Duquesne Defeats Bucknell, 65-48

PITTSBURGH, Pa.- Bucknell's five-game winning streak was halted as the Duquesne Dukes used timely second-half stretches to defeat the Orange & Blue 65-48 in the final road non-conference game. The Bison (5-5) could not keep pace with Duquesne's (7-2) big runs.

Duquesne's third-quarter 9-0 run pulled the Dukes away from the Bison establishing a lead that occasionally shrunk but never fully evaporated. Bucknell would cut the deficit to 41-36 before an 11-2 Duquesne run sealed the game.

The Dukes entered the game averaging a nation's second-best 33.4 three-point attempts and they proved their high-flying reputation shooting 24 attempts and connecting on nine. The Bison more than matched Duquesne's proclivity for adventurous shots taking 31 attempts and making 10.

Bucknell only hit five of its 22 attempts from inside the arc while Duquesne went 12-of-23.

Ashley Sofilkanich, as usual, led Bucknell in scoring posting 15 points and increasing her double-digit scoring streak to nine games. Isabella King scored 11 points on three treys and two free throws obtaining her second straight double-digit game.

The Bison were perfect at the charity stripe hitting 8-of-8 for a season-best percentage. Duquesne converted 14-of-19 chances.

Duquesne's Megan McConnell lived up to her billing totaling 13 points but Gabby Hutcherson led the Dukes with 16 points.

The Dukes outrebounded Bucknell 41-24 but committed 25 turnovers to Bucknell's 19.

The game began with both teams blasting bombs from deep. Coskun and King each hit two three-pointers scoring 12 of the Bison's 14 first-quarter points. King's first trey moved her past Ellie Mack (2016-20) for ninth all-time in Bucknell history. The Dukes edged past Bucknell for the 15-14 lead on two Kiandra Browne free throws.

Duquesne increased its lead in the second quarter to 26-14 on an 11-0 run. Bucknell responded with the same 11-0 stretch powered by Sofilkanich's eight points on two layups and four free throws. The Dukes hit four free throws for the 29-25 halftime advantage.

Bucknell inched as close as 52-43 on a Sophia Sabino layup but never again was under single-digits as Duquesne ended the game on a 13-5 stretch. A final three-pointer by Mackenzie Blackford with eight seconds remaining completed the scoring.

The Bison return to action on Dec. 21 versus Hofstra in Sojka Pavilion for the final non-conference game of 2024-25.

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Team Stats

Ashley Sofilkanich

Isabella King

Sophia Sabino

Ashley O'Connor

Players Mentioned

Isabella King

Sophia Sabino

Ashley Sofilkanich