Women's Basketball Treks to Merrimack for Saturday Showdown

LEWISBURG, Pa.- The Bucknell Bison women's basketball team (0-3) completes their opening four-game road trip with the longest expedition to Merrimack College (1-2) this Saturday. The Bison fell 67-56 to NEC-favorite FDU in a midweek match on Wednesday night. Bucknell and Merrimack have met only one time; a 64-44 Bison victory in Sojka Pavilion last season. The Warriors are starting their first MAAC season after departing the NEC with Sacred Heart. Merrimack fell to former NEC mate Bryant and Ivy League foe Penn but rebounded to defeat New Hampshire. The tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Game Notes

What: Bucknell at Merrimack
When: Saturday, November 16 at 7 p.m.
Where: North Andover, Mass.- Lawler Arena
Streaming: ESPN+
Radio: 90.5 WVBU
Live Statistics: merrimackathletics.com

Last Game's Starters:
R-Jr. G: Sophia Sabino (7.0 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 5.3 apg)
Sr. F/G: Isabella King (8.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.7 apg)
So. F: Ashley Sofilkanich (17.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 0.7 apg)
So. F: Tuana Coskun (5.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.3 apg)
Jr. G: Ashley O'Connor (1.0 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.7 apg)

WITH A WIN OVER Merrimack, BUCKNELL WOULD...
• ... improve to 1-3 on the season
• ... improve to 1-3 on the road
• ... improve to 2-0 all-time against the Warriors
• ... improve to 2-0 against the Warriors under Woodruff
• ... improve to 84-55 overall under Woodruff
• ... improve to 38-34 on the road under Woodruff

HEADLINES
• The Bison fell 67-56 to the FDU Knights on Wednesday night. Bucknell led 13-12 after one quarter against the NEC-favorites but the rest of the game belonged to FDU. The Orange & Blue only scored three points in the second quarter which yielded the lead to FDU; it was never again seized by the Bison. The halftime score was 26-16 FDU and the Knights extended their lead to 52-30 by the fourth quarter. Bucknell tallied 28 points in the final stanza - a mark equaled to their output in the first three periods combined. However, FDU's 20 points ensured no exciting comeback was in store. Ashley Sofilkanich recorded a career-high 27 points playing in front of 30-40 family members and friends. Four Knights recorded double-digit scoring, led by Lilly Parke's 17 points.
• Ashley Sofilkanich earned three slots on the 2023-24 All-Patriot Defensive, Rookie, and Third Teams. She is the first Bison to do so.
• The Orange & Blue have nine newcomers (six freshmen & three transfers) on the roster. Only four players return from the 2023-24 team.
• Bucknell finished 13-18 overall and 9-9 in Patriot League play last season. The Bison reached the 2024 Patriot League Quarterfinals, playing as the No. 8 seed in the tournament, but they fell 61-56 to No. 1 seed Holy Cross.
• Bucknell graduated four seniors in the spring: Nicole Davis, Caroline Dingler, Julie Kulesza, and Kaylee Reinbeau. Dingler served as the 2023-24 captain and Kulesza was a three-point threat off the bench.
• Bucknell was picked eighth in the 2024-25 Patriot League Preseason Poll. The Bison were picked sixth last season and finished eighth in the conference.
• Sofilkanich received two preseason honors. She was named Preseason Defender of the Year and notched a spot on the Patriot League's Preseason Five. Her 60 blocks ranked eighth on the Bucknell single-season list.
• Senior Isabella King was named captain ahead of the 2024-25 season.
• This summer, Bucknell graduate Taylor O'Brien signed with the Essex Rebels of the Women's British Basketball League. O'Brien dominated the circuit with the Leicester Riders having won Player of the Month for December and a spot on the All-League Team.
• Head coach Trevor Woodruff is in his sixth season at Bucknell. He was named PL Coach of the Year in his first two seasons.
• Sherill Baker was recently promoted to associate head coach. Baker came to Lewisburg after a stint at George Washington University. Baker played in the WNBA and overseas professional leagues. She was dubbed "The Queens of Steals" for her defensive prowess at Georgia.
• Two new coaches joined the staff. Owen Brown left the University of San Francisco to join the Bison community and Shelby Case was hired as an assistant coach/director of operation combo. Case played at the University of Illinois-Chicago.

