Women's Basketball Plays Holy Cross in Patriot League Quarterfinals

LEWISBURG, Pa.- The Bucknell Bison women's basketball team (13-17, 9-9 Patriot League) as the eighth-seed will play the one-seed Holy Cross Crusaders (17-12, 11-7 Patriot League) on Monday night in the PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Women's Basketball Championship Quarterfinals. The Bison are coming off a thrilling 77-71 First Round victory over the ninth-seeded American Eagles. The Orange & Blue dropped both games of the 2023-24 series to the Purple-clad Crusaders. Bucknell trails 51-26 in the all-time series and Holy Cross has won four straight games. The tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Game Notes

What: Bucknell at Holy Cross
When: Monday, March 11 at 7 p.m.
Where: Worcester, Mass.-Hart Center Arena
Streaming: ESPN+
Radio: 90.5 WVBU
Live Statistics: bucknellbison.com

Last Game's Starters:
So. F: Grace Sullivan (9.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 0.8 apg)
So. G/F: Emma Theodorsson (13.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.9 apg)
So. G: Blake Matthews (6.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.8 apg)
Fr. F: Ashley Sofilkanich (12.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.2 apg)
So. G: Ashley O'Connor (5.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.5 apg)

WITH A WIN OVER HOLY CROSS, BUCKNELL WOULD...
• ... improve to 14-17 on the season
• ... improve to 6-10 on the road
• ... improve to 27-51 all-time against the Crusaders
• ... improve to 4-5 against the Crusaders under Woodruff
• ... improve to 84-51 overall under Woodruff
• ... improve to 38-30 on the road under Woodruff

HEADLINES
• The Bison were on fire offensively to win the First Round Game 77-71 against American. Bucknell came out of the gate hot and never cooled off shooting 53.6% for the game. The Orange & Blue built a 27-18 point lead after the first quarter and led 45-31 at halftime. American started to rally and drew within 62-55 by the start of the fourth quarter. The Eagles continued to press and cut the deficit to 70-68 with a minute left. Bucknell remained calm and sank seven free throws to beat the Eagles. The Bison improved to 13-17 and won a tournament game for the fourth time in five years. Blake Matthews led the team with 17 points and contributed 11 assists without a turnover. Theodorsson added 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Anna LeMaster led American with 19 points.
• Ashley Sofilkanich earned three slots on the All-Patriot Defensive, Rookie, and Third Team. She is the first Bison to do so. Emma Theodorsson won Second Team honors.
• 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 won Player of the Month for December.
• 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 HOLY CROSS
• The Crusaders went 24-9 overall and 13-5 in Patriot League play during the 2022-23 season. Holy Cross went 3-0 in the Patriot League Tournament and defeated #1 seed Boston University in the championship game. Holy Cross received a #15 seed in the NCAA Tournament and lost to #2 Maryland 93-61 in the first round. This season, Holy Cross has gone 17-12 with wins over Brown, UMass-Lowell, Stonehill, Connecticut College, Northeastern, Merrimack, Bucknell, Army, Navy, Lehigh, Lafayette, Loyola (Md.), American, Boston, Bucknell, Navy, and Lafayette. The Crusaders have been defeated by Boston College, Stony Brook, Villanova, Vermont, Quinnipiac, Lehigh, Loyola (Md.), American, Colgate, Army, Colgate, and Boston.
• The Bison and Crusaders share one common opponent (Merrimack) outside of the Patriot League schedule. Both teams defeated Merrimack.
• Holy Cross was picked to finish first in the Patriot League and fulfilled that prediction. Bronagh Power-Cassidy was named to the All-Patriot League First Team.
• Maureen Magarity is 68-40 in her four seasons at Holy Cross.

SERIES HISTORY with the Crusaders
• This is the 78th meeting between the Bison and the Crusaders.
• Holy Cross won both regular season games.
• Trevor Woodruff is 3-5 against the Worcester team.

Series History with Holy Cross (Last Six Meetings)
1/22/22         Holy Cross          L, 62-63 (OT)
2/12/22         at Holy Cross W, 66-49
12/30/22 Holy Cross          L, 45-62
1/21/23         at Holy Cross      L, 50-69
1/3/24       at Holy Cross       L, 54-69
2/21/24      Holy Cross            L, 47-58 (OT)

Series Record: 26-51
Record at Home: 17-19
Record at Holy Cross: 8-30
Neutral Site Record: 1-2
Trevor Woodruff Record: 3-5
Current Streak: Holy Cross W4
Longest Bucknell Winning Streak: 4 games

Last Time Out
• Bucknell opened the First Round of the Patriot League Tournament with a 77-71 win over ninth-seeded American. The Bison briefly trailed 3-2 before never losing again. The Orange & Blue roared to a 45-31 halftime advantage. American cut the deficit to 62-55, entering the final quarter. The Eagles refused to fly away and crept within 70-68. Bucknell hit its free throws to seal the win. The Bison moved to 13-17 overall.
• Bucknell shot 30-of-56 (53.6%) from the field. American hit 25-of-59 (42.4%) shots. Bucknell struggled from three-point land, going 3-of-11 (27.3%). Both teams received plenty of free throw chances. Bucknell went 14-of-17 (82.4%), and American was 15-of-21 (71.4%).
• Blake Matthews tallied 17 points and provided 11 assists without a single turnover. Emma Theodorsson shot 7-of-11 for 16 points. Ashley Sofilkanich scored 13 points. American's Anna LeMaster scored 19 points on 5-of-16 shooting.

Notable CAREER HIGHS SET vs. AMERICAN
Blake Matthews - Assists (11) & Points (17)

STREAKS OF NOTE
Blake Matthews - Starts (17)
Ashley O'Connor- Starts (23)
Ashley Sofilkanich - Starts (27)

Up Next

Bucknell, if victorious, will play the winner of the Lehigh-Loyola game on March 14.

Women's Basketball Plays Holy Cross in Patriot League Quarterfinals

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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