Bucknell University
1-0,1-0Patriot
Loyola
0-1,0-1Patriot
Bucknell Women's Basketball Claims 72-44 Season-Opening Victory Over Greyhounds
1/2/2021 5:05:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Senior forward Tessa Brugler posted her fourth career double-double and two other Bison reached double-digit scoring as Bucknell took down the Loyola Greyhounds 72-44 in Saturday's season-opening contest at Sojka Pavilion.
Bucknell (1-0) led wire-to-wire after opening the game on a 14-2 scoring run and shooting 52.6% (10-of-19) in the first quarter. Loyola (0-1) narrowed the gap to just six points in the second, but the Bison outscored the Greyhounds 23-7 in the third and would stretch the advantage to as much as 29 in the second half.
With the win, Bucknell collected its 10th consecutive victory over a Patriot League opponent, dating back to last season. It was also Bucknell's largest margin of victory since Jan. 29 of last season.
"I would say under the circumstances and the buildup, all of the hectic stuff through 8Â o'clock last night, all of that considered I would say I'm pleased," said head coach Trevor Woodruff. "I expected our veterans to be fine and they were. I expected some of the younger folks to be spinning a little bit and they were, but for the most part good things moving forward."
Brugler finished with a team-high 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds. Junior Taylor O'Brien chipped in 14 points, and sophomore Carly Krsul had a career day with 12Â points, seven rebounds and three blocks.
For the game, Bucknell shot 39.7% from the field and was 6-of-15 from beyond the arc. The Bison defense forced 19 Greyhound turnovers, blocked seven shots and came away with nine steals. Bucknell also won the rebounding battle 43-31.
The Greyhounds were led by a 17-point performance from junior Devyne Newman and shot 34% as a team.
Bucknell's first half lead was helped by early Greyhound missteps that resulted in 11 points off turnovers for the Bison in the first quarter. The Bucknell seniors provided 18 of the team's 27 first quarter points, and seven different Bison in total scored during the first frame. Bucknell connected on 10 of its first 19 field goal attempts, including three from beyond the arc.
Bucknell's shooting went cold in the second period, allowing Loyola to go on a 10-0 run that lasted over four minutes. A Loyola layup with 1:05 left in the half cut the deficit to six, which was as close as things would get throughout the remainder of the game.
Brugler was a perfect 4-for-4 in the third quarter and scored her final eight points over those 10 minutes. She and O'Brien combined for 13 of the Bison's 23 third quarter points, and O'Brien knocked down one of her two 3-pointers to spark a 9-0 run that carried Bucknell into the fourth quarter with a 60-36 lead.
Bucknell limited Loyola to 23.1% shooting in the second half and allowed just 16 Greyhound points over the final 20 minutes.
All 13 Bison registered minutes in the game and 11 Bucknell players scored. Senior Autumn Ceppi supplied a game-high five assists and three steals, and Abby Kapp added seven points and a steal. Newcomers Caroline Dingler and Julie Kulesza each scored their first collegiate points in the contest, while Kaylee Reinbeau grabbed four boards.
"The good news is we can go back at it tomorrow and be better right away. We don't have to wait a couple of days," said Woodruff.
Up next, Bucknell travels down to Baltimore, Md. to take on the Greyhounds in Reitz Arena on Sunday, Jan. 3. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
