Bison Women Welcome Dartmouth for Friday Night Clash

LEWISBURG, Pa.- The Bucknell Bison women's basketball team (4-4) looks to stretch its winning streak to five games when it welcomes the Dartmouth Big Green (3-3) to Sojka Pavilion for a Friday night clash. Bucknell's most recent outing came down to the wire in a 62-59 overtime thriller against the Vermont Catamounts on Education Day. The Orange & Blue and the Big Green have never faced each other on the court as Dartmouth is the final Ivy space on the Bison bingo card. The tip is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Game Notes

What: Bucknell vs. Dartmouth
When: Friday, December 6 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 (5.7 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 4.3 apg)
Sr. F/G: Isabella King (7.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.3 apg)
So. F: Ashley Sofilkanich (19.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.4 apg)
So. F: Tuana Coskun (8.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.8 apg)
So. G: Anna Kunzwiler (4.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.4 apg)

WITH A WIN OVER DARTMOUTH, BUCKNELL WOULD...
• ... improve to 5-4 on the season
• ... improve to 4-0 at home
• ... improve to 1-0 all-time against the Big Green
• ... improve to 1-0 against the Big Green under Woodruff
• ... improve to 88-56 overall under Woodruff
• ... improve to 49-19 at home under Woodruff

HEADLINES
• The Bison won its fourth straight contest with a nailbiting 62-59 overtime victory over Vermont during the annual Education Day game. The Bison trailed 13-10 after the first quarter but grabbed a 24-22 halftime lead. Vermont temporarily went ahead 32-31 before the Bison rallied for a 46-40 advantage. The Catamounts forced overtime but Bucknell used an 8-0 run to forge ahead and hold on to win earning Trevor Woodruff his 200th career win as a women's basketball coach. Ashley Sofilkanich unlocked another 20+ point performance scoring 23 points, 20 of which came in the second half. Tuana Coskun notched 14 points and Ashley O'Connor tallied 11. Vermont's Anna Olson nabbed 20 points to lead the Catamounts.
• Ashley Sofilkanich won Patriot League Player of the Week (12/2) for her performance against Robert Morris.
• 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.
• 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 DARTMOUTH
• Darthmouth went 7-19 overall and 1-13 in Ivy League play in 2023-24. They were not eligible for the four-team Ivy League conference tournament. Their sole conference victory came in a 48-44 slugfest over Cornell.
• The Big Green has started 3-3 and opened the campaign with five straight home games. Dartmouth played its first road game on Wednesday against Navy and prevailed 61-58 in overtime versus the Midshipmen.
• Dartmouth's roster has 16 players with three international student-athletes from Croatia, Kenya, and Turkey. Despite the transfer portal influencing collegiate athletes, the Big Green does not have a single transfer.
• The Bison and the Big Green share three common opponents (Lafayette, Navy, and Vermont) this season. Dartmouth has defeated Navy and lost to Vermont and will play Lafayette on Dec. 18.
• Dartmouth was picked to finish last in the eight-team Ivy League confederation.
• Linda Cimino is 10-22 in her two seasons at Dartmouth.

SERIES HISTORY with THE BIG GREEN
• This is the first meeting between Bucknell and Dartmouth.
• The Bison have played every Ivy League team except Dartmouth.
• Trevor Woodruff has never faced Dartmouth.

Series History with Dartmouth (All Meetings)
Never Played

Last Time Out
• Bucknell increased its winning stretch to four games by nipping Vermont 62-59 in overtime sending a raucous Education Day celebration in jubilant celebration. The Bison led by six points late in the fourth quarter before Vermont forced overtime. Bucknell regrouped in the extra stanza and pulled out the win. It marked Coach Trevor Woodruff's 200th career win as a women's basketball head coach.
• The Bison continued its strong shooting hitting 45.8% (22-of-48) on the day. Vermont also hit 22 baskets but had 49 attempts. Both teams shot 17 free throws with Bucknell making 14 and the Catamounts hitting 12. Rebounds were limited with Vermont collecting 27 to Bucknell's 20.
• Ashley Sofilkanich again paced the Bison collecting 23 points. The sophomore also had three points at halftime but rallied in the second half. She hit the final four free throws of the game to seal the win. Tuana Coskun posted her second straight double-digit scoring effort with 14 points and Ashley O'Connor gathered 11 points to give Bucknell three double-digit scorers. Anna Olson's 20 points led Vermont.

Notable CAREER HIGHS SET vs. VERMONT
Tuana Coskun - Minutes (40)
Isabella King - Minutes (43)

STREAKS OF NOTE
Ashley Sofilkanich - Starts (36)

Up Next

Bucknell completes its final non-conference road game with a trip to Duquesne on Dec. 10.

Bison Women Welcome Dartmouth for Friday Night Clash

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Players Mentioned

Tuana Coskun

Nicole Davis

Caroline Dingler

Isabella King

Julie Kulesza

Anna Kunzwiler

Ashley O'Connor

Kaylee Reinbeau

Sophia Sabino

Ashley Sofilkanich