Women's Basketball Falls to Lehigh, 69-63

LEWISBURG, Pa. - Emma Theodorsson scored a game-high 16 points and Ashley Sofilkanich posted her first career double-double with 13 points and a career-high ten rebounds in only 17 minutes due to foul trouble, but the Bucknell women's basketball team lost a 69-63 decision to Lehigh Wednesday evening at Sojka Pavilion. The game featured 49 personal fouls and a combined 68 free throw attempts.

The Bison made 27 of 32 from the free throw line, while the Mountain Hawks were 25 of 36. Bucknell (3-11, 0-3 PL) was particularly adept in the second half, connecting on 20 of 22 from the line.

Lehigh (9-5, 1-2 PL) led by 16 points at the end of the third quarter, but Bucknell held a 26-16 scoring advantage in the final period. The Bison narrowed their deficit to three points in the final minute before the Mountain Hawks sealed the game with three free throws by Lily Fandre in the last 11 seconds. Fandre was one of four Lehigh players in double figures with a team-high 15 points.

Blake Matthews added 11 points for Bucknell, seven of which came at the free-throw line.

The Bison defense held the Mountain Hawks to 4-for-24 shooting from 3-point range, but Lehigh was 16-for-29 inside the arc.

Like the previous two games, Bucknell led after the first quarter. The Bison scored 16 points in the opening stanza to Lehigh's 11. The quarter opened with back-and-forth scoring as neither team could obtain a decisive advantage over the other squad. Lehigh had the lead four times, and Bucknell tied or surpassed the Mountain Hawks four times. Lehigh had an 11-9 lead wiped away by a 7-0 Bucknell run to end the period.

Blake Matthews scored a pull-up jumper with 9:15 left in the second quarter. Unbeknownst to Bucknell patrons, it would be the last field goal for the Bison until Theodorsson's basket with 4:15 in the third quarter. The Bison would only score on free throws. Fortunately, the Bison tallied five free throws in the second quarter, but Lehigh totaled 18 points to take the 29-23 halftime advantage. Bucknell never led again after Lehigh grabbed a 21-20 lead on a free throw.

The Bison cut the deficit to within 31-27 in the third quarter on four free throws by Sofilkanich and Theodorsson. Lehigh answered the challenge with an 11-2 run. Theodorsson halted the mentioned basket-less streak, but the Mountain Hawks answered with a three-pointer. Lehigh answered the challenge with its tally each time the Bison scored to lead, 53-37, after three quarters.

Bucknell went down swinging in the final stanza. By the 5:40 mark, the Orange & Blue cut the deficit to 56-46. With 3:00 minutes left, Isabella King hit a short jump to sneak within 60-53. The Mountain Hawks answered with a jump shot and continued to respond to Bucknell's advances. Sofilkanich hit a second chance lay-up with 58 seconds to make it 64-59. Lehigh converted two free throws. Then Bucknell launched a mini 4-0 run on two Matthews free throws and a Sofilkanich lay-up. The score was 66-63 Lehigh with only 12 seconds. The Mountain Hawks hit on 1-of-2 foul shots. Bucknell had one final chance, but King threw an errant pass, and Lehigh iced the contest with two more free throws for the 69-63 victory.

Up Next

The Bison hit the road to play Colgate on Jan. 13. The Raiders are 10-4 overall and 3-0 in Patriot League play.

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Team Stats

Emma Theodorsson

Ashley Sofilkanich

Blake Matthews

Julie Kulesza

Players Mentioned

Isabella King

Blake Matthews

Ashley Sofilkanich

Emma Theodorsson