Women's Basketball Heads to Easton to Play Lafayette

LEWISBURG, Pa.- Riding a two-game winning streak and ensconced in sixth place, the Bucknell Bison women's basketball team (11-16, 8-8 Patriot League) heads east to Easton to challenge the Lafayette Leopards (10-17, 5-11 Patriot League) in a late-season Patriot League clash. The circuit has developed into one of the tightest leagues in recent memories, as four teams are tied for second at 9-7, and three teams are deadlocked for seventh at 7-9. The Bison are seeking to win out and hope for chaos above them. The Orange & Blue decisively defeated Loyola 74-56 on Wednesday. Bucknell edged Lafayette 65-58 earlier this year in Sojka. The Bison own a 53-39 series lead, though the Leopards upset Bucknell 69-61 in 2023 at the Kirby Sports Center. The tip is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Game Notes

What: Bucknell at Lafayette
When: Saturday, March 2 at 2 p.m.
Where: Easton, Pa.-Kirby Sports Center
Streaming: ESPN+
Radio: 90.5 WVBU
Live Statistics: bucknellbison.com

Last Game's Starters:
So. F: Grace Sullivan (9.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 0.7 apg)
So. G/F: Emma Theodorsson (12.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.8 apg)
So. G: Blake Matthews (5.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.6 apg)
Fr. F: Ashley Sofilkanich (12.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.1 apg)
So. G: Ashley O'Connor (5.9 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.6 apg)

WITH A WIN OVER Lafayette, BUCKNELL WOULD...
• ... improve to 12-16 on the season
• ... improve to 5-10 on the road
• ... improve to 54-39 all-time against the Leopards
• ... improve to 9-1 against the Leopards under Woodruff
• ... improve to 82-50 overall under Woodruff
• ... improve to 37-30 on the road under Woodruff

HEADLINES
• Bucknell led for 36 minutes in its commanding 74-56 vanquishing of Loyola (Md.). The Bison briefly trailed in the first quarter before turning on the jets. The Orange & Blue led 20-9 after one period and had a 32-22 halftime advantage. Loyola cut the deficit to 48-44, entering the fourth quarter. Bucknell put the matter to bed with an 11-0 run. The Bison cruised to a 74-56 victory and moved into sixth place in the Patriot League. Bucknell is now 11-16 overall and 8-8 in PL play. There are four teams tied for second in the chaotic PL. Grace Sullivan had a banner day, scoring a career-high 28 points and collecting ten rebounds for her first double-double. Blake Matthews tallied a career-high 12 points. Ashley O'Connor added 10 points. Loyola's leading scorer was Laura Salmeron, with 18 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 Lafayette
• Lafayette went 10-19 overall and 7-11 in Patriot League play during the 2022-23 season. The Leopards earned the eighth seed in the Patriot League Tournament. They were defeated 61-52 by the #9 seed Loyola (Md.) Greyhounds in the Opening Round. Lafayette is 10-17 overall and 5-11 in PL competition this season. They have beaten LIU, NJIT, Saint Francis University, UMBC, Dartmouth, Army, American, Army, American, and Lehigh. Lafayette has been defeated by Syracuse, East Tennessee State, Marist, Rutgers, #14 Notre Dame, Monmouth, Boston, Colgate, Navy, Holy Cross, Bucknell, Loyola (Md.), Boston, Lehigh, Loyola (Md.), Colgate, and Navy.
• The Bison and Leopards shared zero opponents outside the Patriot League schedule. Both teams did play ranked opponents (Bucknell: #15 Louisville and #19 Marquette. Lafayette: #14 Notre Dame) and tasted defeat.
• Lafayette was picked to finish eighth in the Patriot League. No Leopards were named to the preseason All-Patriot League Team.
• Kia Damon-Olson is 71-118 in her seven seasons at Lafayette.

SERIES HISTORY with the Leopards
• This is the 93rd meeting between the Bison and the Leopards.
• The Bison won the first game of the 2023-24 pair at Sojka.
• Trevor Woodruff is 8-1 against the Easton institution.

Series History with Lafayette (Last Six Meetings)
1/10/21    Lafayette          W, 79-45
2/6/22    Lafayette          W, 68-40
2/19/22    at Lafayette W, 68-60 (OT)
1/8/23 Lafayette           W, 56-44
2/25/23 at Lafayette   L, 61-69
1/20/24   Lafayette W, 65-58

Series Record: 53-39
Record at Home: 32-13
Record at Lafayette: 21-23
Neutral Site Record: 0-3
Trevor Woodruff Record: 8-1
Current Streak: Bucknell W1
Longest Bucknell Winning Streak: 17 games

Last Time Out
• Bucknell won its second-straight game by decisively defeating Loyola (Md.), 74-56 at Sojka. The Bison led for 36 minutes and never trailed after midway through the first quarter. Loyola moved within four points (48-44) as the third quarter ended. The Bison used an 11-0 run to prevent threats and won easily. Bucknell increased its record to 11-16 overall and 8-8 in Patriot League play. The Bison rank sixth. Four teams share second, and three teams are tied for seventh.
• Bucknell shot 27-of-60 (45.0%) from the field. Loyola hit 23-of-53 shots but went 3-of-15 (20.0%) from three-point land. The Bison shot 17 free throw attempts to Loyola's nine. Bucknell made 15, while the Greyhounds hit seven.
• Grace Sullivan ran her stretch of double-digit scoring games to six by scoring a career-high 28 points. She grabbed ten rebounds to clinch her first double-double. Blake Matthews scored a career-high 12 points. Loyola's Laura Salmeron tallied 18 to lead her club.

Notable CAREER HIGHS SET Vs. LOYOLA (MD.)
Blake Matthews - Field Goals Attempts (15) & Points (12)
Grace Sullivan - Assists (4), Free Throws Made (8), Free Throws Attempted (8), Field Goals Made (10), Field Goals Attempted (14), Points (28), Rebounds (10)

STREAKS OF NOTE
Blake Matthews - Starts (14)
Ashley O'Connor- Starts (20)
Ashley Sofilkanich - Starts (24)
Grace Sullivan - Double-Digit Scoring Games (6)

Up Next

The Bison conclude the regular season on March 6 with a home contest against Navy.

Women's Basketball Heads to Easton to Play Lafayette

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Players Mentioned

Cecelia Collins

Caroline Dingler

Tai Johnson

Blake Matthews

Ashley O'Connor

Emma Shaffer

Ashley Sofilkanich

Grace Sullivan

Emma Theodorsson