
Photo by: Steven Schoenfelder
Bison Women Head to Holy Cross for Wednesday Night Matchup
1/14/2025 12:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LEWISBURG, Pa.-Â Bucknell (8-7, 3-1 Patriot League) enters Wednesday matchup against the Holy Cross Crusaders (10-5, 3-1 Patriot League) seeking its fourth consecutive conference victory after starting 0-1 in league play. The Bison have won all three games by double-digits and look to break Holy Cross's five-game winning streak in the series. The Crusaders own the all-time record 52-26. Holy Cross won all three games last year including a 61-56 triumph in the Patriot League Quarterfinals. The tip is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Game Notes
What: Bucknell at Holy Cross
When:Â Wednesday, January 15 at 6 p.m.
Where:Â Worcester, Mass.- Hart Center
Streaming:Â ESPN+
Radio:Â 90.5 WVBU
Live Statistics:Â goholycross.com
Last Game's Starters:
R-Jr. G: Sophia Sabino (6.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.4 apg)
Sr. F/G: Isabella King (8.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.4 apg)
So. F: Ashley Sofilkanich (19.3 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 2.5 apg)
So. F: Tuana Coskun (7.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.9 apg)
Fr. G/F: Reese Zemitis (9.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 0.9 apg)
WITH A WIN OVER HOLY CROSS, BUCKNELL WOULD...
• ... improve to 9-7 on the season
• ... improve to 4-5 on the road
• ... improve to 27-52 all-time against the Crusaders
• ... improve to 4-6 against the Crusaders under Woodruff
• ... improve to 92-59 overall under Woodruff
• ... improve to 41-36 on the road under Woodruff
HEADLINES
• Bucknell handled American 65-50 for its third straight conference victory. The game was tied 29-29 at halftime but the Bison rallied for a massive second half to keep the Eagles winless.Â
• Ashley Sofilkanich won her third Patriot League Player of the Week award (1/13) after scoring 51 points in the Bison's 2-0 week. She tallied a career-high 29 points in the win over American and gained two double-doubles.
• Sofilkanich earned three slots on the 2023-24 All-Patriot Defensive, Rookie, and Third Teams. She is the first Bison to do so.Â
• Sofilkanich ranks seventh nationally in blocks per game (2.70).
• The Orange & Blue have nine newcomers (six freshmen & three transfers) on the roster.Â
• 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. Â
• 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.Â
• 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.Â
• 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. She has been on fire this  season averaging 20.9 ppg and 6.5 rpg. Â
• Tessa Brugler became the second active former Bison to sign overseas when she inked a deal with Balencesto Miralvalle Club, in picturesque Plasencia, Spain. The team plays in the Spanish Liga Femenina (LF2) league - the third tier of Spanish professional basketball. She currently averages 9.9 ppg and 10.6 rpg.
• 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 played in the WNBA and overseas professional leagues. She was dubbed "The Queens of Steals" for her defensive prowess at Georgia.Â
• 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.Â
SCOUTING HOLY CROSS
• Holy Cross finished 21-13 overall and 11-7 in the Patriot League in 2023-24. The Crusaders earned the #1 seed and won three games for the tournament title including a 61-56 victory over Bucknell in the quarterfinals. They defeated Tennessee Martin in the First Four before falling to Iowa in the Opening Round of the NCAA Tournament.  Â
• The Crusaders have started 10-5 overall and 3-1 in conference play. They played a regional non-conference schedule never leaving New England. The headline game was a defeat to #2 UConn. Holy Cross's only conference loss came to Navy.Â
• Holy Cross's roster has 13 players with one transfer. Two players hail from Saint John Vianney the high school Bucknell star Ashley Sofilkanich attended.Â
• The Bison and the Crusaders share one common non-conference foe in 2024-25 in Vermont. The Crusaders's banner fell to the Catamounts while Bucknell triumphed.  Â
• Holy Cross was picked to finish sixth in the ten-team Patriot League after graduation impacted the roster. No Crusaders made the Preseason All-League Team.
• Candice Green is 10-5 in her first season at Holy Cross. Her reign started with the surprising summer departure of the previous head coach Maureen Magarity.
SERIES HISTORY with THE CRUSADERS
• This is the 79th meeting between Bucknell and Holy Cross.
• The series originated in 1991 with the formation of the Patriot League.Â
• Trevor Woodruff is 3-6 all-time against Holy Cross and has lost the last five contests.