SCOUTING MERRIMACK
• Merrimack completed their final NEC season going 12-19 overall and 8-8 in the conference. The Warriors clinched the fourth seed and defeated fifth seeded CCSU in the quarterfinals. Their season ended in the semifinals versus eventual champion and fellow MAAC member Sacred Heart. The Pioneers won 73-41 by outscoring the Warriors 25-4 in the final quarter.
• The Warriors have started the 2024-25 campaign with a 1-2 record. They lost to Bryant and Penn before defeating New Hampshire at home.
• Merrimack's roster contains 14 players with three transfers, and like Bucknell, it includes a two-time transfer athlete.
• The Warriors will not play any Power Four opponents but do face Big East foe Providence and AAC powerhouse South Florida.
• The Bison and Warriors share one common opponent (Mount St. Mary's) this season.
• Merrimack begins its MAAC existence this year. The Warriors were picked to finish 12th out of the 13 MAAC schools. No players were named to the three preseason all-league teams. Merrimack and Sacred Heart joined the MAAC this summer after leaving the NEC.
• Kelly Morrone is 42-64 in her five seasons at Merrimack. She had coached 12 years with the first seven occurring at John Carroll.

SERIES HISTORY with THE WARRIORS
• This is the second meeting between the Bison and the Knights.
• Bucknell leads the series, 1-0, which began last season at Sojka Pavilion with a commanding 64-44 Bison triumph.
• Trevor Woodruff is 1-0 against Merrimack.

Series History with Merrimack (All Meetings)
12/17/23 Merrimack W, 64-44

Series Record: 1-0
Record at Home: 1-0
Record at Merrimack: 0-0
Neutral Site Record: 0-0
Trevor Woodruff Record: 1-0
Current Streak: Bucknell W1
Longest Bucknell Winning Streak: W1

Last Time Out
• Bucknell fell for the third time in a 67-56 defeat to the FDU Knights. Bucknell led 13-12 but the Knights owned the rest of the night with a steady offense and the inability for the Orange & Blue's shots to fall. Bucknell trailed 52-30 before making a late push but could never crack single digits. The Bison got within 63-53 with 47 seconds left but it was too late for any heroics. The clock ran out and Bucknell remained winless.
• Bucknell's hot shooting from the first two games disappeared as the Bison went 22-of-66 (33.3%) from the field. FDU hit 22-of-49 chances (44.9%). Both teams had 18 three-point attempts but FDU hit eight for a 44.4% percentage while Bucknell only netted two for a paltry 11.1% mark. Bucknell was 10-for-13 (76.9%) and FDU went 15-for-19 (78.9%) from the charity stripe.
• New Jersey native Ashley Sofilkanich was playing in front of family and friends and put on a clinic scoring 27 points. She went 11-for-25 from the field 5-for-5 from the free throw line. FDU had four players scoring in double digits with Lilly Parke's 17 points leading the way. Three Knights scored 13 points apiece.

Notable CAREER HIGHS SET vs. FDU
Sophia Sabino - Field Goals Attempted (14)
Ashley Sofilkanich - Points (27) & Field Goals Made (11) & Field Goals Attempted (25)

STREAKS OF NOTE
Ashley O'Connor- Starts (27)
Ashley Sofilkanich - Starts (31) & 20-Point Games (2)

Up Next

Bucknell opens the home schedule with the Route 15 Rivalry versus Mount St. Mary's on Nov. 20.

Women's Basketball Treks to Merrimack for Saturday Showdown

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Tuana Coskun

Nicole Davis

Caroline Dingler

Isabella King

Julie Kulesza

Ashley O'Connor

Kaylee Reinbeau

Sophia Sabino

Ashley Sofilkanich