Photo by: Steven Schoenfelder
Bucknell Faces Preseason League Favorite Loyola (Md.) in Wednesday Test
2/25/2025 12:11:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LEWISBURG, Pa.- The Bucknell Bison (14-12, 9-6 Patriot League) remained tied for fourth place with Holy Cross as the conference schedule enters its final three contests. The Orange & Blue have two home games remaining followed by the season-closer at American. The Bison are fighting for a top four seed and the chance to host a quarterfinal game on March 10. Bucknell has lost two straight games losing to league leading Lehigh and second place Army in road matchups. The team returns to cozy Sojka Pavilion to face preseason league favorite the Loyola (Md.) Greyhounds (9-17, 3-12 Patriot League) in a midweek matchup. The Greyhounds have been hit by injuries but remain tenacious. Bucknell edged Loyola 54-49 earlier this season in Baltimore and owns a 29-8 series lead thanks to the Bison collaring the Greyhounds for 11 straight games. The tip is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Game Notes
What:Â Bucknell vs. Loyola (Md.)
When:Â Wednesday, February 26 at 6 p.m.
Where:Â Lewisburg, Pa.- Sojka Pavilion
Streaming:Â ESPN+
Radio:Â 90.5 WVBU
Live Statistics:Â BucknellBison.com
WITH A WIN OVER LOYOLA, BUCKNELL WOULD...
• ... improve to 15-12 on the season
• ... improve to 10-3 at home
• ... improve to 30-8 all-time against the Greyhounds
• ... improve to 12-1 all-time against the Greyhounds under Woodruff
• ... improve to 98-64 overall under Woodruff
• ... improve to 54-22 at home under Woodruff
HEADLINES
• Bucknell dropped its second straight game 69-54 against the Army Black Knights on Saturday. The Bison led 14-13 after the first quarter but the Cadets rallied to take the lead and never allowed Bucknell to regain it. Army built a 22-point lead before the Bison pared it down to 15 points as time expired. The loss placed Bucknell at 14-12 overall and 9-6 in the Patriot League.
• 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.Â
• Sofilkanich ranks 17th nationally in blocks per game (2.2) and 19th in points per game (20.0).
• 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 20.5 ppg and 7.1 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 9.8 ppg and 10.0 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 LOYOLA (MD.)
• Loyola finished 16-15 overall and 10-8 in the Patriot League in 2023-24 - tied for second which was its best placement in the Patriot League since joining the conference in 2013-14. Due to tiebreakers, they received the fourth seed in the Patriot League Tournament and defeated fifth seeded Lehigh in the quarterfinals before losing to top seeded Holy Cross in the semifinals.
• The Greyhounds posted a winning record in non-conference play going 6-5. Injuries derailed Loyola's season and resulted in the 9-17 record and 3-12 conference mark.Â
• Loyola's roster holds 15 players with zero transfers. Â
• The Bison and the Greyhounds both played Mount St. Mary's in non-conference. Bucknell won while Loyola lost.Â
• Loyola was picked to finish first in the ten-team Patriot League. Senior forward Lex Therien slotted on the Preseason All-League Team and received Preseason Player of the Year but hasn't played since November because of injuries.
• Danielle O'Banion is 40-77 in her four seasons at Loyola (Md.).Â
SERIES HISTORY with THE GREYHOUNDS
• This is the 38th meeting between Bucknell and Loyola (Md.).
• The series started in 1984 before the teams became conference foes.
• Trevor Woodruff is 11-1 all-time against the Greyhounds and has won 11 straight.
