Women's Basketball Hosts Boston in Saturday Showdown at Sojka

Photo by: Lianne Garrahan

Women's Basketball Hosts Boston in Saturday Showdown at Sojka

1/24/2025 11:08:00 AM | Women's Basketball

LEWISBURG, Pa.- The Bucknell Bison (9-9, 4-3 Patriot League) remains in cozy Sojka Pavilion to face fellow BU school Boston University (7-11, 1-6 Patriot League) in a Saturday showdown. The Orange & Blue rebounded to defeat Colgate 71-67 in overtime on Wednesday thereby snapping a two-game losing streak and returning the Bison to .500 overall. It was Bucknell's first win in 2024-25 while trailing at halftime. The Bison and the Terriers are facing off for the 21st time. Bucknell owns the 13-7 series lead and swept Boston last year. The tip is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Game Notes

What: Bucknell vs. Boston University
When: Saturday, January 25 at 2 p.m.
Where: Lewisburg, Pa.- Sojka Pavilion
Streaming: ESPN+
Radio: 90.5 WVBU
Live Statistics: bucknellbison.com

Last Game's Starters:
R-Jr. G: Sophia Sabino (6.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.5 apg)
Sr. F/G: Isabella King (7.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.3 apg)
So. F: Ashley Sofilkanich (20.1 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 2.4 apg)
So. F: Tuana Coskun (7.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.6 apg)
Fr. G/F: Reese Zemitis (8.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.8 apg)

WITH A WIN OVER BOSTON, BUCKNELL WOULD...
• ... improve to 10-9 on the season
• ... improve to 7-2 at home
• ... improve to 14-7 all-time against the Terriers
• ... improve to 4-5 all-time against the Terriers under Woodruff
• ... improve to 93-61 overall under Woodruff
• ... improve to 52-21 at home under Woodruff

HEADLINES
• The Bison ended its two game losing skid with a 71-67 overtime triumph over the Colgate Raiders. Ashley Sofilkanich scored a career-high 44 points tying Molly Creamer's single-game Bucknell record in the win. Her point total set the Sojka Pavilion record. The Bison needed every one of her 44 points as the Raiders led at halftime and rallied to send the game to overtime. Sofilkanich scored 10 of Bucknell's 11 points in overtime.
• Sofilkanich earned three slots on the 2023-24 All-Patriot Defensive, Rookie, and Third Teams. She is the first Bison to do so.
• Sofilkanich ranks ninth nationally in blocks per game (2.53).
• The Orange & Blue have nine newcomers (six freshmen & three transfers) on the roster.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

SCOUTING BOSTON
• Boston finished 20-12 overall and 10-8 in the Patriot League in 2023-24. The Terriers earned the third seed in the Patriot League Tournament. They ousted sixth seed Army in the quarterfinals and took out second seeded Colgate in the semifinals. Their run ended with a six-point loss to the top seeded Holy Cross Crusaders in the Patriot League Championship Game.
• The Terriers posted a winning record in non-conference play going 6-5 against a heavy dose of New England foes including #2 UConn. Boston started Patriot League play 0-2 before beating American and has never found its footing sitting at 1-6 in the PL and 7-11 overall.
• Boston's roster holds 16 players with three transfers. They rely heavily on international talent with six players from outside the United States with five from Europe and one from Canada.
• The Bison and the Terriers shared zero common non-conference foes in 2024-25.
• Boston was picked to finish fifth in the ten-team Patriot League and received two first place votes. Senior guard Alex Giannaros slotted on the Preseason All-League Team. She received First Team honors in 2023-24.
• Melissa Graves is 68-46 in her four seasons at Boston.

SERIES HISTORY with THE TERRIERS
• This is the 21st meeting between Bucknell and Boston.
• The series started in 2014 when the Terriers joined the Patriot League.
• Trevor Woodruff is 3-5 all-time against the Terriers.

Series History with Boston (Last Six Meetings)
2/2/22        Boston                L, 58-67
2/26/22 at Boston           L, 51-69
1/2/23        at Boston           L, 47-68
2/18/23   Boston                L, 57-66
1/17/24 Boston W, 61-52
2/10/24 at Boston           W, 71-60

Series Record: 13-7
Record at Home: 7-2
Record at Boston: 6-5
Neutral Site Record: 0-0
Trevor Woodruff Record: 3-5
Current Streak: Bucknell W2
Longest Bucknell Winning Streak: 9 games

Last Time Out
• Bucknell improved to 4-3 in conference play with a 71-67 overtime victory over the Colgate Raiders giving the Bison the season series. The Bison tied 27-26 at halftime but rallied to grab a 57-52 lead late in the fourth quarter. Colgate countered to send the game to overtime. Bucknell remained calm and scored 11 points, ten of which were provided by Ashley Sofilkanich. The result returned Bucknell to .500 overall (9-9).
• Bucknell shot 50.0% (27-of-54). Bucknell's three-point shooting was also 50.0% as the team went 2-of-4. Colgate hit 37.3% (22-of-59) of its chances. The Bison out-rebounded the Raiders, 34-32.
• Ashley Sofilkanich scored a career-high 44 points on 16-of-27 shooting and 12-of-16 from the charity stripe. She tied Molly Creamer's single-game Bucknell record and set the Sojka Pavilion mark. Morgan McMahon led Colgate with 16 points.

Notable CAREER HIGHS SET vs. COLGATE
Ashley Sofilkanich - Points (44), Field Goals Made (16), Free Throws Made (12)

STREAKS OF NOTE
Tuana Coskun - Starts (18)
Isabella King - Starts (18)
Ashley Sofilkanich - Starts (46)

MORE MILESTONES UNEARTHED
• Isabella King reached 600 career points against Dartmouth on Dec. 6, 2024 and currently has 667 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 126 career three-pointers - sitting eighth all-time.
• Ashley Sofilkanich passed the 700-point mark against Navy on Jan. 18, 2025. She currently sits at 750 points. She tied Molly Creamer's Bucknell single-game point record (44) against Colgate. She also set the Sojka Pavilion record for points (44) and field goals made (16).
• Trevor Woodruff reached the 200 career win mark as a women's basketball head coach after defeating Vermont on Dec. 4, 2024.

MOLLY CREAMER ON SOFILKANICH

"I was absolutely thrilled to hear about Ashley's incredible performance! It was especially meaningful to see that every basket she scored mattered as she helped her team pull out a huge win in overtime against a very strong conference opponent. I had the pleasure of watching Bucknell play at Merrimack this year and it was immediately evident what an excellent player Ashley is, and I am so excited for her and the team's future.

I also loved her show appreciation for her teammates in last night's game, many of whom played over 40 minutes, as she knows, just as I do, that you don't score without the entire team and coaching staff – it is truly a team effort.

Ashley is such a phenomenal player with unlimited potential, especially as just a sophomore. She also seems to be a super nice kid, taking the time to say hello to an old-timer like me at the Merrimack game. I am so happy for her and the team and I am sending heartfelt congratulations from both myself and Bison Nation. I hope to see her and the team break many more records in the years to come! We're excited and rooting for them every step of the way!"

Up Next

The Bison return to the road to play preseason favorite Loyola (Md.) on Jan. 29.