Monday, November 3
University Park, Pa.
5 p.m.
Bucknell University
at
Penn State
Photo by: Lianne Garrahan
Women's Basketball Opens 2025-26 Season at Penn State
10/31/2025 11:02:00 AM | Women's Basketball
LEWISBURG, Pa. — The Bucknell women's basketball team is on the road for its season opening game at Penn State on Monday, Nov. 3 at 5 p.m. in the Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions currently hold an 11-0 overall record over the Bison that began in 1973. Last season, Penn State defeated Bucknell 90-68 in the season opener.
What: Bucknell at Penn State
When: Monday, Nov. 3 at 5 p.m.
Where: University Park, Pa. – Rec Hall
Streaming: B1G+
Radio: 90.5 WVBU
Live Statistics: gopsusports.com
A Bison Win Would…
- Improve Bucknell's record to 1-0 on the season.
- Improve the Bison's record on the road to 1-0 on the season.
- Give the Bison its first win over Penn State and improve their overall record to 1-11.
- Improve Bucknell's record to 1-2 against Penn State under Woodruff.
- Improve to 101-66 overall under Woodruff.
Bucknell at a Glance
- Bucknell opens its 2025-26 season at Penn State on Monday, Nov. 3 at 5 p.m.
- The Bison finished their 2024-25 season 17-14 overall with an 11-7 Patriot League record.
- In its last time out, Bucknell fell to Army in the Patriot League semifinals by a score of 49-39. The Bison made it to the semis by defeating Colgate in the quarterfinals 63-58.
- The Bison returned eight players from last season and lost four to a combination of graduation and the transfer portal.
- Bucknell welcomed five newcomers to the squad ahead of the 2025-26 season; four freshman and one sophomore transfer.
- Sophomore Reese Zemitis returns to the Bison after a stellar freshman campaign earned her 2024-25 All-Patriot League Rookie Team honors.
- Bucknell was picked seventh in the 2025-26 Patriot League Preseason Poll. This is a step above last season, when they were picked eighth and finished sixth.
- The Bison did not place any members on the Preseason All-Patriot League Team this season.
- Junior Tuana Coskun was named captain of the Bison for the 2025- 26 season.
- Bucknell women's basketball is entering its seventh season under head coach Trevor Woodruff. Woodruff was named Patriot League Coach of the Year in his first two seasons.
- In addition to Woodruff and returning assistant coaches Edward Joyner Jr. and Shelby Case, the Bison had two new additions to their coaching staff in the off-season. Lauren Holden joined the Bison as the associate head coach and Danielle Patterson joined Bucknell as an assistant coach.
Penn State at a Glance
- Penn State is coming off of a 10-19 overall season with a 1-17 BIG 10 record.
- In their last time out, the Nittany Lions fell to Rutgers 75-70 in New Jersey.
- Last season, Gracie Merkle led the team in points with 433 on the season. She finished 2024/25 shooting 67% from the field and 60.2% on free-throws. She also averaged 8.6 rebounds per game, recorded 33 assists, 41 blocks and five steals.
- Moriah Murray led the team in three-pointers last season as she recorded 71. Her shooting percentage from three was 37.8%. She also went 42-of-57 on her free-throws. • The Nittany Lions averaged 72.1 points per game, 17.7 assists per game and 37.6 rebounds per game during the 2024/25 season.
- Penn State averaged 46.1% from the field, 34.7% from three and 69.6%.
Series History with the Nittany Lions
- This is the 12th meeting between the Bison and the Nittany Lions.
- Penn State leads the series 11-0.
Last Five Meetings with Penn State
- Penn State W, 90-68 (11/4/24)
- Penn State W, 94-51 (11/7/23)
- Penn State W, 92-49 (11/20/13)
- Penn State W, 78-54 (12/21/11)*
- Penn State W, 96-48 (12/28/10)
* - In Lewisburg
Bucknell's Last Time Out
- Bucknell's season ended with a 49-39 defeat to Army in the Patriot League Women's Basketball Tournament semifinals on Thursday, March 13. The Bison offense never found a groove and the Black Knights bunched together enough points to advance to the Patriot League Championship Game.
- Both teams' shooting was pretty cold throughout the contest. Bucknell shot 15-of-46 (32.6) and Army hit 17-of-55 (30.9). The Bison only hit two three-pointers, while Army's four were few, but critical in situation and timing.
- The Bison started the game strong, building leads of 8-4 and 13-8. Army ended the first quarter on a 6-0 run to grab the advantage.
- Bucknell regained the lead 15-14 in the second quarter when Reese Zemitis hit a pull-up jump shot. The lead lasted 31 seconds before Reese Ericson hit a three-pointer after an offensive rebound. That proved to be a game trend. Army gathered 13 offensive rebounds to Bucknell's four and generated 11 second chance points to the Bison's two.
- Bucknell lost the lead in the second quarter, when the team was held to four points. The Black Knights never yielded the lead again and kept ahead by 7-to-11 points for most of the game.
Inside the Record Book
- Reese Zemitis holds sixth place in three-pointers made in a single season with 62 in 2024/25 and fifth place in three-point attempts in a single season with 169 in 2024/25.
Milestone Watch
- Tuana Coskun is seven made field goals away from 100 field goals made at Bucknell.
- Anna Kunzwiler is 40 rebounds away from 100 at Bucknell.
- Elana Weisman is two-points away from 100 and 18 rebounds away from 100.
- Reese Zemitis is one made field goal away from 100 and 38 three pointers away from 100.
Up Next
The Bison will stay on the road for a non-conference contest against Virginia in Charlottesville on Sunday, Nov. 9 at 2 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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