Women's Basketball Travels to Navy for Midweek Matchup

LEWISBURG, Pa.- The Bucknell Bison women's basketball team (5-12, 2-4 Patriot League) looks to extend its winning streak to three games as it set sails for Annapolis, Md. to face the Navy Midshipmen (5-12, 1-5 Patriot League) for midweek confrontation on Wednesday. The Bison are moving up the league standings after dropping its first four PL games. Navy has lost two consecutive games after defeating Lafayette for its sole Patriot League triumph. Bucknell owns the series lead, 45-30, and has won four straight games. The tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Game Notes

What: Bucknell at Navy
When: Wednesday, January 24 at 7 p.m.
Where: Annapolis, Md.- Alumni Hall
Streaming: ESPN+
Radio: 90.5 WVBU
Live Statistics: bucknellbison.com

Last Game's Starters:
So. G/F: Emma Theodorsson (12.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.8 apg)
So. F: Grace Sullivan (6.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 0.5 apg)
So. G: Blake Matthews (5.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.8 apg)
Fr. F: Ashley Sofilkanich (10.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.0 apg)
So. G: Ashley O'Connor (5.1 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 1.5 apg)

WITH A WIN OVER NAVY, BUCKNELL WOULD...
• ... improve to 6-12 on the season
• ... improve to 1-9 on the road
• ... improve to 46-30 all-time against the Midshipmen
• ... improve to 7-1 against the Midshipmen under Woodruff
• ... improve to 76-46 overall under Woodruff
• ... improve to 33-29 on the road under Woodruff

HEADLINES
• The Bison won a second-consecutive game for the first time this season by defeating Lafayette 65-58 at Sojka Pavilion on Saturday. Bucknell led 20-17 after the surprising high-scoring first quarter. The Bison attack stalled in the second quarter, as Lafayette outscored Bucknell 15-5 to lead 32-25 at halftime. The Orange & Blue launched a decisive counterattack in the third quarter, out-gaining Lafayette 26-8 for the 51-40 lead, entering the final quarter. Lafayette clawed at the deficit, but Bucknell held onto its advantage to win 65-58. Bucknell improved to 5-12 overall and 2-4 in Patriot League play. Four Bison scored double-digit points, with two more players tallying nine points. Ashley Sofilkanich led the way with 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Ashley O'Connor was lethal from downtown, hitting four three-pointers. Isabella King added three three-pointers. Lafayette was led by two 17-point scorers, Abby Antognoli and Halee Smith.
• Emma Theodorsson won PL Player of the Week on 1/22 for her 31-point performance against Boston University.
• The Orange & Blue have four newcomers on the roster. All four players hail from New Jersey. The Garden State has been fruitful for the Lewisburg team.
• Bucknell finished 13-17 overall and 9-9 in Patriot League play last season. The Bison reached the 2022 Patriot League Quarterfinals, playing as the No. 6 seed in the tournament, but they fell 63-55 to No. 3 seed Lehigh.
• Bucknell graduated two seniors in the spring, Tai Johnson and Emma Shaffer. Tai Johnson stepped up for the Bison after Second Team All-Patriot League member Cecelia Collins was injured. Shaffer was a constant double-double member and led the Bison attack in the paint.
• Bucknell was picked sixth in the 2023 Patriot League Preseason Poll. It's the first time since 2015-16 Bucknell was not selected in the top four.
• Senior Caroline Dingler was named captain ahead of the 2023-24 season.
• Emma Theodorsson spent the summer playing for the U20 Icelandic National Team as they competed in the U20 Nordic Championships and FIBA U20 European Championships. Theodorsson powered the Icelandic attack, averaging 8.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg, and 1.6 apg. All three marks were in the top 70 in the FIBA competition. Theodorsson finished third in points and second in rebounds for Iceland.
• This summer, Bucknell graduate Taylor O'Brien signed with the Leicester Riders of the Women's British Basketball League. O'Brien has dominated the circuit and recently won Player of the Month for December. She is up for All-Star honors and fans can vote at the Women's British Basketball League website. O'Brien holds second place in the voting.
• Head coach Trevor Woodruff is in his fifth season at Bucknell. He was named PL Coach of the Year in his first two seasons.
• Following the departure of associate head coach Kelly Mazzante to Georgetown, Sherill Baker was hired as the newest assistant coach. Baker comes to Lewisburg from a stint at George Washington University. Baker played in the WNBA and overseas professional leagues. Dubbed "The Queens of Steals" for her defensive prowess at Georgia, Baker joins a staff of continuity. Taylor Coleman has been enrolled for five years at Bucknell, and LaSashia Connelly marks her fourth season in Lewisburg. Molly Gillis enters her second season as the program's manager of operations.

