Wednesday, January 31
Baltimore, MD
7 p.m.
Bucknell University
61
at
59
Loyola (Md.)
Bison Women Win 61-59 Nailbiter at Loyola
1/31/2024 8:56:00 PM | Women's Basketball
NOTE: The next BUCKNELL BASKETBALL LUNCHEON is set for this Thursday at noon at the Bull Run Tap House in Lewisburg. Join head coaches John Griffin III and Trevor Woodruff, along with members of the men's and women's teams, for lunch and discussion about the season.Â
BALTIMORE, Md.- The Bucknell Bison women's basketball team (6-14, 3-6 Patriot League) won a 61-59 nailbiter over the Loyola (Md.) Greyhounds (9-11, 4-5 Patriot League) Wednesday night. The Orange & Blue held tough on the final possession and obtained a Lex Therien turnover via an Ashley Sofilkanich steal after Blake Mattews broke up the pass to seal the win. It is Bucknell's ninth-straight win over the Baltimore foe.Â
"This was a good step for our group as we head down the stretch," said head coach Trevor Woodruff. "We made big plays at both ends in critical moments against a quality opponent."
Sofilkanich, the reigning Patriot League Rookie of the Week, headlined the show, scoring 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting and 1-of-4 from the free throw line. She also collected 12 rebounds to earn her second career double-double. Emma Theodorrson added 18 points on 6-of-14 shooting and went 4-of-6 from the charity stripe. Matthews chipped in 11 points to become the third Bison in double-digits.Â
The Bison shot 23-of-55 (41.8%) from the field, while the Greyhounds were 22-of-56 (39.3%). Bucknell only shot 4-of-22 from three-point land, but two of the makes came in crunch time.Â
Loyola's Lex Therien entered the game averaging a double-double, and she reached the distinction with 14 points and 17 rebounds. However, the Bison held her to 5-of-15 from the field and induced a steal in the final possession.Â
The Bison started the contest on a hot streak, creating an 11-2 lead, powered by a 9-0 run after a 2-2 beginning. Matthews notched six of her 11 points during the stretch. Matthews' 11 points tied her career-high. Loyola had a mini 4-0 run that ended after Sofilkanich added a free throw. The quarter ended with Bucknell up 12-6. The Orange & Blue held Loyola to 2-of-14 shooting.
Both teams heated up in the second quarter. Bucknell kept the lead for most of the period, but the Greyhounds continued to chip away at the Bison advantage. The high-water mark for Bucknell came with the Bison up 16-8 after a Sofilkanich lay-up. Loyola cut the deficit to 18-15 before Kaylee Reinbeau deposited a three-pointer. Loyola kept scoring, and Bucknell kept answering until the tally was 25-24 Bison. The Greyhounds hit two free throws to seize the lead. A Sofilkanich two-pointer regained the advantage, but Loyola's Kelly Ratigan hit a three-pointer before halftime. Both teams shot well in the second quarter. Bucknell went 7-of-15 (46.2%), but Loyola hit 9-of-16 (56.3%).
After Loyola went up 31-27 to commence the third quarter, no team would have a lead greater than three points for the remainder of the game. The Bison used a 7-0 run capped by a Theodorsson three-pointer to take back the lead. Loyola scrapped back to tie the contest at 37-37. Grace Sullivan hit a basket, but Loyola answered in kind. That incident occurred twice until the Bison broke the streak by hitting three free throws for a 44-41 advantage. Loyola used a 4-0 run and appeared ready to enter the fourth quarter with the lead. Then Theodorsson struck. The sophomore drove into the lane and hit a pull-up jump shot with time expiring. Bucknell led 46-45, entering the fourth quarter.
Â
Matthews hit a jumper to open the fourth quarter. Sixteen seconds later, Loyola's Laura Salmeron drained a three-pointer for the 48-48 tie. Sofilkanich scored a basket, and Lex Therien hit two free throws. Sofilkanich tallied another lay-up, but Ava Therien produced the tying points. Sofilkanich remained undaunted and scored a third-straight lay-up. There was no response from Loyola, as neither squad scored from the 7:08 mark until the 4:11 timeslot when Loyola's Garcia tied the game. The Greyhounds then deposited a three-pointer for the 57-54 lead. Ashley O'Connor responded with a trey. Lex Therien hit a lay-up. Once again, Theodorsson rose to the occasion. Julie Kulesza chased down an errant rebound by outracing a Greyhound. Since the attempt missed the rim, the shot clock did not reset. Kulesza kept her balance and fired the sphere to Theodorsson. The Icelandic national player calmly ignored the ticking clock and buried the go-ahead three-pointer. Bucknell had the 60-59 lead with 1:51 remaining.
Â
Loyola committed an offensive foul on the following possession. O'Connor missed a three-pointer and the Greyhounds rebounded. But Sofilkanich proved a colossus. She blocked two shots, O'Connor blocked another attempt, and Sofilkanich corralled the ball. Bucknell called a timeout to advance the ball. Matthews was fouled, and the sophomore guard hit 1-of-2 foul shots. Loyola had a final chance, but Matthews broke up the pass, Sofilkanich collared the ball, and Bucknell had its first road win.
Up Next
The Bison return home to Sojka Pavilion on Feb. 4 to celebrate National Women and Girls in Sports Day. Bucknell will face American in a 2 p.m. Sunday matinee.
