Women's Basketball Drops 58-53 Decision to Cornell

Saturday, December 2

Lewisburg, Pa.

2 p.m.

Bucknell University

2-6,0-0Patriot

Cornell

4-4,0-0Ivy League

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Cornell	15	13	15	15	58
Bucknell	11	16	18	8	53

Photo by: Lauren Medeiros

Women's Basketball Drops 58-53 Decision to Cornell

12/2/2023 3:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

LEWISBURG, Pa. - Ashley Sofilkanich tallied double figures for a fourth straight game with a career-high 22 points but Cornell outscored Bucknell by seven points in the final period to defeat the Bison 58-53 Saturday afternoon at Sojka Pavilion. Sofilkanich added nine rebounds and blocked four shots as Bucknell held a 40-30 edge on the boards.

There were five ties and two lead changes in the contest, and the score was knotted at 51-51 inside two minutes thanks to a pair of free throws by Sofilkanich. However, the Big Red's Kaya Ingram converted a three-point play with just over a minute to play, and she made another layup with less than 30 seconds left to stake Cornell to a late three-point lead.

Isabella King attempted a potential game-tying 3-point play with nine seconds remaining that was blocked, and Ingram made two more free throws for the final 58-53 margin. Ingram was one of two Cornell (4-4) players to tally double figures with 11, while Emily Pape scored a team-high 20.

Bucknell (2-6) trailed by one (28-27) at halftime and opened the second half on a 14-4 run to open up a nine-point cushion (41-32), its largest of the game.

Kaylee Reinbeau pulled down a career-high nine rebounds for the Bison, while Emma Theodorsson grabbed seven.

Bucknell quickly fell behind 6-0 as the Big Red stormed out of the gates. A salient timeout by Coach Trevor Woodruff stabilized the situation and allowed the Bison to gather their bearings. The Bison clawed back into the game and got within 15-11 when Nicole Davis neatly converted the traditional three-point play. The first quarter ended with the same score.

Cornell's play again fired out of a cannon to start a quarter. The Big Red went on an 8-0 run to build a 12-point advantage. Another Bucknell timeout halted the rally. With the score 27-15 Cornell, the Orange & Blue carved the lead down to one point with a 12-1 run. Emma Theodorsson and King nailed a trey, Sofilkanich scored four points, and Blake Matthews added a jump shot. Bucknell rallied by holding Cornell to 0-for-7 from three-point territory in the second quarter.

Bucknell turned the tables in the third quarter by jumping to a quick basket. Theodorsson drained a three-pointer 12 seconds into the game to jumpstart a 12-4 run. The stretch was capped by King's two triple of the afternoon for the 39-32 lead. Cornell called timeout but Bucknell kept scoring as Kaylee Reinbeau provided a layup. However, the Big Red would not be daunted and continued to chip away until Bucknell only led 45-43 entering the fourth stanza.

Cornell outscored Bucknell 15-8 in the fourth quarter to grab the win. The Big Red forged ahead twice 49-47 and 51-49, only to see Bucknell tie the game both times. The decisive moment arrived when Cornell's Kaya Ingram converted a traditional three-point play for the 54-51 lead. Caroline Dingler drained two free throws to inch within one point, but another Ingram basket regained the three-point lead. King's trey was blocked, and Cornell tallied both free throws to seal the 58-53 victory and earn its first-ever win at Bucknell in 16 attempts.

Up Next

The Bison travel down Route 15 on Dec. 5 for a 7 p.m. showdown with Mount St. Mary's.