Bucknell University Athletics
Sofilkanich Earns PL Preseason Defensive Player of the Year & Slot on Preseason All-League Team
10/16/2024 11:05:00 AM | Women's Basketball
LEWISBURG, Pa.- Fresh off a fabulous freshman campaign which saw her become the first Bison to notch spots on three All-Patriot League teams, the league's head coaches and sports information directors voted sophomore forward Ashley Sofilkanich the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and awarded her a spot on the Preseason All-Patriot League Team.Â
"Terrific recognition for Sof, I think, she really had a breakout freshman year," said Bucknell head coach Trevor Woodruff. "It was probably above and beyond what we expected. The challenge will be to elevate her game now that she will be priority one for our opponents's defense. How will she be able to impact the game positively when she obtains the majority of the attention? There is a chance that she will not just score but be a strong distributor as teams will try to take her away. Defensively, she has really good instincts. She takes up space. The biggest thing is for her is to discipline herself knowing teams will attack her and staying out of foul trouble. We are going to need her on the court for significant minutes. There are a certain number of fouls that will happen because of physical play. We just want to eliminate the silly and unnecessary fouls that happened to freshmen and we have seen improvement in that sector."
Sofilkanich made her 6-3 presence felt immediately receiving slots on the Patriot League's All-Defensive, Rookie, and Third Team squads. The former freshman finished second on the Bison with 12.3 ppg and scored 10+ points in 20 contests. Sofilkanich was a force on the boards pulling down 6.3 rpg and collecting four double-doubles. She finished second in blocks, seventh in rebounds, and tenth in rebounds in the Patriot League. Her 60 blocks ranked sixth in Bucknell's single-season history and 31st nationally.Â
The Bison forward is joined on the Preseason All-Patriot League Team by Loyola (Md.) senior Lex Therien, who won Preseason Player of the Year, Navy sophomore guard Zanai Barnett-Gay, Colgate senior guard Taylor Golembiewski, and Boston University senior guard Alex Giannaros.Â
Bucknell was projected to finish eighth in the ten-team Patriot League but the voting was extremely narrow with only 19 points separating second and seventh place. The 2023-24 season featured the greatest parity in league history and the same trend should reoccur this upcoming campaign. Loyola (Md.) was picked to win the regular season title. Defending champion Holy Cross, depleted by graduation and their head coach's abrupt departure this summer, were selected for sixth.Â
The Orange & Blue open the 2024-25 season by traveling west to local rival Penn State on Nov. 4. It marks the second straight season Bucknell begins the year in Happy Valley.Â
2. Colgate 120 (5)
3. Lehigh 109Â
4. Army West Point 108 (1)
5. Boston University 106 (2)
6. Holy Cross 102 (2)
7. Navy 101Â
8. Bucknell 51
9. Lafayette 30
10. American 35
Voting for the Patriot League women's basketball preseason poll, Player of the Year, and All-League team was conducted by league head coaches and sports information directors. Neither group was permitted to vote for their own teams or student-athletes.
Â
"Terrific recognition for Sof, I think, she really had a breakout freshman year," said Bucknell head coach Trevor Woodruff. "It was probably above and beyond what we expected. The challenge will be to elevate her game now that she will be priority one for our opponents's defense. How will she be able to impact the game positively when she obtains the majority of the attention? There is a chance that she will not just score but be a strong distributor as teams will try to take her away. Defensively, she has really good instincts. She takes up space. The biggest thing is for her is to discipline herself knowing teams will attack her and staying out of foul trouble. We are going to need her on the court for significant minutes. There are a certain number of fouls that will happen because of physical play. We just want to eliminate the silly and unnecessary fouls that happened to freshmen and we have seen improvement in that sector."
Sofilkanich made her 6-3 presence felt immediately receiving slots on the Patriot League's All-Defensive, Rookie, and Third Team squads. The former freshman finished second on the Bison with 12.3 ppg and scored 10+ points in 20 contests. Sofilkanich was a force on the boards pulling down 6.3 rpg and collecting four double-doubles. She finished second in blocks, seventh in rebounds, and tenth in rebounds in the Patriot League. Her 60 blocks ranked sixth in Bucknell's single-season history and 31st nationally.Â
The Bison forward is joined on the Preseason All-Patriot League Team by Loyola (Md.) senior Lex Therien, who won Preseason Player of the Year, Navy sophomore guard Zanai Barnett-Gay, Colgate senior guard Taylor Golembiewski, and Boston University senior guard Alex Giannaros.Â
Bucknell was projected to finish eighth in the ten-team Patriot League but the voting was extremely narrow with only 19 points separating second and seventh place. The 2023-24 season featured the greatest parity in league history and the same trend should reoccur this upcoming campaign. Loyola (Md.) was picked to win the regular season title. Defending champion Holy Cross, depleted by graduation and their head coach's abrupt departure this summer, were selected for sixth.Â
The Orange & Blue open the 2024-25 season by traveling west to local rival Penn State on Nov. 4. It marks the second straight season Bucknell begins the year in Happy Valley.Â
2024-25 Patriot League Women's Basketball Preseason Major Awards
Preseason Player of the Year –Lex Therien, Loyola Maryland, Sr., F
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – Ashley Sofilkanich, Bucknell, So., F
2024-25 Patriot League Women's Basketball Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Lex Therien, Loyola Maryland, Sr., F
Ashley Sofilkanich, Bucknell, So., F
Zanai Barnett-Gay, Navy , So., G
Taylor Golembiewski, Colgate, Sr., G
Alex Giannaros, Boston University Sr., G
2024-25 Patriot League Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Loyola (Md.) 148 (10 first place votes)2. Colgate 120 (5)
3. Lehigh 109Â
4. Army West Point 108 (1)
5. Boston University 106 (2)
6. Holy Cross 102 (2)
7. Navy 101Â
8. Bucknell 51
9. Lafayette 30
10. American 35
Voting for the Patriot League women's basketball preseason poll, Player of the Year, and All-League team was conducted by league head coaches and sports information directors. Neither group was permitted to vote for their own teams or student-athletes.
Â
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballECAC OPEN SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS (3/01/26 - Sunday Finals Session)
Monday, March 02
ECAC OPEN SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS (3/1/26 - Sunday Prelims Session)
Monday, March 02
2026 ECAC Swimming and Diving Championship Final Day
Monday, March 02
ECAC OPEN SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS (3/1/26 - Sunday Finals Session)
Sunday, March 01