Wednesday, February 14
Bethlehem, PA
6 p.m.
Bucknell University
9-14,6-6Patriot
54
at
49
Lehigh
14-9,6-6Patriot
1
2
3
4
F
Bucknell
9
18
13
14
54
Lehigh
6
10
8
25
49
Shorthanded Bison Defeat Lehigh, 54-49, for Valentine's Day Victory
2/14/2024 7:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Despite missing four players, including starters Grace Sullivan and Emma Theodorsson, the Bucknell Bison women's basketball team (9-14, 6-6) never trailed in a 54-49 win over the Lehigh Mountain Hawks (14-9, 6-6) on Wednesday at Stabler Arena. Bucknell has a season-high four-game winning streak and improved to .500 in conference play.
"Proud of the competitiveness our team showed," said head coach Trevor Woodruff. "A shorthanded road win is an excellent step forward for this group as we go into the final couple of weeks."
Ashley Sofilkanich carried the load admirably, tying a career-high in points with 22 on 8-of-16 shooting to go along with a career-high 15 rebounds. Blake Matthews was the other Bison in double-digits, scoring 10 points on 5-of-9 shooting. The other Orange & Blue members provided crucial baskets when necessary. Kaylee Reinbeau tied a career-high in rebounds with nine.
Lehigh had three double-digit scorers, led by Colleen McQuillen, who scored 12 points. Lehigh averaged 70.5 points entering the game but was held to 21.5 points below their season average by a stout Bison defense.
Bucknell milked the clock and shot 21-of-48 (43.8%) from the field. Lehigh shot 4-of-28 in the first half and ended up shooting 15-of-53 (28.3%) for the game.
Ashley O'Connor started the scoring with a jump shot, giving Bucknell a lead it would never withdraw. The first quarter was a defensive masterclass, with a 6-2 score at the media timeout. Nicole Davis made it 9-4 with a beautiful layup. She was fouled on the play and converted the free throw. Lehigh hit two free throws to end the first-quarter tally at 9-6.
Bucknell pulled ahead 16-6 to start the second-period thanks to two Sofilkanich baskets and a Sophia Sabino three-pointer. Both teams played on nearly even terms. Bucknell led 20-12 before Lehigh went on a 4-0 run. The Bison ended the quarter on a 7-0 run. Kaylee Reinbeau hit a lay-up, O'Connor drained a three-pointer, and Sofilkanich converted a lay-up.
Lehigh fired out of the locker room, going on a 7-0 run. In a night of brilliant maneuvers, Coach Woodruff made one of his finest decisions, calling a timeout. The stoppage in play immediately energized the Bison. An 8-0 run thanks to four baskets from King, Matthews, and Reinbeau proved decisive. Lehigh broke the stretch with a single free throw before Bucknell ended the quarter on a 5-0 run on two points from O'Connor and three from Sofilkanich.
The Mountain Hawks did not go quietly. Within three minutes, Lehigh cut the deficit to 11 points (44-33). Sofilkanich answered with two free throws before Lehigh drained three straight three-pointers. Lehigh added a free throw to close within its smallest margin. Again, Sofilkanich answered the bell. She tallied three consecutive points. Lehigh again drew within three (48-45), but Sofilkanich provided the answer with a layup. Lehigh would get no closer than four. Julie Kulesza hit one more free throw to finalize the score at 54-49.
Up Next
The Bison will celebrate Senior Day on Feb. 17 when they host Colgate at 6 p.m.
"Proud of the competitiveness our team showed," said head coach Trevor Woodruff. "A shorthanded road win is an excellent step forward for this group as we go into the final couple of weeks."
Ashley Sofilkanich carried the load admirably, tying a career-high in points with 22 on 8-of-16 shooting to go along with a career-high 15 rebounds. Blake Matthews was the other Bison in double-digits, scoring 10 points on 5-of-9 shooting. The other Orange & Blue members provided crucial baskets when necessary. Kaylee Reinbeau tied a career-high in rebounds with nine.
Lehigh had three double-digit scorers, led by Colleen McQuillen, who scored 12 points. Lehigh averaged 70.5 points entering the game but was held to 21.5 points below their season average by a stout Bison defense.
Bucknell milked the clock and shot 21-of-48 (43.8%) from the field. Lehigh shot 4-of-28 in the first half and ended up shooting 15-of-53 (28.3%) for the game.
Ashley O'Connor started the scoring with a jump shot, giving Bucknell a lead it would never withdraw. The first quarter was a defensive masterclass, with a 6-2 score at the media timeout. Nicole Davis made it 9-4 with a beautiful layup. She was fouled on the play and converted the free throw. Lehigh hit two free throws to end the first-quarter tally at 9-6.
Bucknell pulled ahead 16-6 to start the second-period thanks to two Sofilkanich baskets and a Sophia Sabino three-pointer. Both teams played on nearly even terms. Bucknell led 20-12 before Lehigh went on a 4-0 run. The Bison ended the quarter on a 7-0 run. Kaylee Reinbeau hit a lay-up, O'Connor drained a three-pointer, and Sofilkanich converted a lay-up.
Lehigh fired out of the locker room, going on a 7-0 run. In a night of brilliant maneuvers, Coach Woodruff made one of his finest decisions, calling a timeout. The stoppage in play immediately energized the Bison. An 8-0 run thanks to four baskets from King, Matthews, and Reinbeau proved decisive. Lehigh broke the stretch with a single free throw before Bucknell ended the quarter on a 5-0 run on two points from O'Connor and three from Sofilkanich.
The Mountain Hawks did not go quietly. Within three minutes, Lehigh cut the deficit to 11 points (44-33). Sofilkanich answered with two free throws before Lehigh drained three straight three-pointers. Lehigh added a free throw to close within its smallest margin. Again, Sofilkanich answered the bell. She tallied three consecutive points. Lehigh again drew within three (48-45), but Sofilkanich provided the answer with a layup. Lehigh would get no closer than four. Julie Kulesza hit one more free throw to finalize the score at 54-49.
Up Next
The Bison will celebrate Senior Day on Feb. 17 when they host Colgate at 6 p.m.
Team Stats
Buck
Lehigh
FG%
.438
.283
3FG%
.167
.276
FT%
.625
.647
RB
40
30
TO
18
10
STL
4
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
22
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
4
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballPG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F/G
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