Women's Basketball to Battle Army in Saturday Showdown

LEWISBURG, Pa.- The Bucknell Bison women's basketball team (9-16, 6-8 Patriot League) seeks to shatter its two-game losing streak and return to the chaotic race for a top-four seed in the Patriot League when it marches to West Point to face the Army Black Knights (11-13, 8-6 Patriot League) Saturday. Army currently sits second in the Patriot League but only two games separate second and eighth place in the parity-filled Patriot League. Army defeated Bucknell 75-66 earlier this season in Sojka. Last year, the Orange & Blue defeated the Black Knights of the Hudson, 60-50 at West Point. Bucknell owns the 44-28 series lead. The tip is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Game Notes

What: Bucknell at Army West Point
When: Saturday, Feb. 24 at 1 p.m.
Where: West Point, N.Y.-Christl Arena
Streaming: ESPN+
Radio: 90.5 WVBU
Live Statistics: bucknellbison.com

Last Game's Starters:
So. F: Grace Sullivan (7.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 0.7 apg)
So. G/F: Emma Theodorsson (13.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.9 apg)
So. G: Blake Matthews (5.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.3 apg)
Fr. F: Ashley Sofilkanich (12.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.1 apg)
So. G: Ashley O'Connor (5.6 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.7 apg)

WITH A WIN OVER ARMY, BUCKNELL WOULD...
• ... improve to 10-16 on the season
• ... improve to 4-10 on the road
• ... improve to 45-28 all-time against the Black Knights
• ... improve to 6-3 against the Black Knights under Woodruff
• ... improve to 80-50 overall under Woodruff
• ... improve to 36-30 on the road under Woodruff

HEADLINES
• Bucknell dropped its second-straight game in Sojka by falling 58-47 in overtime to the Holy Cross Crusaders. It was a defensive-driven game, with both teams shooting under 31%. Holy Cross led 11-9 after one quarter. Bucknell fought back and trailed 25-24 at halftime. The Crusaders led 36-34, entering the fourth period. The Bison grabbed the lead 45-44, but Holy Cross tallied a free throw to force overtime. The Worcester team dominated overtime to win comfortably. Bucknell fell to 9-16 overall and 6-8 in the Patriot League. Ashley Sofilkanich recorded a double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds. Emma Theodorsson added 13 points. Grace Sullivan ran her string of double-digit games to four by scoring ten points. Holy Cross' Bronagh Power-Cassidy led all scorers with 26 points.
• Ashley Sofilkanich won her fifth PL Rookie of the Week award on 2/19 for her games against Lehigh & Colgate.
• The Orange & Blue have four newcomers on the roster. All four players hail from New Jersey. The Garden State has been fruitful for the Lewisburg team.
• Bucknell finished 13-17 overall and 9-9 in Patriot League play last season. The Bison reached the 2022 Patriot League Quarterfinals, playing as the No. 6 seed in the tournament, but they fell 63-55 to No. 3 seed Lehigh.
• Bucknell graduated two seniors in the spring, Tai Johnson and Emma Shaffer. Tai Johnson stepped up for the Bison after Second Team All-Patriot League member Cecelia Collins was injured. Shaffer was a constant double-double member and led the Bison attack in the paint.
• Bucknell was picked sixth in the 2023 Patriot League Preseason Poll. It's the first time since 2015-16 Bucknell was not selected in the top four.
• Senior Caroline Dingler was named captain ahead of the 2023-24 season.
• Emma Theodorsson spent the summer playing for the U20 Icelandic National Team as they competed in the U20 Nordic Championships and FIBA U20 European Championships. Theodorsson powered the Icelandic attack, averaging 8.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg, and 1.6 apg. All three marks were in the top 70 in the FIBA competition. Theodorsson finished third in points and second in rebounds for Iceland.
• This summer, Bucknell graduate Taylor O'Brien signed with the Leicester Riders of the Women's British Basketball League. O'Brien has dominated the circuit and recently won Player of the Month for December. She is currently up for All-Star honors. Fans can vote at the Women's British Basketball League website.
• Head coach Trevor Woodruff is in his fifth season at Bucknell. He was named PL Coach of the Year in his first two seasons.
• Following the departure of associate head coach Kelly Mazzante to Georgetown, Sherill Baker was hired as the newest assistant coach. Baker comes to Lewisburg from a stint at George Washington University. Baker played in the WNBA and overseas professional leagues. Dubbed "The Queens of Steals" for her defensive prowess at Georgia, Baker joins a staff of continuity. Taylor Coleman has been enrolled for five years at Bucknell, and LaSashia Connelly marks her fourth season in Lewisburg. Molly Gillis enters her second season as the program's manager of operations.