BALTIMORE, Md.- The Bucknell Bison women's basketball team (6-14, 3-6 Patriot League) won a 61-59 nailbiter over the Loyola (Md.) Greyhounds (9-11, 4-5 Patriot League) Wednesday night. The Orange & Blue held tough on the final possession and obtained a Lex Therien turnover via an Ashley Sofilkanich steal after Blake Mattews broke up the pass to seal the win. It is Bucknell's ninth-straight win over the Baltimore foe.Â
"This was a good step for our group as we head down the stretch," said head coach Trevor Woodruff. "We made big plays at both ends in critical moments against a quality opponent."
Sofilkanich, the reigning Patriot League Rookie of the Week, headlined the show, scoring 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting and 1-of-4 from the free throw line. She also collected 12 rebounds to earn her second career double-double. Emma Theodorrson added 18 points on 6-of-14 shooting and went 4-of-6 from the charity stripe. Matthews chipped in 11 points to become the third Bison in double-digits.Â
The Bison shot 23-of-55 (41.8%) from the field, while the Greyhounds were 22-of-56 (39.3%). Bucknell only shot 4-of-22 from three-point land, but two of the makes came in crunch time.Â
Loyola's Lex Therien entered the game averaging a double-double, and she reached the distinction with 14 points and 17 rebounds. However, the Bison held her to 5-of-15 from the field and induced a steal in the final possession.Â
The Bison started the contest on a hot streak, creating an 11-2 lead, powered by a 9-0 run after a 2-2 beginning. Matthews notched six of her 11 points during the stretch. Matthews' 11 points tied her career-high. Loyola had a mini 4-0 run that ended after Sofilkanich added a free throw. The quarter ended with Bucknell up 12-6. The Orange & Blue held Loyola to 2-of-14 shooting.
Both teams heated up in the second quarter. Bucknell kept the lead for most of the period, but the Greyhounds continued to chip away at the Bison advantage. The high-water mark for Bucknell came with the Bison up 16-8 after a Sofilkanich lay-up. Loyola cut the deficit to 18-15 before Kaylee Reinbeau deposited a three-pointer. Loyola kept scoring, and Bucknell kept answering until the tally was 25-24 Bison. The Greyhounds hit two free throws to seize the lead. A Sofilkanich two-pointer regained the advantage, but Loyola's Kelly Ratigan hit a three-pointer before halftime. Both teams shot well in the second quarter. Bucknell went 7-of-15 (46.2%), but Loyola hit 9-of-16 (56.3%).
After Loyola went up 31-27 to commence the third quarter, no team would have a lead greater than three points for the remainder of the game. The Bison used a 7-0 run capped by a Theodorsson three-pointer to take back the lead. Loyola scrapped back to tie the contest at 37-37. Grace Sullivan hit a basket, but Loyola answered in kind. That incident occurred twice until the Bison broke the streak by hitting three free throws for a 44-41 advantage. Loyola used a 4-0 run and appeared ready to enter the fourth quarter with the lead. Then Theodorsson struck. The sophomore drove into the lane and hit a pull-up jump shot with time expiring. Bucknell led 46-45, entering the fourth quarter.
Â
THEO AT THE BUZZER!
— Bucknell WBB (@Bucknell_WBB) February 1, 2024
Theo beats the impending buzzer and gives the Bison the lead, entering the last stanza!
Watch: https://t.co/7cfJAZleqj@PatriotLeagueTV | @ESPN | @Sportscenter#rayBucknell | #tst | #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/5UQLFCtJPg
Matthews hit a jumper to open the fourth quarter. Sixteen seconds later, Loyola's Laura Salmeron drained a three-pointer for the 48-48 tie. Sofilkanich scored a basket, and Lex Therien hit two free throws. Sofilkanich tallied another lay-up, but Ava Therien produced the tying points. Sofilkanich remained undaunted and scored a third-straight lay-up. There was no response from Loyola, as neither squad scored from the 7:08 mark until the 4:11 timeslot when Loyola's Garcia tied the game. The Greyhounds then deposited a three-pointer for the 57-54 lead. Ashley O'Connor responded with a trey. Lex Therien hit a lay-up. Once again, Theodorsson rose to the occasion. Julie Kulesza chased down an errant rebound by outracing a Greyhound. Since the attempt missed the rim, the shot clock did not reset. Kulesza kept her balance and fired the sphere to Theodorsson. The Icelandic national player calmly ignored the ticking clock and buried the go-ahead three-pointer. Bucknell had the 60-59 lead with 1:51 remaining.
Â
JULIE HUSTLES TO CORRAL THE REBOUND AND THEO IS COOL AS CAN BE TO DRAIN THE THREE!
— Bucknell WBB (@Bucknell_WBB) February 1, 2024
Watch: https://t.co/7cfJAZleqj@PatriotLeagueTV | @ESPN#rayBucknell | #tst pic.twitter.com/RqMeqSWjaP
Loyola committed an offensive foul on the following possession. O'Connor missed a three-pointer and the Greyhounds rebounded. But Sofilkanich proved a colossus. She blocked two shots, O'Connor blocked another attempt, and Sofilkanich corralled the ball. Bucknell called a timeout to advance the ball. Matthews was fouled, and the sophomore guard hit 1-of-2 foul shots. Loyola had a final chance, but Matthews broke up the pass, Sofilkanich collared the ball, and Bucknell had its first road win.
Up Next
The Bison return home to Sojka Pavilion on Feb. 4 to celebrate National Women and Girls in Sports Day. Bucknell will face American in a 2 p.m. Sunday matinee.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballBucknell Volleyball vs. Loyola University (10/4/25)
Sunday, October 05
Richmond at Bucknell Football Game Highlights 10-4-2025
Sunday, October 05
Post Game Interview vs. Richmond
Saturday, October 04
Bucknell Men's Water Polo Vs. George Washington University (10/4/25)
Saturday, October 04