Bucknell University
4-5,0-0Patriot
Stony Brook
4-4,0-0CAA
Women's Basketball Outlasts Stony Brook 64-58 at Home
12/3/2022 4:02:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LEWISBURG, Pa.- The Bucknell Bison women's basketball team finished the nonconference home slate with a 64-58 victory over CAA foe Stony Brook (4-4). The Bison once again used strong second half defense to ensure the victory. It was the second straight win for the Orange & Blue who improved to 4-5 on the year. A narrow game throughout, Bucknell's 8-point lead with 2:57 to play was the largest advantage by either team, and the contest featured five lead changes and 11 tied scores.
Emma Shaffer led the team in scoring (14) and rebounds (7) as her presence down in the paint drew five fouls. Isabella King provided a spark with 13 points and four rebounds. Cecelia Collins was the third and final Bison with double digit scoring. The Scranton, Pa. native poured in 12 points.
The key to keeping the Seawolves at bay and finishing out the win was shooting 25 free throws to Stony Brook's seven attempts. Bucknell converted 18-of-25 attempts while the visitors from New York shot 5-of-7. The Bison were outshot 64-45 by Stony Brook but made up the deficit via the free throws.
Stony Brook led 46-42 late in the third quarter before a 10-2 Bison run gave the Orange & Blue a 52-48 advantage with 7:59 to play. Bucknell would stretch that lead by going 10-for-13 at the free throw line over the final 10 minutes.
Stony Brook was led by Anastasia Warren's 20 points.
"A lot of contributions today from a lot of people. I am really pleased with our progress. You never want to get too high when you win and never get too low when you lose," said head coach Trevor Woodruff.
The first quarter featured plenty of fireworks and points as both teams roared out of the gate. Cecelia Collins totaled seven points in the first period to pace the Bison. Bucknell seized the 7-6 lead on a Collins' trey and led the remainder of the quarter. Shaffer and Grace Sullivan both clipped in four points
The frantic pace continued in the second quarter. Collins picked up two quick fouls which necessitated her to return to the bench. Stony Brook took advantage of the absence to go on a quick run to grab a 31-29 lead. Bucknell quickly responded as King and Sullivan dropped in buckets. Stony Brook tied it up at 33-33 with 2:54 remaining. The Bison finished the quarter on a 4-0 run to grab the 37-33 halftime advantage. King and Tai Johnson scored the baskets. King totaled nine points in the second period alone as Bucknell shot 65.2 percent shooting (15-of-23) in the first half.
Compared to the hot pace exhibited in the first half, the third quarter opened to a frigid routine. Bucknell did not score its first point until the 5:57 mark in which Shaffer made a free throw. By that point, Stony Brook had retaken the 38-37 lead. Remi Sisselman then scored four straight points to counter Stony Brook's resulting points to knot the contest at 42-42. But the Seawolves would not go quietly into the afternoon's rain. A mini 4-0 run provided Stony Brook with another lead. The Bison proved up to the challenge scoring six points to seize the 48-46 lead heading into the fourth period.
Stony Brook started the final quarter with a pull-up jumper for the tie. King grabbed an offensive rebound and countered with her own jump shot. The Bison had a 50-48 lead. A lead that they would not relinquish. A King lay-up at the 6:57 mark put Bucknell up 54-50. Bucknell would not score a field goal for the rest of the game but it mattered little as the Bison finished down the stretch 10-of-12 from the charity stripe. During said stretch, Stony Brook shot 3-for-11 from the field. A Seawolves trey drew the contest within three points, 61-58, but Tai Johnson calmly drained the next two free throws to seal the win. Following a missed three-pointer, Johnson added another free throw to create the final score.
The Bison travel to the University of Penn for the next matchup on Dec. 6. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
