Wednesday, January 3
Worcester, MA
7 p.m.
Bucknell University
3-9,0-1Patriot
54
at
69
Holy Cross
7-5,1-0Patriot
1
2
3
4
F
Bucknell
12
13
16
13
54
Holy Cross
11
17
22
19
69
Women's Basketball Falls 69-54 to Holy Cross to Open League Play
1/3/2024 8:43:00 PM | Women's Basketball
WORCESTER, Mass.- Despite an impressive first half and most of the third quarter, the Bucknell Bison women's basketball team (3-9, 0-1 PL) dropped the opening game of Patriot League play, 69-54, to the reigning champions Holy Cross Crusaders (7-5, 1-0 PL).
The Orange & Blue kept within two or three points for most of the contest and even temporarily seized the lead in the third quarter at 38-37. However, the Crusaders outscored the Bison 32-16 over the final quarter and a half to cement the win.
Emma Theodorsson scored 19 points on 9-of-13 from the court, and Ashley O'Connor delivered 10 points on 3-of-6 shooting. Grace Sullivan shot 3-of-3 and 2-of-2 from the charity stripe to score eight points. Isabella King scored four points, collected five rebounds, and distributed five assists.
Bucknell shot 20-of-46 (43.5%) from the field, but Holy Cross hit 28-of-60 (46.7%) to outduel the Bison. Both teams went 7-of-12 from the free-throw line.
Holy Cross started the game on a 4-0 run, but the Bison proved they were ready to roll, using a 5-0 streak to take the lead. The Crusaders regained the advantage at 9-9. Bucknell ended the quarter up 12-11, thanks to an Ashley Sofilkanich free throw and a Sullivan two-pointer. By a strange quirk, both teams shot 5-of-14 in the first quarter.
The Crusaders galloped out of the gate in the second quarter on a 7-0 run. Julie Kulesza stemmed the tide with a three-pointer. Holy Cross pushed the lead back to 24-18 before Kulesza made another trey, and O'Connor tallied two free throws to edge within 24-23. Holy Cross scored a basket, and O'Connor responded with a two-pointer. A Crusader basket provided a halftime score of 28-25.
Holy Cross started the third quarter with a three-pointer to regain a six-point lead. Blake Matthews supplied Bucknell's answer with five straight points. The Crusaders scored a bucket, and King tied up the game with a perfect three-pointer. Holy Cross answered again with a 4-0 run. Theodorsson provided a basket, and O'Connor drained a three-pointer for the 38-37 Bucknell lead. It was the high-water mark for the Bison. The Crusaders scored 18 seconds later and then added another basket. Bucknell did not quit fighting, and O'Connor nailed another trey. The score was tied at 41-41. The deadlock would not last as Holy Cross ended the quarter on a 9-0 run, climaxed with a corner three-pointer with one second left.
The scoring streak continued into the fourth quarter as the Crusaders rattled off six more points for the 56-41 lead. Sullivan ended the run with a transition layup, but Holy Cross immediately answered with a three-pointer. The Bison continued to fight hard, but the team could not get closer than 11 points (61-50). Holy Cross finished the game on an 8-4 run to win 69-54.
Up Next
The Bison remain on the road to play American on Saturday. The tip is scheduled for 2 p.m.
The Orange & Blue kept within two or three points for most of the contest and even temporarily seized the lead in the third quarter at 38-37. However, the Crusaders outscored the Bison 32-16 over the final quarter and a half to cement the win.
Emma Theodorsson scored 19 points on 9-of-13 from the court, and Ashley O'Connor delivered 10 points on 3-of-6 shooting. Grace Sullivan shot 3-of-3 and 2-of-2 from the charity stripe to score eight points. Isabella King scored four points, collected five rebounds, and distributed five assists.
Bucknell shot 20-of-46 (43.5%) from the field, but Holy Cross hit 28-of-60 (46.7%) to outduel the Bison. Both teams went 7-of-12 from the free-throw line.
Holy Cross started the game on a 4-0 run, but the Bison proved they were ready to roll, using a 5-0 streak to take the lead. The Crusaders regained the advantage at 9-9. Bucknell ended the quarter up 12-11, thanks to an Ashley Sofilkanich free throw and a Sullivan two-pointer. By a strange quirk, both teams shot 5-of-14 in the first quarter.
The Crusaders galloped out of the gate in the second quarter on a 7-0 run. Julie Kulesza stemmed the tide with a three-pointer. Holy Cross pushed the lead back to 24-18 before Kulesza made another trey, and O'Connor tallied two free throws to edge within 24-23. Holy Cross scored a basket, and O'Connor responded with a two-pointer. A Crusader basket provided a halftime score of 28-25.
Holy Cross started the third quarter with a three-pointer to regain a six-point lead. Blake Matthews supplied Bucknell's answer with five straight points. The Crusaders scored a bucket, and King tied up the game with a perfect three-pointer. Holy Cross answered again with a 4-0 run. Theodorsson provided a basket, and O'Connor drained a three-pointer for the 38-37 Bucknell lead. It was the high-water mark for the Bison. The Crusaders scored 18 seconds later and then added another basket. Bucknell did not quit fighting, and O'Connor nailed another trey. The score was tied at 41-41. The deadlock would not last as Holy Cross ended the quarter on a 9-0 run, climaxed with a corner three-pointer with one second left.
The scoring streak continued into the fourth quarter as the Crusaders rattled off six more points for the 56-41 lead. Sullivan ended the run with a transition layup, but Holy Cross immediately answered with a three-pointer. The Bison continued to fight hard, but the team could not get closer than 11 points (61-50). Holy Cross finished the game on an 8-4 run to win 69-54.
Up Next
The Bison remain on the road to play American on Saturday. The tip is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Team Stats
Buck
HolyCr
FG%
.435
.467
3FG%
.438
.333
FT%
.583
.583
RB
28
36
TO
13
6
STL
2
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
19
FGM
9
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F/G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballPG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballF/G
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