Series History with Holy Cross (Last Six Meetings)Â
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)
3/11/24Â Â Â Â Â Â Â at Holy Cross (PLT)Â Â Â Â Â L, 56-61
Series Record: 26-52
Record at Home: 17-19
Record at Holy Cross: 8-31
Neutral Site Record: 1-2
Trevor Woodruff Record: 3-6
Current Streak: Holy Cross W5
Longest Bucknell Winning Streak: 4 games
Last Time Out
• Bucknell improved to 3-1 in conference play with a 65-50 victory over American. The two teams were tied at 29-29 at halftime but the Bison outscored the Eagles 36-21 in the second half. It was the Orange & Blue's third straight double-digit win and moved the Bison above .500 for the first time since the Dartmouth win. Â
• The Bison shot 41.8% (23-of-55). The Bison went 11-of-12 (91.7%) from the free throw line. American hit 19 shots on 56 attempts (33.9%). The Eagles out-rebounded Bucknell, 40-28 but had 15 turnovers to the Bison's six. Â
• Ashley Sofilkanich scored a career-high 29 points and collected ten rebounds for her tenth career double-double. Reese Zemitis tallied 11 points for her fifth straight double-digit scoring output. Sophia Sabino provided ten points. Cecilia Kay recorded 16 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead the Eagles.  Â
Notable CAREER HIGHS SET vs. AMERICAN
Ashley Sofilkanich - Points (29)
STREAKS OF NOTE
Tuana Coskun - Starts (15)
Isabella King - Starts (15)
Ashley Sofilkanich - Double Digit Scoring Games (14) & Starts (43)
Reese Zemitis - Double-Digit Scoring Games (5)
MORE MILESTONES UNEARTHED
• Isabella King reached 600 career points against Dartmouth on Dec. 6, 2024 and currently has 654 overall. King broke into the top ten for career three-pointers with 111 when she hit three versus Robert Morris on November, 29, 2024. She now has 124 career three-pointers - sitting tied for eighth all-time with Kate Walker (2015-2019). Â
• Ashley Sofilkanich passed the 600-point mark against Lehigh on Jan. 2, 2025. She currently sits at 677 points. Sofilkanich hit 100 career blocks against American on Jan. 11, 2025 ranking eighth all-time.Â
• Trevor Woodruff reached the 200 career win mark as a women's basketball head coach after defeating Vermont on Dec. 4, 2024.Â
Up Next
The Bison remain on the road setting sail to face league-leading Navy on Jan. 18.Â
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Game Notes
What: Bucknell at Holy Cross
When:Â Wednesday, January 15 at 6 p.m.
Where:Â Worcester, Mass.- Hart Center
Streaming:Â ESPN+
Radio:Â 90.5 WVBU
Live Statistics:Â goholycross.com
Last Game's Starters:
R-Jr. G: Sophia Sabino (6.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.4 apg)
Sr. F/G: Isabella King (8.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.4 apg)
So. F: Ashley Sofilkanich (19.3 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 2.5 apg)
So. F: Tuana Coskun (7.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.9 apg)
Fr. G/F: Reese Zemitis (9.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 0.9 apg)
WITH A WIN OVER HOLY CROSS, BUCKNELL WOULD...
• ... improve to 9-7 on the season
• ... improve to 4-5 on the road
• ... improve to 27-52 all-time against the Crusaders
• ... improve to 4-6 against the Crusaders under Woodruff
• ... improve to 92-59 overall under Woodruff
• ... improve to 41-36 on the road under Woodruff
HEADLINES
• Bucknell handled American 65-50 for its third straight conference victory. The game was tied 29-29 at halftime but the Bison rallied for a massive second half to keep the Eagles winless.Â
• Ashley Sofilkanich won her third Patriot League Player of the Week award (1/13) after scoring 51 points in the Bison's 2-0 week. She tallied a career-high 29 points in the win over American and gained two double-doubles.
• Sofilkanich earned three slots on the 2023-24 All-Patriot Defensive, Rookie, and Third Teams. She is the first Bison to do so.Â
• Sofilkanich ranks seventh nationally in blocks per game (2.70).
