Women's Basketball Faces Lafayette On Saturday

LEWISBURG, Pa.- The Bucknell Bison (13-10, 8-4 Patriot League) are tied for third place with Colgate and Holy Cross and one game behind Army for second in the tightly competitive Patriot League. The Bison will attempt to keep pace when they welcome Keystone State rival Lafayette (7-16, 4-8 Patriot League) for a Saturday afternoon showdown. Bucknell has won two straight games and five of its last six after defeating Boston 67-63 last Wednesday. This is the 95th meeting between the Commonwealth foes. The Orange & Blue owns the 55-39 series advantage and have won the last three contests. The two teams clashed earlier this year in Easton and Bucknell emerged victorious 64-48. The tip is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Game Notes

What: Bucknell vs. Lafayette
When: Saturday, February 15 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 (7.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 3.6 apg)
Sr. F/G: Isabella King (8.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.2 apg)
So. F: Ashley Sofilkanich (20.1 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 3.2 apg)
So. F: Tuana Coskun (7.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.6 apg)
Fr. G/F: Reese Zemitis (9.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.9 apg)

WITH A WIN OVER LAFAYETTE, BUCKNELL WOULD...
• ... improve to 14-10 on the season
• ... improve to 9-3 at home
• ... improve to 56-39 all-time against the Leopards
• ... improve to 11-1 all-time against the Leopards under Woodruff
• ... improve to 97-62 overall under Woodruff
• ... improve to 53-22 at home under Woodruff

HEADLINES
• Bucknell won its second straight game and five out of the last six by defeating Boston 67-63 up in Beantown. The Bison trailed early but grabbed the second quarter lead and never fell behind again. Boston made a late run and cut the deficit to four points but Bucknell held on for the crucial win. The Bison improved to 8-4 in conference and 13-10 overall.
• Ashley Sofilkanich was named to the USBWA Top 50 Midseason Watch List for the Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Year Award. The Bison forward was one of 11 mid-major players to earn the honor and only one of two Patriot League hoopers to notch the laurel.
• 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 (2.4) and 16th in points per game (20.5).
• 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 20.4 ppg and 6.4 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 8.9 ppg and 9.4 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 LAFAYETTE
• Lafayette finished 10-20 overall and 5-13 in the Patriot League in 2023-24. The Leopards placed last in the conference and received the #10 seed. They drew #7 Navy in the Patriot League Tournament First Round and lost 67-45.
• The Leopards sit at 7-16 overall and 4-8 in conference play for seventh place. Their most recent conference win came over American and now are two games above eighth place.
• Lafayette roster has 13 players with two transfers including former Bucknell member, Rosie Scognamiglio.
• The Bison and the Leopards shared two common non-conference foes in 2024-25 in Dartmouth and FDU. Lafayette lost to both teams while Bucknell beat Dartmouth and lost to FDU.
• Lafayette was picked to finish ninth in the ten-team Patriot League. No Leopards made the Preseason All-League Team.
• Kia Damon-Olson is 78-137 in her eight seasons at Lafayette and is currently one of the longest tenured coaches in the circuit.

SERIES HISTORY with THE LEOPARDS
• This is the 95th meeting between Bucknell and Lafayette.
• The series originated in 1977 and remains one of Bucknell's oldest rivalries.
• Trevor Woodruff is 10-1 all-time against the Leopards.

Series History with Lafayette (Last Six Meetings)
2/19/22   at Lafayette           W, 68-60 (OT)
1/8/23      Lafayette                W, 56-44
2/25/23   at Lafayette           L, 69-61
1/20/24   Lafayette                W, 65-58
3/2/24      at Lafayette           W, 56-45
1/8/25      at Lafayette           W, 64-48

Series Record: 55-39
Record at Home: 32-13
Record at Lafayette: 23-23
Neutral Site Record: 0-3
Trevor Woodruff Record: 10-1
Current Streak: Bucknell W3
Longest Bucknell Winning Streak: 17 games

Last Time Out
• The Bison won a grinding 67-63 road triumph over Boston University. The Terriers led 14-11 before Bucknell grabbed the lead and never trailed again. The Bison held a 30-23 halftime lead and grew its advantage to 40-29 before Boston started to trim the deficit. The Terriers got within as close as 63-59 before Bucknell shut the door with timely free throws. The result moved Bucknell to 13-10 overall and created a three-way tie for third place with Colgate and Holy Cross in the Patriot League standings.
• Bucknell shot 52.0% (26-of-50) despite only shooting 36.4% (8-of-22) from the three-point line. Boston went 47.7% (21-of-44) from the field. The Bison out-rebounded the Terriers, 24-23 and both teams had 11 turnovers.
• Five Bison scored in double-digits for the first time since March 2022. Reese Zemitis led the way with 14 points. Three players (Tuana Coskun, Isabella King, and Sophia Sabino) scored 13. Ashley Sofilkanich tallied 11 points. Aoibhe Gormley led Boston with 16 points.

STREAKS OF NOTE
Tuana Coskun - Starts (23)
Isabella King - Starts (23)
Ashley Sofilkanich - Starts (51) & Straight Games of 10+ Points (6)
Reese Zemitis - Starts (13)

MORE MILESTONES UNEARTHED
• Isabella King reached 700 career points on the nose with a career-high 22 versus Navy on Feb. 1, 2025 and sits at 730 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 134 career three-pointers - sitting tied for seventh all-time with Kaitlyn Slagus.
• Ashley Sofilkanich passed the 800-point mark against Navy on Feb. 1, 2025. She currently sits at 850 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.

Up Next

Bucknell hits the road to face league-leading Lehigh on Feb. 18 in a game with massive implications on the Patriot League standings.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Tuana Coskun

Nicole Davis

Caroline Dingler

Isabella King

Julie Kulesza

Kaylee Reinbeau

Sophia Sabino

Rosie Scognamiglio

Ashley Sofilkanich

Reese Zemitis