Bucknell University
4-0,4-0Patriot
Lafayette
0-4,0-4Patriot
Women's Basketball Completes Weekend Sweep of Lafayette, 79-45, to Move to 4-0
1/10/2021 5:57:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Taylor O'Brien scored 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting and had 10 rebounds to lead the Bucknell women's basketball team to a 79-45 victory over Lafayette Sunday afternoon at Sojka Pavilion. The win completed a strong weekend for the Bison, who won both games against the Leopards by a combined 63 points.
Bucknell (4-0, 4-0 PL) shot 53.8 percent (28-for-52) from the field, including better than 64 percent in the third quarter when it extended its lead. The Bison used a 12-0 run in the third quarter to turn a 10-point lead into a 22-point cushion at 52-30. Lafayette (0-4, 0-4 PL) never got closer the rest of the way. Bucknell improved to 2-0 in the Patriot League Central division with the win.
Bucknell totaled a season-high 19 assists against just eight turnovers. O'Brien and Tessa Brugler recorded four assists apiece, and four Bison had at least three assists. The Leopards turned the ball over 18 times and Bucknell had a 20-7 edge in points off turnovers.
The Bison made 7-of-13 3-pointers, led by 3-for-5 shooting by Ally Johnson. Its the second straight game the Bison have shot better than 50 percent from beyond the arc. Johnson and Brugler joined O'Brien in double figures with 13 points apiece. Bucknell was also 16-for-18 (88.9%) from the foul line.
Naomi Ganpo led Lafayette with 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting, while Natalie Kucowski totaled eight points and 11 rebounds.
Bucknell has now won 14 consecutive games over the Leopards, making it the team's longest-ever winning streak against a Patriot League opponent. Bucknell's 4-0 start is its best since the 2000-01 season when the team won its first five games.
Lafayette was on the board first in the first quarter and maintained its only lead of the contest through the first two minutes. After beginning the game 0-for-3 Bucknell finished the quarter 7-of-12, and a Brugler 3-pointer in the last minute pushed the Bison lead to 8. Seven of Lafayette's turnovers came during the first frame.
Bucknell shot better than 50 percent in the second quarter and extended its lead to 12 before halftime. It was the highest-scoring quarter of the game for the Leopards, who connected on both of their attempts from beyond the arc and put up 15 points.
The third quarter was Bucknell's best of the season from a scoring standpoint. The Bison put up 27 points and made 3-of-4 triples while also converting 6-of-6 free throws. O'Brien scored 11 of her 22 points in the third frame after shooting a perfect 4-for-4 with a 3-pointer. O'Brien also posted three rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block over those 10 minutes. The Bison grabbed 10 points off five Lafayette turnovers in the third.
Bucknell posted another 50 percent shooting effort in the final quarter, while Lafayette scored nine points on 4-of-12 shooting and suffered three misses from 3-point range.
Other notable contributions to the Bison's cause included nine points and three rebounds from sophomore Carly Krsul, as well as six points and a trio of assists from senior Autumn Ceppi. Sophomore Emma Shaffer scored a career-high six points, and first-year forward Nicole Davis grabbed her first career points.
Bucknell has held opponents to under 50 points in three of four games this season and has won six consecutive games by double digits, dating back to last season.
With the victory, head coach Trevor Woodruff collected the 300th win of his career at the NCAA level. Woodruff also has 24 victories at the NJCAA level.
Bucknell will be back in action next weekend with games against Lehigh. The Bison travel to the Mountain Hawks on Saturday for a 2 p.m. tip-off, then turn around and host game two on Sunday at 4 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+.
