trevor Woodruff. "We had enough to get it done. We're happy and looking forward to next week, which is a huge week."
With the win, the Bison collected their fifth series sweep of the season. The win also allowed Bucknell to maintain a two-game lead over second-place Colgate, who the Bison will see for a second time on Wednesday.
Bucknell defeated Colgate 66-43 in Sojka Pavilion back on Jan. 22, but the Raiders have gone 6-2 since that loss. Wednesday's game tips off at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on the Patriot League Network.
