Women's Basketball Continues Tournament Tour of New York, Faces Second-Seed Army in Semifinals on Thursday

LEWISBURG, Pa.- Bucknell (17-14) looks to continue its Patriot League tournament run when the team travels to West Point on Thursday to face the second seed Army Black Knights (23-6) in the PL Semifinals. The Bison won a 63-58 physical matchup in the quarterfinals over three-seeded Colgate while Army defeated seventh-seeded Lafayette 51-40. Army and Bucknell split the season series with both teams emerging victorious by double-digits on their home courts. The winner advances to the Patriot League Championship Game to face the victor of Holy Cross/Lehigh. The Bison own a 46-29 series lead but are only 18-19 at West Point. The tip is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.

Game Notes

What: #6 Bucknell at #2 Army
When: Thursday, March 13 at 6 p.m.
Where: West Point, N.Y.- Christl Arena
Streaming: ESPN+
Radio: 90.5 WVBU
Live Statistics: goarmywestpoint.com

Last Game's Starters:
R-Jr. G: Sophia Sabino (7.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 3.4 apg)
Sr. F/G: Isabella King (8.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.0 apg)
So. F: Ashley Sofilkanich (19.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 3.1 apg)
Fr. G/F: Reese Zemitis (9.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.0 apg)
So. F: Tuana Coskun (7.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.7 apg)

WITH A WIN OVER ARMY, BUCKNELL WOULD...
• ... improve to 18-13 on the season
• ... improve to 8-9 on the road
• ... improve to 47-29 all-time against the Black Knights
• ... improve to 8-4 all-time against the Black Knights under Woodruff
• ... improve to 101-65 overall under Woodruff
• ... improve to 45-40 on the road under Woodruff

HEADLINES
• Bucknell brushed past Colgate 63-58 in the Patriot League Quarterfinals on Monday. The Bison led 25-13 before Colgate stormed back for a 44-38 lead. Bucknell responded with Ashley Sofilkanich and two Reese Zemitis three-pointers to pull out the win over the third-seeded Raiders.The victory improved Bucknell to 17-13 overall and moved the Bison into the semifinals for the first time since the 2021-22 season.
• Ashley Sofilkanich won Patriot League Player of the Year and notched spots on the First Team and All-Defensive Team. Reese Zemitis received All-Rookie honors.
• 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.
• Sofilkanich ranks 15th nationally in blocks per game (2.3) and 19th in points per game (19.9).
• 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.
• Sofilkanich received two preseason honors. She was named Preseason Defender of the Year and notched a spot on the Patriot League's Preseason Five.
• 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.
• 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 10.4 ppg and 10.2 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 ARMY
• The Black Knights finished 12-17 overall but went 9-9 in conference play to finish as the sixth seed in the tight Patriot League. They dropped a 65-63 decision to the third seeded Boston Terriers in the PL Quarterfinals.
• Army sits at 23-6 overall and finished 14-4 in conference play for second place. They went 8-2 in non-conference play but did not play a single high major squad. They defeated seventh-seeded Lafayette in the PL Quarterfinals.
• Army's roster has 15 players with zero transfers. It is a national roster as expected with players from 11 different states.
• The Bison and the Black Knights shared zero common non-conference foes in 2024-25.
• Army was picked to finish fourth in the ten-team Patriot League and exceeded expectations. Three Black Knights made All-League Teams with Trinity Hardy headlining at First Team.
• Missy Traversi is 64-53 in her fourth season as head coach of the Black Knights.

SERIES HISTORY with THE BLACK KNIGHTS
• This is the 76th meeting between Bucknell and Army.
• The series began in 1984 with an Army victory.
• Trevor Woodruff is 7-4 all-time against Army. He has never faced Army in the PL Tournament.

Series History with Army (Last Six Meetings)
1/18/23       Army                L, 43-52
2/4/23      at Army           W, 60-50
1/27/24       Army                L, 66-75
2/24/24      at Army           W, 65-63
2/8/25        Army                W, 75-65
2/22/25      at Army           L, 54-69

Series Record: 46-29
Record at Home: 27-10
Record at Army: 18-19
Neutral Site Record: 1-0
Trevor Woodruff Record: 7-4
Current Streak: Army W1
Longest Bucknell Winning Streak: 9 games

Last Time Out
• Bucknell outfought third-seeded Colgate in a physically punishing 63-58 victory. The Orange & Blue led 25-13 midway through the second quarter but Colgate cut the deficit to 29-25 before Isabella King hit a three-pointer before halftime. The Raiders outscored Bucknell 21-10 in the third period. Bucknell responded with a 21-12 final stanza to win the game. The Bison will face second-seeded Army in the semifinals.
• Bucknell shot 47.7% (21-of-44) and hit seven three-pointers - several which came in the fourth period. Colgate hit 42.9% (21-of-49) from the field and went a perfect 11-of-11 from the free throw line.
• Ashley Sofilkanich paced Bucknell with 28 points. Reese Zemitis scored 13 points (including two clutch threes) and collected eight boards. Isabella King added 14 points. Taylor Golembiewski led Colgate with 20 points.

STREAKS OF NOTE
Isabella King - Starts (30)
Sophia Sabino - Starts (24)
Ashley Sofilkanich - Starts (58) & Double-Digit Scoring Games (14)
Reese Zemitis - Starts (20)

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 795 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 148 career three-pointers - sixth all-time.
• Ashley Sofilkanich passed the 900-point mark against Army on Feb. 24, 2025. She currently sits at 985 points and has an excellent chance at reaching 1000 points in two seasons - something only done in Bison history by Molly Creamer. She tied 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 (129).
•Sofilkanich has moved up the single-season charts ranking second in field goals made (231), fourth in points (597), fifth in blocks (69), and eighth in free throws made (130). She is nine made shots away from breaking Creamer's record of 239 set in 2002-03.
• Reese Zemitis is tied for sixth all-time in single-season three-pointers (62). She sits fifth in single-season three-point attempts (168).
• Head Coach Trevor Woodruff reached 100 career wins at Bucknell with the 63-58 victory over Colgate in the Patriot League Quarterfinals on Monday.

Up Next

Bucknell, if victorious, will either travel to fifth-seeded Holy Cross or first-seeded Lehigh on Sunday for the championship game. The Bison went 0-2 against both teams in the regular season.

Women's Basketball Continues Tournament Tour of New York, Faces Second-Seed Army in Semifinals on Thursday

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Players Mentioned

Tuana Coskun

Nicole Davis

Caroline Dingler

Isabella King

Isabella King

Julie Kulesza

Kaylee Reinbeau

Sophia Sabino

Ashley Sofilkanich

Ashley Sofilkanich

Reese Zemitis