Series History with Loyola (Md.) (Last Six Meetings)Â
1/29/22Â Â Â at Loyola (Md.)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â W, 65-40
1/11/23Â Â Â at Loyola (Md.)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â W, 56-50
1/28/23Â Â Â Loyola (Md.)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â W, 73-37
1/31/24Â Â Â at Loyola (Md.)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â W, 61-59
2/28/24Â Â Â Loyola (Md.)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â W, 74-56
1/29/25Â Â Â at Loyola (Md.)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â W, 54-49
Series Record: 29-8
Record at Home: 17-2
Record at Loyola (Md.): 12-5
Neutral Site Record: 0-1
Trevor Woodruff Record: 11-1
Current Streak: Bucknell W11
Longest Bucknell Winning Streak: 11 games
Last Time Out
• Bucknell led 14-13 after the first quarter but fell behind and never paced again in a 69-54 defeat to Army. The Black Knights surged ahead to lead 31-25 at halftime. Army charged out of halftime and kept scoring eventually building a game-high lead of 22 points. The result dropped Bucknell to 14-12 overall keeping the team tied for fourth place with Holy Cross in the Patriot League standings.  Â
• Bucknell shot 48.9% (22-of-45) but were doomed by 16 turnovers. Army went 40.4% (23-of-57) from the field but scored 15 second chance points off 14 offensive rebounds.  Â
• Ashley Sofilkanich led Bucknell with 24 points. Reese Zemitis scored 13 points for her eighth straight double-digit game. Sam Tillson paced the Black Knights with 17 points and Fiona Hastick provided 13.Â
STREAKS OF NOTE
Tuana Coskun - Starts (26)
Isabella King - Starts (26)
Sophia Sabino - Starts (20)
Ashley Sofilkanich - Starts (54) & Double-Digit Scoring Games (10)
Reese Zemitis - Starts (16) & Double-Digit Scoring Games (8)
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 758 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 139 career three-pointers - sixth all-time. Â
• Ashley Sofilkanich passed the 900-point mark against Army on Feb. 24, 2025. She currently sits at 908 points and has a fair shot at reaching 1000 points in two seasons. 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). She ranks fourth in career blocks (118).Â
•Sofilkanich has moved up the single-season charts ranking seventh in blocks (58), eighth in field goals made (198), ninth in points (520), and tied for tenth in free throws made (119).Â
• Reese Zemitis is tied for ninth all-time in single-season three-pointers (52) with Amanda Brown. She sits tenth in single-season three-point attempts (138).Â
• Trevor Woodruff reached the 200 career win mark as a women's basketball head coach after defeating Vermont on Dec. 4, 2024. He is three games away from winning 100 at Bucknell.
Up Next
The Bison conclude the regular season home schedule and celebrate Senior Day this Saturday when the Holy Cross Crusaders journey from Worcester. Isabella King and Sophia Sabino will be honored for their invaluable contributions to the Bucknell women's basketball program.Â
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Game Notes
What:Â Bucknell vs. Loyola (Md.)
When:Â Wednesday, February 26 at 6 p.m.
Where:Â Lewisburg, Pa.- Sojka Pavilion
Streaming:Â ESPN+
Radio:Â 90.5 WVBU
Live Statistics:Â BucknellBison.com
WITH A WIN OVER LOYOLA, BUCKNELL WOULD...
• ... improve to 15-12 on the season
• ... improve to 10-3 at home
• ... improve to 30-8 all-time against the Greyhounds
• ... improve to 12-1 all-time against the Greyhounds under Woodruff
• ... improve to 98-64 overall under Woodruff
• ... improve to 54-22 at home under Woodruff
HEADLINES
• Bucknell dropped its second straight game 69-54 against the Army Black Knights on Saturday. The Bison led 14-13 after the first quarter but the Cadets rallied to take the lead and never allowed Bucknell to regain it. Army built a 22-point lead before the Bison pared it down to 15 points as time expired. The loss placed Bucknell at 14-12 overall and 9-6 in the Patriot League.
• 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.Â
• Sofilkanich ranks 17th nationally in blocks per game (2.2) and 19th in points per game (20.0).
• 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 20.5 ppg and 7.1 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 9.8 ppg and 10.0 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 LOYOLA (MD.)
• Loyola finished 16-15 overall and 10-8 in the Patriot League in 2023-24 - tied for second which was its best placement in the Patriot League since joining the conference in 2013-14. Due to tiebreakers, they received the fourth seed in the Patriot League Tournament and defeated fifth seeded Lehigh in the quarterfinals before losing to top seeded Holy Cross in the semifinals.
