Bucknell University
5-0,5-0Patriot
Lehigh
4-1,4-1Patriot
Bison Women's Basketball Storms Back to Win 68-60 at Lehigh
1/16/2021 4:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – After trailing by as many as 11 in the first half and six in the fourth quarter, the Bucknell women's basketball team outscored Lehigh 21-9 over the final 10 minutes to win 68-60 in Stabler Arena and improve to 5-0 on the season Saturday afternoon. Senior forward Tessa Brugler earned her third double-double of the season with 11 points and a career-high 19 rebounds, and junior guard Taylor O'Brien led all scorers with 21 points.
Bucknell (5-0, 3-0 PL Central) fell behind in the game after going over 10 minutes of game time without scoring and shooting just 2-for-14 in the second quarter, which allowed Lehigh (4-1, 2-1 PL Central) to take a 32-21 lead. Bucknell turned it around and went 15-for-26 (57.7%) in the second half while limiting Lehigh to 7-for-28 (25%).
The Bison used a 13-0 scoring run in the final frame to go from trailing by six to leading by seven in a 3:18 span. Bucknell's 44 second-half points were the most they've scored in a half this season.
Lehigh was led by senior Mary Clougherty's 12 points, and junior Emma Grothaus led the Mountain Hawks in rebounds with 12.
For the game, Bucknell was 25-of-58 (43.1%) from the field and 5-of-15 (33.3%) from beyond the arc, while Lehigh shot 20-of-63 (31.7) and was 8-of-22 (36.4%) from 3-point range.
Bucknell outscored the Mountain Hawks 38-18 in the paint, and the game featured a total of 14 lead changes.
Bucknell's 5-0 start is its best since the 2000-01 season. It was also Bucknell's sixth-consecutive victory over the Mountain Hawks.
The first quarter alone saw 12 lead changes and neither team led by more than three. Ultimately, the Bison entered the second quarter on top, 19-18, with help from O'Brien's nine first-quarter points.
After failing to find a bucket in the final two minutes of the first, Bucknell went scoreless over the first eight minutes of the second and allowed the Mountain Hawks to build a 27-19 lead. Sophomore Carly Krsul eventually interrupted the Bison scoring drought with 2:04 remaining in the half, but Lehigh came right back with five unanswered points to extend the lead to 11, which was as wide as the gap would get. Sophomore Tai Johnson's 3-pointer at the end of the half cut Bucknell's deficit to single digits heading into the locker rooms.
"I felt the game was played at a pace that was more comfortable for them than for us. We had a hard time getting our defense set because we weren't scoring any baskets, in particular in that second quarter," said head coach Trevor Woodruff.
An Ally Johnson 3-pointer at the beginning of the third sparked a strong quarter offensively for the Bison, who shot 57.1 percent and knocked down both of their attempts from beyond the arc. However, Lehigh was able to maintain its distance with three triples of their own and a 6-for-6 showing at the foul line. With 40 second to go in the third, Abby Kapp hit her only 3-pointer of the day to bring the Bison within four of tying heading into the final 10 minutes.
Bucknell trailed by six with 6:12 remaining in the game when an O'Brien three kicked off Bucknell's comeback run. Brugler contributed six to the 13-point run by drawing contact and coming through with 4-of-5 free throws, one of which tied the game and another that gave the Bison a lead with 4:56 to play. An Ally Johnson 3-pointer with 1:39 left gave Bucknell a 67-60 cushion.
4Q | Bucknell 57, Lehigh 57
— Bucknell WBB (@Bucknell_WBB) January 16, 2021
Bison tie it up!! Brugler has 16 rebounds and 8 points. O'Brien has a team-high 21 points. 4:56 to play.
Watch: https://t.co/7crg0XgguJ pic.twitter.com/D9RqEKmh5i
"The second half was just more our pace. We were able to get the ball to the places we wanted, to the people we wanted, and as a result we were much more efficient on offense, and what that does is help your defense on the back end," said Woodruff.
Brugler's 19 rebounds were four shy of the Patriot League single-game record, and six of those 19 were offensive. The Nazareth, Pa. native also posted two blocks, two assists and a steal in the game. It was the sixth double-double of Brugler's career.
O'Brien's 21 points came on 8-of-18 shooting to go along with two steals, two assists and a rebound. It was O'Brien's second-consecutive game eclipsing 20 points and her fourth double-digit scoring effort of the season.
Kapp also scored in double figures with 10 points and eight rebounds.
Bucknell and Lehigh face off again on Sunday in Sojka Pavilion. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