SCOUTING ARMY
• Army went 13-17 overall and 10-8 in Patriot League play during the 2022-23 season. Army received the #5 seed and defeated #4 seed Colgate 55-50 in the Quarterfinals of the Patriot League Tournament. Army lost 84-68 to #1 seed Boston in the Semifinals. Army is 11-13 overall and 8-6 in the PL. They have defeated FDU, Connecticut College, Five Towns College, Loyola (Md.), Colgate, Navy, Boston, Bucknell, Colgate, Navy, and Holy Cross. Army has been beaten by NJIT, Marist, Air Force, TCU, Hofstra, Vermont, Binghamton, Lafayette, Holy Cross, American, Lafayette, Boston, and Lehigh.
• The Bison and Black Knights shared one opponent (FDU) outside the Patriot League schedule. Both teams defeated FDU at home.
• Army was picked to finish seventh in the Patriot League. No Black Knights were named to the preseason All-Patriot League Team.
• Missy Traversi is 40-43 in her four seasons at the Point.

SERIES HISTORY with THE BLACK KNIGHTS
• This is the 73rd meeting between the Bison and the Black Knights.
• The Bison lost the first game of the 2023-24 series at home.
• Trevor Woodruff is 5-3 against the United States Military Academy.

Series History with Army (Last Six Meetings)
3/9/20         Army (PLT)       W, 87-61
1/2/22         at Army          L, 62-69
2/23/22 Army                  W, 79-51
1/18/23 Army                 L, 43-52
2/4/23        at Army              W, 60-50
1/27/24      Army                  L, 66-75

Series Record: 44-28
Record at Home: 26-10
Record at Army: 17-18
Neutral Site Record: 1-0
Trevor Woodruff Record: 5-3
Current Streak: Army W1
Longest Bucknell Winning Streak: 9 games

Last Time Out
• The Bison lost its second-consecutive game on Wednesday to Holy Cross in a 58-47 overtime heartbreaker. Bucknell trailed 11-9 after the first period and were down 25-24 at halftime. Holy Cross stayed ahead 36-34 after three quarters. Bucknell led 45-44 later in the fourth quarter, but Holy Cross forced overtime. The Crusaders easily won overtime. Bucknell dropped to 9-16 overall and 6-8 in Patriot League play.
• Neither team shot well. Bucknell shot 26.6% on 17-of-68 shooting. Holy Cross was slightly higher at 20-of-66 (30.3%). Bucknell dominated at the free-point throw, going 11-of-12 (91.7%).
• Ashley Sofilkanich earned her fourth double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds. Emma Theodorsson added 13 points. Grace Sullivan chipped in ten points. Holy Cross' Bronagh Power-Cassidy poured in 26 points.

Notable CAREER HIGHS SET Vs. HOLY CROSS
Blake Matthews - Minutes (37)
Ashley O'Connor - Field Goals Attempted (14) & Minutes (41)
Ashley Sofilkanich - Minutes (38)
Grace Sullivan - Minutes (31)

STREAKS OF NOTE
Ashley O'Connor- Starts (18)
Ashley Sofilkanich - Double-Digit Scoring Games (4) & Starts (22)
Grace Sullivan - Double-Digit Scoring Games (4)

Up Next

The Bison return to Sojka to host the Loyola (Md.) Greyhounds on Feb. 28.

Women's Basketball to Battle Army in Saturday Showdown

Players Mentioned

Cecelia Collins

Caroline Dingler

Tai Johnson

Blake Matthews

Blake Matthews

Ashley O'Connor

Emma Shaffer

Ashley Sofilkanich

Grace Sullivan

Emma Theodorsson

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