Women's Basketball Faces League Leading Lehigh in Midweek Matchup

LEWISBURG, Pa.- The Bucknell Bison (14-10, 8-4 Patriot League) ensconced in third place with Colgate travels to Bethlehem to face the league leading Lehigh Mountain Hawks (21-4, 12-1 Patriot League) in a pivotal Patriot League bout on Wednesday night. The Orange & Blue are one game behind Army and will face the Black Knights this Saturday. The Bison have won three straight games and six of its last seven contests - its only loss came in an overtime defeat to Navy. The Keystone Clash foes will duel for the 102nd time when the game starts and is Bucknell's longest rivalry. Bucknell owns a 52-49 series lead. Lehigh won the first meeting 65-53 in Sojka Pavilion - the opening conference game. The tip is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Game Notes

What: Bucknell at Lehigh
When: Wednesday, February 19 at 6 p.m.
Where: Bethlehem, Pa.- Stabler Arena
Streaming: ESPN+
Radio: 90.5 WVBU
Live Statistics: lehighsports.com

Last Game's Starters:
R-Jr. G: Sophia Sabino (7.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 3.5 apg)
Sr. F/G: Isabella King (9.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.2 apg)
So. F: Ashley Sofilkanich (20.1 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 3.2 apg)
So. F: Tuana Coskun (7.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.6 apg)
Fr. G/F: Reese Zemitis (9.5 ppg, 3.10 rpg, 0.9 apg)

WITH A WIN OVER LEHIGH, BUCKNELL WOULD...
• ... improve to 15-10 on the season
• ... improve to 6-7 on the road
• ... improve to 53-49 all-time against the Mountain Hawks
• ... improve to 11-6 all-time against the Mountain Hawks under Woodruff
• ... improve to 98-62 overall under Woodruff
• ... improve to 43-38 on the road under Woodruff

HEADLINES
• Bucknell conquered its third straight opponent and swept Lafayette on the year after winning 62-51 on Saturday. The Bison led for 38 minutes and never trailed. Lafayette tied the game twice in the third quarter but the Orange & Blue responded with a 10-0 run to clinch the victory. The Bison improved to 9-4 in conference and 14-10 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 11th nationally in blocks per game (2.4) and 21st 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 LEHIGH
• Lehigh finished 17-13 overall and 9-9 in the Patriot League in 2023-24. They received the fifth seed in a crowded and parity-filled Patriot League Tournament. They faced fourth-seeded Loyola (Md.) in the quarterfinals and lost 58-51 dropping to 0-3 against the Greyhounds.
• The Mountain Hawks started the season 9-3 with a signature victory over Big Ten foe Northwestern (home of Bucknell transfer Grace Sullivan). They haven't missed a beat in Patriot League play going 12-1 with one loss (70-66) to Colgate.
• Lehigh's roster holds 14 players with two transfers, one of which is former Bucknell member, Remi Sisselman.
• The Bison and the Mountain Hawks share one common non-conference opponent (Hofstra) this season. Lehigh defeated the Pride while Bucknell fell to the Long Island team.
• Lehigh was picked to finish third in the ten-team Patriot League due to their 11 returners and top seven scorers. They have instead hold firm control of first place.
• Addie Micir is 55-31 in her three seasons at Lehigh.

SERIES HISTORY with THE MOUNTAIN HAWKS
• This is the 102nd meeting between Bucknell and Lehigh.
• The series is the longest played Bucknell rivalry and dates back to 1977.
• Trevor Woodruff is 10-6 all-time against the Mountain Hawks.

Series History with Lehigh (Last Six Meetings)
1/5/23        at Lehigh                L, 51-64
2/22/23 Lehigh                    L, 72-84
3/6/23        at Lehigh (PLT)      L, 53-63
1/10/24      Lehigh                    L, 63-69
2/14/24 at Lehigh                W, 54-49
1/2/25        Lehigh                    L, 52-64

Series Record: 52-49
Record at Home: 27-21
Record at Lehigh: 23-26
Neutral Site Record: 2-2
Trevor Woodruff Record: 10-6
Current Streak: Lehigh W1
Longest Bucknell Winning Streak: 9 games

Last Time Out
• Bucknell led for 38 minutes and never trailed in the 62-51 win over Lafayette. The Bison built an early lead before Lafayette crept within two (32-30) at halftime. Lafayette tied the game twice in the third quarter but a 10-0 Bison run ended any chance for the Leopards. The Bison rode the wave to the double-digit win. The result moved Bucknell to 14-10 overall and maintained a tie for third place with Colgate in the Patriot League standings.
• Bucknell shot 39.7% (23-of-58) despite hitting 50.0% (9-of-18) from the three-point line. Lafayette went 39.3% (22-of-56) from the field. The Bison out-rebounded the Leopards, 38-28 and both teams had ten turnovers.
• Ashley Sofilkanich scored 20 points to lead Bison. Isabella King tallied 14 points and gathered ten rebounds for her first career double-double. King's four treys moved her into a tie for sixth place on Bucknell's career top ten list with 138. Teresa Kiewiet led Lafayette with 13 points.

Notable CAREER HIGHS SET vs. LAFAYETTE
Isabella King - Rebounds (10) & First Career Double-Double

STREAKS OF NOTE
Tuana Coskun - Starts (24)
Isabella King - Starts (24)
Ashley Sofilkanich - Starts (52) & Double-Digit Scoring Games (8)
Reese Zemitis - Starts (14) & Double-Digit Scoring Games (6)

MORE MILESTONES UNEARTHED
• Isabella King reached 700 career points on the nose with a career-high 22 tallies versus Navy on Feb. 1, 2025 and sits at 744 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 138 career three-pointers - tied for sixth all-time with Lauren Schober.
• Ashley Sofilkanich passed the 800-point mark against Navy on Feb. 1, 2025. She currently sits at 870 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

The Bison head to West Point to face the Black Knights in their fortress on Saturday.

Women's Basketball Faces League Leading Lehigh in Midweek Matchup

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Players Mentioned

Tuana Coskun

Nicole Davis

Caroline Dingler

Isabella King

Julie Kulesza

Kaylee Reinbeau

Sophia Sabino

Ashley Sofilkanich

Grace Sullivan

Reese Zemitis