Monday, March 6
Bethlehem, PA
6 p.m.
Bucknell University
13-17,9-9Patriot
55
at
63
Lehigh University
17-13,12-6Patriot
1
2
3
4
F
Bucknell
14
7
15
19
55
Lehigh
8
17
16
22
63
Women's Basketball Falls in PL Quarterfinals to Lehigh, 63-55
3/6/2023 7:56:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa.- The Bucknell Bison women's basketball team (13-17, 9-9 PL) dropped a tightly fought Patriot League quarterfinals game against Lehigh (17-13, 12-6 PL), 63-55 on Monday night to end the season. The Bison led after a quarter of play but trailed 25-21 at halftime and could not catch up to the Mountain Hawks.
Cecelia Collins led the Bison attack with 21 points on an 8-of-17 shooting night. The sophomore from Scranton opened the scoring with a three-pointer. Emma Shaffer chipped in 11 points. Emma Theodorsson scored nine points. The Bison shot an even 40% (24-60) and made 80% of their free throws (4-5).
Lehigh had two main scoring threats in Frannie Hottinger and Mackenzie Kramer, who combined for 55 of Lehigh's 63 points. Kramer dropped 30 points, and Hottinger, the Patriot League Player of the Year, scored 25 points.
The pivotal moment in the game came in the fourth quarter with Lehigh up 51-47 when Isabella King was called for a foul on a Lehigh three-point attempt as the shot clock expired. Lehigh converted all three free throws to grow a 54-47 advantage, which provided the cushion to ride out the rest of the game.
The Bison started the game with a 5-0 lead thanks to a Collins three and a Theodorsson layup. Bucknell consistently kept ahead at five points for most of the first period. Lehigh cut it to 11-8 on two free throws. As time expired, Collins received an errant pass and threw up a three-point attempt. The shot swished through, and the Bison led 14-8 after one period.
Bucknell cut the deficit to two points on a Collins layup to start the third quarter and later drew within 32-30 on a Theodorsson three. It would be the closest margin that the Bison would obtain for the remainder of the game. Every time Bucknell made a push, Lehigh would counterattack to prevent a tie or lost lead. After the Theodorsson three, Lehigh went on a 7-0 run to grab a nine-point lead. Bucknell battled back to make it 41-36 before the final stanza.
In the fourth quarter, a Shaffer layup placed the score at 43-40, but Lehigh immediately answered with a three-pointer. That pattern repeated over the next few possessions. Shaffer hit one of two free throws to create a 51-47 score when a decisive foul call occurred. King was called for a foul on a three-point attempt with the shot clock winding down. After the media timeout, the Lehigh player swished all three attempts to build a seven-point lead. A Hottinger basket followed for a 56-47 advantage. Collins answered, but Lehigh drained a trey in response. But the Bison did not back down. A 6-0 run placed the situation at 59-55 Lehigh with 19 seconds left. However, Lehigh would sink all four free throws as Bucknell could not make another shot, and the score of 63-55 would end the Bison season.
Up Next
The Bison will rest and regroup for the 2023-24 season.
Cecelia Collins led the Bison attack with 21 points on an 8-of-17 shooting night. The sophomore from Scranton opened the scoring with a three-pointer. Emma Shaffer chipped in 11 points. Emma Theodorsson scored nine points. The Bison shot an even 40% (24-60) and made 80% of their free throws (4-5).
Lehigh had two main scoring threats in Frannie Hottinger and Mackenzie Kramer, who combined for 55 of Lehigh's 63 points. Kramer dropped 30 points, and Hottinger, the Patriot League Player of the Year, scored 25 points.
The pivotal moment in the game came in the fourth quarter with Lehigh up 51-47 when Isabella King was called for a foul on a Lehigh three-point attempt as the shot clock expired. Lehigh converted all three free throws to grow a 54-47 advantage, which provided the cushion to ride out the rest of the game.
The Bison started the game with a 5-0 lead thanks to a Collins three and a Theodorsson layup. Bucknell consistently kept ahead at five points for most of the first period. Lehigh cut it to 11-8 on two free throws. As time expired, Collins received an errant pass and threw up a three-point attempt. The shot swished through, and the Bison led 14-8 after one period.
The first three minutes of the second quarter featured almost no offense. Lehigh scored three points on a bucket and a free throw while the Bison could not get a shot to fall. Bucknell extended the lead back to five points on a Remi Sisselman shot. Lehigh went on a 4-0 run to force a Bucknell timeout. The timeout worked as Collins increased the advantage to 19-15. However, Lehigh would end the half on a 10-2 run to seize the lead, 25-21.BUZZER BEATER IN BETHLEHEM!
— Bucknell WBB (@Bucknell_WBB) March 6, 2023
Collins makes the magic happen as the seconds tick down!
MARCH IS HERE! #SCTop10 @Sportscenter
Watch: https://t.co/SrkfpXsq1D@PatriotLeagueTV@ESPN#rayBucknell#tst pic.twitter.com/9EBcSP5aR1
Bucknell cut the deficit to two points on a Collins layup to start the third quarter and later drew within 32-30 on a Theodorsson three. It would be the closest margin that the Bison would obtain for the remainder of the game. Every time Bucknell made a push, Lehigh would counterattack to prevent a tie or lost lead. After the Theodorsson three, Lehigh went on a 7-0 run to grab a nine-point lead. Bucknell battled back to make it 41-36 before the final stanza.
In the fourth quarter, a Shaffer layup placed the score at 43-40, but Lehigh immediately answered with a three-pointer. That pattern repeated over the next few possessions. Shaffer hit one of two free throws to create a 51-47 score when a decisive foul call occurred. King was called for a foul on a three-point attempt with the shot clock winding down. After the media timeout, the Lehigh player swished all three attempts to build a seven-point lead. A Hottinger basket followed for a 56-47 advantage. Collins answered, but Lehigh drained a trey in response. But the Bison did not back down. A 6-0 run placed the situation at 59-55 Lehigh with 19 seconds left. However, Lehigh would sink all four free throws as Bucknell could not make another shot, and the score of 63-55 would end the Bison season.
Up Next
The Bison will rest and regroup for the 2023-24 season.
Team Stats
Buck
Lehigh
FG%
.400
.400
3FG%
.250
.273
FT%
.800
.929
RB
32
35
TO
9
11
STL
3
2
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
21
FGM
8
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballF/G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
F/G
/ Women's BasketballF/G
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