Women's Basketball Commences Patriot League Play Thursday Versus Lehigh

Women's Basketball Commences Patriot League Play Thursday Versus Lehigh

12/31/2024 11:28:00 AM | Women's Basketball

LEWISBURG, Pa.- The Bucknell Bison women's basketball team (5-6) starts Patriot League play this Thursday with a visit from commonwealth rival Lehigh (9-3). Bucknell resumes action after falling to Hofstra on Dec. 21 while Lehigh enters defeating Misericordia, 81-22, on Dec. 29. The Mountain Hawks are the Bison's most played foe having dueled Lehigh 100 times on the hardcourt. The two teams split their 2023-24 meetings 1-1 and Bucknell owns a 52-48 series advantage. The tip is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Game Notes

What: Bucknell vs. Lehigh
When: Thursday, January 2 at 6 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 (5.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 3.8 apg)
Sr. F/G: Isabella King (9.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.2 apg)
So. F: Ashley Sofilkanich (18.8 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.1 apg)
So. F: Tuana Coskun (7.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.9 apg)
Fr. G/F: Reese Zemitis (7.8 ppg, 3.0, rpg, 0.9 apg)

WITH A WIN OVER LEHIGH, BUCKNELL WOULD...
• ... improve to 6-6 on the season
• ... improve to 5-1 at home
• ... improve to 53-47 all-time against the Mountain Hawks
• ... improve to 11-5 against the Mountain Hawks under Woodruff
• ... improve to 89-58 overall under Woodruff
• ... improve to 50-20 at home under Woodruff

HEADLINES
• Hofstra shattered Bucknell's 2024-25 perfect mark at Sojka with a comeback 76-71 overtime victory against the Bison on Dec. 21. The Pride were down by double-digits in the second half but rallied to take a late lead. Bucknell recovered to force overtime thanks to two Ashley O'Connor three-pointers but the Bison ran out of juice in the overtime period shooting 0-for-7 from the field and the Pride brought home the victory. It was Bucknell's non-conference finale. Bucknell led 45-39 at halftime courtesy of an elite 17-of-28 shooting but the Bison cooled off going 9-of-35 in the second half. Ashley Sofilkanich recorded 20 points to lead the Bison while Isabella King tallied 16 and Reese Zemitis in her first start scored 15.
• Zemitis won Patriot League Rookie of the Week (12/23) due to her 15-point performance against the Pride. The freshman made the most of her starting opportunity shooting 6-of-12 from the field. .
• 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 sixth nationally in blocks per game (2.82).
• 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 LEHIGH
• Lehigh finished 17-13 overall and 9-9 in the Patriot League in 2023-24. They received the fifth seed in a crowded and parity-filled Patriot League Tournament. They faced fourth-seeded Loyola (Md.) in the quarterfinals and lost 58-51 dropping to 0-3 against the Greyhounds.
• The Mountain Hawks have started the season 9-3 with a signature victory over Big Ten foe Northwestern (home of Bucknell transfer Grace Sullivan). Additional noted triumphs include wins over Brown, Hofstra, LIU, and Wofford.
• Lehigh's roster holds 14 players with two transfers, one of which is former Bucknell member, Remi Sisselman.
• The Bison and the Mountain Hawks share one common non-conference opponent (Hofstra) this season. Lehigh defeated the Pride while Bucknell fell to the Long Island team.
• Lehigh was picked to finish third in the ten-team Patriot League due to their 11 returners and top seven scorers.
• Addie Micir is 43-30 in her three seasons at Lehigh.

SERIES HISTORY with the Mountain Hawks
• This is the 101st meeting between Bucknell and Lehigh.
• The series is the longest played Bucknell rivalry and dates back to 1977.
• Trevor Woodruff is 10-5 all-time against the Mountain Hawks.

Series History with Lehigh (Last Six Meetings)
3/7/22        Lehigh (PLT)           W, 56-53
1/5/23        at Lehigh                  L, 64-51
2/22/23      Lehigh                      L, 84-72
3/6/23        at Lehigh (PLT)       L, 63-53
1/10/24 Lehigh                      L, 69-63
2/14/24      at Lehigh              W, 54-49

Series Record: 52-48
Record at Home: 27-20
Record at Lehigh: 23-26
Neutral Site Record: 2-2
Trevor Woodruff Record: 10-5
Current Streak: Bucknell W1
Longest Bucknell Winning Streak: 9 games

Last Time Out
• Bucknell finished non-conference play at 5-6 with a 76-71 overtime defeat to Hofstra on Dec. 21. The Bison owned a 13-point lead but the Pride were scrappy and consistently reduced Bucknell's advantage. Bucknell led 45-39 at halftime and increased its lead back to double-digits before Hofstra launched its biggest rally. The Orange & Blue forced overtime due to two Ashley O'Connor three-pointers. The Bison shot 0-of-7 in the extra stanza as the Pride ground out the hard-fought victory.
• Bucknell shot 41.3% (26-of-63). The Bison were 17-of-28 (60.7%) in the first half. Hofstra also hit 26 shots on 66 attempts (39.4%). The Pride decisively outrebounded Bucknell, 46-31 and hit seven three-pointers on 15 attempts.
• Ashley Sofilkanich led the Bison with 20 points extending her double-digit scoring streak to ten games. Isabella King supplied a season-high 16 points. Reese Zemitis scored 15 points in her first ever start. Emma Von Essen paced Hofstra with 20 points and Chloe Sterling recorded a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Notable CAREER HIGHS SET vs. HOFSTRA
Tuana Coskun - Steals (4)
Sophia Sabino - Minutes (38) & Rebounds (6)

STREAKS OF NOTE
Tuana Coskun - Starts (11)
Isabella King - Starts (11)
Ashley Sofilkanich - Double Digit Scoring Games (10) & Starts (39)

MORE MILESTONES UNEARTHED
• Isabella King reached 600 career points against Dartmouth on Dec. 6, 2024 and currently has 632 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 120 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 595 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

Bucknell hits the long windy road to Colgate for its first away conference game on Jan. 5.