Women's Basketball Concludes Non-Conference Play with a Sojka Saturday Showdown Versus Hofstra

LEWISBURG, Pa.- The Bucknell Bison women's basketball team (5-5) completes the non-conference schedule with a home game versus the Hofstra Pride (3-6) on Saturday afternoon. Bucknell and Hofstra have a lengthy hardcourt history with 22 meetings but have not matched up since the 1999-2000 season. Last time out, the Bison saw its five-game winning streak snapped by Duquesne in a 65-48 defeat. The tip is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Game Notes

What: Bucknell vs. Hofstra
When: Saturday, December 21 at 2 p.m.
Where: Lewisburg, Pa.- Sojka Pavilion
Streaming: ESPN+
Radio: 90.5 WVBU
Live Statistics: bucknellbison.com

Last Game's Starters:
R-Jr. G: Sophia Sabino (5.4 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 4.0 apg)
Sr. F/G: Isabella King (8.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.0 apg)
So. F: Ashley Sofilkanich (18.7 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 1.8 apg)
So. F: Tuana Coskun (8.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.8 apg)
So. G: Anna Kunzwiler (3.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.5 apg)

WITH A WIN OVER HOFSTRA, BUCKNELL WOULD...
• ... improve to 6-5 on the season
• ... improve to 5-0 at home
• ... improve to 10-13 all-time against the Pride
• ... improve to 1-0 against the Pride under Woodruff
• ... improve to 89-57 overall under Woodruff
• ... improve to 50-12 at home under Woodruff

HEADLINES
• Duquesne snapped Bucknell's five-game winning streak with a 65-48 victory on Dec. 10. The Bison fought but their efforts were hindered by 19 costly turnovers and the Dukes's 41 rebounds. The Orange & Blue kept the game close at first trailing 15-14 after the first quarter and were only down 29-25 at halftime. The Dukes broke away in the third and fourth quarters with timely runs. The Bison shot 31 three-pointers and converted ten. Duquesne entered the game averaging 33.4 3PG attempts but only tried 24 and made nine. Ashley Sofilkanich scored 15 points to lead the Bison. Isabella King provided 11 points. Gabby Hutcherson led Duquesne with 16 points.
• Ashley Sofilkanich won Patriot League Player of the Week (12/9) for her performances against Vermont and Dartmouth. It is her second POW award this season and the first time a Bison won consecutive POW awards since Kaitlyn Slagus (2016).
• Sofilkanich earned three slots on the 2023-24 All-Patriot Defensive, Rookie, and Third Teams. She is the first Bison to do so.
• Sofilkanich ranks ninth nationally in blocks per game (2.70).
• The Orange & Blue have nine newcomers (six freshmen & three transfers) on the roster.
• 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 played in the WNBA and overseas professional leagues. She was dubbed "The Queens of Steals" for her defensive prowess at Georgia.
• Three new coaches joined the staff. Owen Brown left the University of San Francisco to join the Bison community. Shelby Case was hired as an assistant coach/director of operation combo. Case played at the University of Illinois-Chicago. Edward Joyner was hired before the FDU game. He spent 15 seasons as the men's head coach at Hampton.

SCOUTING HOFSTRA
• Hofstra finished 11-21 overall and 3-15 in the competitive CAA in 2023-24. They received the 13th seed in the CAA Tournament and made a Cinderella run to the Quarterfinals. They defeated Hampton in the First Round and followed the victory by vanquishing fifth-seeded William & Mary. The run ended against NC A&T but Hofstra still became the highest seed to reach the CAA Quarterfinals.
• The Pride have started the season 3-6 with victories over NJIT, Yale, and Howard. They made a trip to the Sunshine State where they lost to Florida and Jacksonville.
• Hofstra's roster has 14 players with five transfers. The team has no seniors but does have three graduate students.
• The Bison and the Pride share one common opponent (Lehigh) this season. Hofstra fell to the Mountain Hawks.
• Hofstra was picked to finish 12th in the 14-team CAA.
• Danielle Santos Atkinson is 45-106 in her six seasons at Hofstra.

SERIES HISTORY with THE PRIDE
• This is the 23rd meeting between Bucknell and Hofstra.
• Despite the series's lengthy history and being one of Bucknell's most-played non-conference opponent, the last meeting occurred in the 1999-2000 season.
• Trevor Woodruff has never faced Hofstra.

Series History with Hofstra (Last Six Meetings)
12/9/92        Hofstra                L, 51-48
2/6/94          at Hofstra           L, 55-54
1/5/95     Hofstra                W, 87-69
11/25/95      Hofstra                W, 82-53
12/29/97 vs. Hofstra           L, 81-67
12/3/99 vs. Hofstra           L, 87-74

Series Record: 9-13
Record at Home: 7-5
Record at Hofstra: 2-5
Neutral Site Record: 0-3
Trevor Woodruff Record: 0-0
Current Streak: Hofstra W2
Longest Bucknell Winning Streak: W2

Last Time Out
• Bucknell dropped to 5-5 on the season and saw its five-game winning streak snapped after falling 65-48 to Duquesne on Dec. 10. The Bison offense tried 31 three-point attempts and made 10 but the Dukes used 41 rebounds and 19 Bucknell turnovers to emerge triumphant. The game started close as the Bison had four treys in the opening stanzas. Duquesne only led 29-25 at halftime but a cold third quarter doomed the Bison. Duquesne broke away with two big runs and Bucknell lost for the fifth time on the road.
• Bucknell shot a season-low 28.3% (15-of-53). The Bison were ice cold inside the arc going 5-of-22 (22.7%). Duquesne hit 44.7% (21-of-47) of its shots. The Dukes owned a decisive margin on the boards, outrebounding Bucknell 41-24.
• Ashley Sofilkanich led the Bison by collecting 15 points on 4-of-13 shooting from the field and 6-of-6 from the charity stripe. Isabella King added 11 points on three treys and two free throws. Gabby Hutcherson paced the Dukes with 16 points. Megan McConnell supplied 13.

Notable CAREER HIGHS SET Vs. Duquesne
Tuana Coskun - Steals (4)

STREAKS OF NOTE
Tuana Coskun - Starts (10)
Isabella King - Starts (10)
Ashley Sofilkanich - Starts (38) & Double Digit Scoring Games (9)

MORE MILESTONES UNEARTHED
• Isabella King reached 600 career points against Dartmouth on Dec. 6, 2024 and currently has 616 overall. King broke into the top ten for career three-pointers with 111 when she hit three versus Robert Morris on November, 29, 2024. She now has 116 career three-pointers - sitting ninth all-time.
• Ashley Sofilkanich directly hit the 500-point mark against Youngstown State on Nov. 23, 2024. She currently sits at 575 points.
• Trevor Woodruff reached the 200 career win mark as a women's basketball head coach after defeating Vermont on Dec. 4, 2024.

Up Next

The Bison will enjoy the Christmas break before returning to action at Sojka on Jan. 2 versus Lehigh in the Patriot League opener.

Women's Basketball Concludes Non-Conference Play with a Sojka Saturday Showdown Versus Hofstra

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Players Mentioned

Tuana Coskun

Nicole Davis

Caroline Dingler

Isabella King

Julie Kulesza

Anna Kunzwiler

Kaylee Reinbeau

Sophia Sabino

Ashley Sofilkanich