Women's Basketball Heads to Baltimore to Play Loyola (Md.)

LEWISBURG, Pa.- The Bucknell Bison women's basketball team (5-14, 2-6 Patriot League) looks to regain its footing after two losses last week when the squad travels to Baltimore to face the Loyola (Md.) Greyhounds (9-10, 4-4 Patriot League) Wednesday night. The Bison have won eight straight games against the Maryland-based foe. Loyola seeks to break out of the crowded middle of the Patriot League standings and into the top four. Bucknell owns a 26-8 series lead. The tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Game Notes

What: Bucknell at Loyola (Md.)
When: Wednesday, January 31 at 7 p.m.
Where: Baltimore, Md.- Reitz Arena
Streaming: ESPN+
Radio: 90.5 WVBU
Live Statistics: bucknellbison.com

Last Game's Starters:
So. G/F: Emma Theodorsson (12.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.1 apg)
So. F: Grace Sullivan (6.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 0.5 apg)
So. G: Blake Matthews (5.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.8 apg)
Fr. F: Ashley Sofilkanich (11.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.1 apg)
So. G: Ashley O'Connor (5.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.6 apg)

WITH A WIN OVER Loyola, BUCKNELL WOULD...
• ... improve to 6-14 on the season
• ... improve to 1-10 on the road
• ... improve to 27-8 all-time against the Greyhounds
• ... improve to 9-1 against the Greyhounds under Woodruff
• ... improve to 76-48 overall under Woodruff
• ... improve to 33-30 on the road under Woodruff

HEADLINES
• The Bison fell 75-66 to the Army Black Knights on Saturday at Sojka Pavilion. The Bison could not contain Army's offense, as the Black Knights scored 20+ points in three quarters, including 23 in the final stanza. Army led 41-37 at halftime and 42-38 after the third quarter. Bucknell threatened in the fourth period, but Army held onto its lead to prevail. The Bison fell to 5-14 overall and 2-6 in conference play. Ashley Sofilkanich scored 20 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field and 2-of-5 from the free throw line. Isabella King added 14 points on a sparkling 6-of-8 shooting. Ashley O'Connor chipped in 11 points. Army had two 18-point scorers in Trinity Hardy and Taylor Wilson.
• Ashley Sofilkanich won her third PL Rookie of the Week award on 1/29 for her games against Army & Navy.
• 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 currently up for All-Star honors. 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 LOYOLA (MD.)
• Loyola went 10-21 overall and 4-14 in Patriot League play during the 2022-23 season. Loyola received the #9 seed and defeated #8 seed Lafayette 61-52 in the First Round of the Patriot League Tournament. Loyola lost 66-52 to #1 seed Boston in the Quarterfinals. Loyola is 9-10 overall and 4-4 in the PL. They have defeated Binghamton, UMBC, Saint Francis, Mount St. Mary's, Delaware State, Lehigh, American, Lafayette, and Navy. Loyola has been collared by West Virginia, St. Bonaventure, St. John's, Bryant, Toledo, Monmouth, Colgate, Army, Boston, and Holy Cross.
• The Bison and Greyhounds shared one opponent (Mount St. Mary's) outside the Patriot League schedule. Loyola won while the Bison fell to the Mountaineers.
• Loyola was picked to finish ninth in the Patriot League. No Greyhounds were named to the preseason All-Patriot League Team.
• Danielle O'Banion is 24-55 in her three seasons at Loyola.

SERIES HISTORY with THE GREYHOUNDS
• This is the 35th meeting between the Bison and the Greyhounds.
• Bucknell swept the two-game series in 2022-23.
• Trevor Woodruff is 8-1 against Loyola.

Series History with Loyola (Last Six Meetings)
1/3/21   at Loyola              W, 59-54
3/7/21   Loyola (PLT) W, 65-50
1/8/22   Loyola                  W, 62-42
1/29/22   at Loyola W, 65-40
1/11/23   at Loyola W, 56-50
1/28/23   Loyola W, 73-37

Series Record: 26-8
Record at Home: 16-2
Record at Loyola: 10-5
Neutral Site Record: 0-1
Trevor Woodruff Record: 8-1
Current Streak: Bucknell W8
Longest Bucknell Winning Streak: 8 games

Last Time Out
• Bucknell lost its second-straight game by falling 75-66 to Army at Sojka. The Bison offense scored but could not keep pace with Army's attack. Bucknell trailed 41-37 at halftime. Both teams scored 11 points in the third quarter. The Black Knights outscored Bucknell 23-18 in the final period to seal the win.
• Bucknell shot 44.6% on 25-of-56 shooting. Army shot 28-of-62 (45.2%). Both teams shot well at the three-point line. The Bison were 5-of-11 (45.5%), while the Black Knights went 6-of-11 54.5%). Both teams did alright at the free-throw line. Bucknell went 11-of-17, and Army was 13-of-19.
• Ashley Sofilkanich led Bucknell with 20 points on 9-of-15 shooting. Isabella King scored 14 points. Reigning PL Player of the Week, Emma Theodorsson, had six points and five rebounds. Army had two 18-point scorers.

NOTABLE CAREER HIGHS SET vs. ARMY
Blake Matthews - Field Goals Attempted (11)
Ashley Sofilkanich - Field Goals Made (9)

STREAKS OF NOTE
Ashley O'Connor- Starts (12)
Ashley Sofilkanich - Starts (16)
Emma Theodorsson - Starts (17)

Up Next

Bucknell returns home for a Sunday showdown on Feb. 4 versus American at Sojka.

Women's Basketball Heads to Baltimore to Play Loyola (Md.)

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Players Mentioned

Cecelia Collins

Caroline Dingler

Tai Johnson

Isabella King

Blake Matthews

Blake Matthews

Ashley O'Connor

Emma Shaffer

Ashley Sofilkanich

Grace Sullivan

Emma Theodorsson