SCOUTING Navy
• Navy went 1-29 overall and 1-17 in Patriot League play during the 2022-23 season. Navy received the #10 seed and was defeated 78-71 by the #7 seed American Eagles in the Opening Round of the Patriot League Tournament. Navy has shown improvement this year, going 5-12 overall and 1-5 in the PL. They have defeated Susquehanna, Binghamton, Quinnipiac, Goucher College, and Lafayette. Navy has been sunk by Penn State, Mount St. Mary's, Abilene Christian, Wagner, William & Mary, Dartmouth, Albany, Boston, Colgate, Holy Cross, Lehigh, and Army.
Lafayette went 10-19 overall and 7-11 in Patriot League play during the 2022-23 season.
• The Bison and Leopards shared two opponents (Mount St. Mary's & Penn State) outside the Patriot League schedule. Both teams lost to Mount St. Mary's and Penn State.
• Navy was picked to finish last (10th place) in the Patriot League. No Midshipmen were named to the preseason All-Patriot League Team.
• Tim Taylor is 21-69 in his four seasons at Navy.

SERIES HISTORY with THE MIDSHIPMEN
• This is the 76th meeting between the Bison and the Midshipmen.
• Bucknell swept both games during the 2022-23 season.
• Trevor Woodruff is 6-1 against the Naval Academy.

Series History with Navy (Last Six Meetings)
2/12/20 Navy       W, 75-65
1/5/22        Navy       L, 55-57
1/26/22      at Navy   W, 53-43
3/10/22      Navy       W, 64-44
1/25/23 at Navy   W, 67-49
2/8/23 Navy       W, 70-49

Series Record: 45-30
Record at Home: 23-13
Record at Navy: 19-15
Neutral Site Record: 3-2
Trevor Woodruff Record: 6-1
Current Streak: Bucknell W4
Longest Bucknell Winning Streak: 12 games

Last Time Out
• Bucknell won two straight games for the first time in 2023-24 by defeating Lafayette, 65-58 Saturday afternoon. Bucknell led 20-17 after one quarter. Lafayette reserved the trend by going up 32-25 by halftime. The Bison outscored the Leopards 26-8 in the third quarter for a 51-40 lead. The Orange & Blue coasted to a 65-58 win.
• Bucknell shot 49.1% on 27-of-55 shooting. Lafayette was nearly as good: 24-of-51 (47.1%). The difference in the game resided at the three-point line. The Bison were 8-of-15 (53.3%), while the Leopards went 4-of-12 (33.3%). Both teams were perfect at the free-throw line. Bucknell went 3-of-3, and Lafayette was 6-of-6.
• Ashley Sofilkanich led Bucknell with 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Grace Sullivan and Ashley O'Connor each supplied 12 points to the Bison cause. Emma Theodorsson provided another double-digit scoring effort with 10 points. Isabella King and Blake Matthews added nine points each. Lafayette had 17-point scorers Abby Antognoli and Halee Smith.

Notable CAREER HIGHS SET vs. LAFAYETTE
Blake Matthews - Field Goals Attempted (10)
Ashley O'Connor - Assists (5) & Three-Point Field Goals Made (4)
Grace Sullivan - Field Goals Made (6), Points (12) & Steals (3)
Emma Theodorsson - Assists (5)

STREAKS OF NOTE
Ashley Sofilkanich - Starts (14)
Emma Theodorsson - Double-Digit Scoring Games (9) & Starts (15)

Up Next

Bucknell returns to Sojka Pavilion on Jan. 27 to host the Army Black Knights. The tip is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

Women's Basketball Travels to Navy for Midweek Matchup

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Players Mentioned

Cecelia Collins

Caroline Dingler

Tai Johnson

Isabella King

Blake Matthews

Ashley O'Connor

Emma Shaffer

Ashley Sofilkanich

Grace Sullivan

Emma Theodorsson