• The Orange & Blue have nine newcomers (six freshmen & three transfers) on the roster.Â
• 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. Â
• 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.Â
• 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.Â
• 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. She has been on fire this  season averaging 20.9 ppg and 6.5 rpg. Â
• Tessa Brugler became the second active former Bison to sign overseas when she inked a deal with Balencesto Miralvalle Club, in picturesque Plasencia, Spain. The team plays in the Spanish Liga Femenina (LF2) league - the third tier of Spanish professional basketball. She currently averages 9.9 ppg and 10.6 rpg.
• 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 played in the WNBA and overseas professional leagues. She was dubbed "The Queens of Steals" for her defensive prowess at Georgia.Â
• 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.Â
SCOUTING HOLY CROSS
• Holy Cross finished 21-13 overall and 11-7 in the Patriot League in 2023-24. The Crusaders earned the #1 seed and won three games for the tournament title including a 61-56 victory over Bucknell in the quarterfinals. They defeated Tennessee Martin in the First Four before falling to Iowa in the Opening Round of the NCAA Tournament.  Â
• The Crusaders have started 10-5 overall and 3-1 in conference play. They played a regional non-conference schedule never leaving New England. The headline game was a defeat to #2 UConn. Holy Cross's only conference loss came to Navy.Â
• Holy Cross's roster has 13 players with one transfer. Two players hail from Saint John Vianney the high school Bucknell star Ashley Sofilkanich attended.Â
• The Bison and the Crusaders share one common non-conference foe in 2024-25 in Vermont. The Crusaders's banner fell to the Catamounts while Bucknell triumphed.  Â
• Holy Cross was picked to finish sixth in the ten-team Patriot League after graduation impacted the roster. No Crusaders made the Preseason All-League Team.
• Candice Green is 10-5 in her first season at Holy Cross. Her reign started with the surprising summer departure of the previous head coach Maureen Magarity.
SERIES HISTORY with THE CRUSADERS
• This is the 79th meeting between Bucknell and Holy Cross.
• The series originated in 1991 with the formation of the Patriot League.Â
• Trevor Woodruff is 3-6 all-time against Holy Cross and has lost the last five contests.
Series History with Holy Cross (Last Six Meetings)Â
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)
3/11/24Â Â Â Â Â Â Â at Holy Cross (PLT)Â Â Â Â Â L, 56-61
Series Record: 26-52
Record at Home: 17-19
Record at Holy Cross: 8-31
Neutral Site Record: 1-2
Trevor Woodruff Record: 3-6
Current Streak: Holy Cross W5
Longest Bucknell Winning Streak: 4 games
Last Time Out
• Bucknell improved to 3-1 in conference play with a 65-50 victory over American. The two teams were tied at 29-29 at halftime but the Bison outscored the Eagles 36-21 in the second half. It was the Orange & Blue's third straight double-digit win and moved the Bison above .500 for the first time since the Dartmouth win. Â
• The Bison shot 41.8% (23-of-55). The Bison went 11-of-12 (91.7%) from the free throw line. American hit 19 shots on 56 attempts (33.9%). The Eagles out-rebounded Bucknell, 40-28 but had 15 turnovers to the Bison's six. Â
• Ashley Sofilkanich scored a career-high 29 points and collected ten rebounds for her tenth career double-double. Reese Zemitis tallied 11 points for her fifth straight double-digit scoring output. Sophia Sabino provided ten points. Cecilia Kay recorded 16 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead the Eagles.  Â
Notable CAREER HIGHS SET vs. AMERICAN
Ashley Sofilkanich - Points (29)
STREAKS OF NOTE
Tuana Coskun - Starts (15)
Isabella King - Starts (15)
Ashley Sofilkanich - Double Digit Scoring Games (14) & Starts (43)
Reese Zemitis - Double-Digit Scoring Games (5)
MORE MILESTONES UNEARTHED
• Isabella King reached 600 career points against Dartmouth on Dec. 6, 2024 and currently has 654 overall. King broke into the top ten for career three-pointers with 111 when she hit three versus Robert Morris on November, 29, 2024. She now has 124 career three-pointers - sitting tied for eighth all-time with Kate Walker (2015-2019). Â
• Ashley Sofilkanich passed the 600-point mark against Lehigh on Jan. 2, 2025. She currently sits at 677 points. Sofilkanich hit 100 career blocks against American on Jan. 11, 2025 ranking eighth all-time.Â
• Trevor Woodruff reached the 200 career win mark as a women's basketball head coach after defeating Vermont on Dec. 4, 2024.Â
Up Next
The Bison remain on the road setting sail to face league-leading Navy on Jan. 18.Â
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Players Mentioned
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