Bucknell University
3-0,3-0Patriot
Lafayette
0-3,0-3Patriot
Sharp Shooting Guides Bucknell Women's Basketball Past Lafayette, 80-51
1/9/2021 4:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LEWISBURG, PA. – Sharp 3-point shooting and a strong defensive effort helped guide the Bucknell women's basketball team to an 80-51 victory over the Lafayette Leopards at Kirby Sports Center on Saturday. The Bison connected on 11-of-19 attempts from beyond the arc and limited Lafayette to under 15 points in each quarter to collect their third victory in a row to begin the season.
Senior guard Abby Kapp led all scorers with a career-best seven made 3-pointers on nine attempts and a career-high 24 points in the victory. Senior forward Tessa Brugler added 13 points and 10 rebounds and a block for her second double-double of the season and fifth of her career.
"We generally don't emphasize it. We emphasize trying to play in the paint and then take threes that come from that," said head coach Trevor Woodruff. "I thought the only difference between today and last weekend was that the shots went in. I thought we took good shots last week that didn't fall, but today they did."
Bucknell converted 28-of-64 (43.8%) field goals and was a solid 13-of-15 from the free throw line. Lafayette (0-3, 0-3 Central) shot 21-for-60 (35%) for the game and had 11 turnovers. Bucknell led in the rebounding department, 39-37. The Leopards were carried by Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year Natalie Kucowski, who finished with 17 points and 10 boards.
With the win, Bucknell imporved to 3-0 on the season and 1-0 within the Patriot League Central division. Lafayette drops to 0-3 following the loss.
Bucknell led for all but 38 seconds in the game and built a double-digit lead by the end of the first quarter. The Bison shot 50 percent in the first frame and knocked down 4-of-6 3-pointers to take early control of the contest. Nine of Kapp's points came during the initial 10 minutes as she was a perfect 3-for-3 from 3-point range to start.
Both teams were 5-of-15 in the second and matched one another with 14 second-quarter points. By halftime Bucknell had built a 38-25 advantage on the scoreboard, and Kapp had made four of her seven threes. The Bison also blocked four shots in the first half and turned it over just three times.
The Bison came out of the locker room with their best shooting of the day in the third quarter. Bucknell was 8-of-14 (57.1%) in the third and put up a game-high 24 points. All three third-quarter 3-point baskets came from Kapp, and all three came within a 3:07 span. She was 4-for-5 from the field with 12 points in the quarter. Sophomore forward Carly Krsul also got involved and posted six points, three rebounds and a block in the third.
Goodness, there's another! Kapp has made a career-high 7⃣ threes and has a career-high 24 points!! Bucknell leads 57-35 with 3 minutes to go in the third. #rayBucknell #TST
— Bucknell WBB (@Bucknell_WBB) January 9, 2021
Watch live: https://t.co/ezpuEZjczG pic.twitter.com/siKHM0Ma75
Bucknell added three more from beyond the arc in the final 10 minutes, with Marly Walls, Tai Johnson and Julie Kulesza each taking a turn. The Bison outscored the Leopards 17-13 in the final quarter.
All 13 Bison got minutes in the game and 10 scored. Kapp's seven 3-pointers were 1 shy of tying Bucknell's single-game record. The Barto, Pa. native is now 10 threes away from tying Molly Creamer's all-time career mark of 195.
"It felt good because Abby struggled in the opening weekend. Everybody in the conference knows she's an elite shooter, and so to see her break out the way she did today, I'm just happy for her," said Woodruff.
Up next, Bucknell hosts game two against Lafayette on Sunday in Sojka Pavilion. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