• The Greyhounds posted a winning record in non-conference play going 6-5. Injuries derailed Loyola's season and resulted in the 9-17 record and 3-12 conference mark.Â
• Loyola's roster holds 15 players with zero transfers. Â
• The Bison and the Greyhounds both played Mount St. Mary's in non-conference. Bucknell won while Loyola lost.Â
• Loyola was picked to finish first in the ten-team Patriot League. Senior forward Lex Therien slotted on the Preseason All-League Team and received Preseason Player of the Year but hasn't played since November because of injuries.
• Danielle O'Banion is 40-77 in her four seasons at Loyola (Md.).Â
SERIES HISTORY with THE GREYHOUNDS
• This is the 38th meeting between Bucknell and Loyola (Md.).
• The series started in 1984 before the teams became conference foes.
• Trevor Woodruff is 11-1 all-time against the Greyhounds and has won 11 straight.
Series History with Loyola (Md.) (Last Six Meetings)Â
1/29/22Â Â Â at Loyola (Md.)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â W, 65-40
1/11/23Â Â Â at Loyola (Md.)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â W, 56-50
1/28/23Â Â Â Loyola (Md.)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â W, 73-37
1/31/24Â Â Â at Loyola (Md.)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â W, 61-59
2/28/24Â Â Â Loyola (Md.)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â W, 74-56
1/29/25Â Â Â at Loyola (Md.)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â W, 54-49
Series Record: 29-8
Record at Home: 17-2
Record at Loyola (Md.): 12-5
Neutral Site Record: 0-1
Trevor Woodruff Record: 11-1
Current Streak: Bucknell W11
Longest Bucknell Winning Streak: 11 games
Last Time Out
• Bucknell led 14-13 after the first quarter but fell behind and never paced again in a 69-54 defeat to Army. The Black Knights surged ahead to lead 31-25 at halftime. Army charged out of halftime and kept scoring eventually building a game-high lead of 22 points. The result dropped Bucknell to 14-12 overall keeping the team tied for fourth place with Holy Cross in the Patriot League standings.  Â
• Bucknell shot 48.9% (22-of-45) but were doomed by 16 turnovers. Army went 40.4% (23-of-57) from the field but scored 15 second chance points off 14 offensive rebounds.  Â
• Ashley Sofilkanich led Bucknell with 24 points. Reese Zemitis scored 13 points for her eighth straight double-digit game. Sam Tillson paced the Black Knights with 17 points and Fiona Hastick provided 13.Â
STREAKS OF NOTE
Tuana Coskun - Starts (26)
Isabella King - Starts (26)
Sophia Sabino - Starts (20)
Ashley Sofilkanich - Starts (54) & Double-Digit Scoring Games (10)
Reese Zemitis - Starts (16) & Double-Digit Scoring Games (8)
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 758 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 139 career three-pointers - sixth all-time. Â
• Ashley Sofilkanich passed the 900-point mark against Army on Feb. 24, 2025. She currently sits at 908 points and has a fair shot at reaching 1000 points in two seasons. 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). She ranks fourth in career blocks (118).Â
•Sofilkanich has moved up the single-season charts ranking seventh in blocks (58), eighth in field goals made (198), ninth in points (520), and tied for tenth in free throws made (119).Â
• Reese Zemitis is tied for ninth all-time in single-season three-pointers (52) with Amanda Brown. She sits tenth in single-season three-point attempts (138).Â
• Trevor Woodruff reached the 200 career win mark as a women's basketball head coach after defeating Vermont on Dec. 4, 2024. He is three games away from winning 100 at Bucknell.
Up Next
The Bison conclude the regular season home schedule and celebrate Senior Day this Saturday when the Holy Cross Crusaders journey from Worcester. Isabella King and Sophia Sabino will be honored for their invaluable contributions to the Bucknell women's basketball program.Â
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Players Mentioned
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