Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
0-1,0-0Patriot
Florida
1-0,0-0SEC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bucknell | 14 | 11 | 17 | 18 | 60 |
| Florida | 27 | 15 | 20 | 21 | 83 |
11/2/2026 8:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Bucknell women's basketball fell in its season opening game to SEC opponent Florida, who is receiving votes, 83-60. After the Bison were out-scored by 13 in the first quarter, they were only out-scored by four points or less in each of the next three.
Bucknell opened the contest with solid play, keeping it within four until just after halfway through the first quarter when the Gators found a 10-point run. Florida then found another double-digit run in the second, but the Bison were able to string together a 9-0 run of their own while limiting the Gators to just one bucket in the final 4:15 of the half. In the second half, Bucknell stayed close in scoring, being just out-scored by the Gators 39-35.
Elana Weisman was the Bison's leading scorer as she put up 18 points on a shooting performance that featured a perfect 3-for-3 from three, 1-for-1 from the line and a 7-for-13 shooting percentage from the field. The junior also recorded five rebounds, three assists and one blocked shot.
Tessa Liggio earned the first start of her collegiate career as a freshman point guard in the contest. After finding her first collegiate points on a three-pointer, she finished as one of three Bucknell players to notch five points in the game. Reese Zemitis and Isabella Casey were the other two. Liggio was also the leading rebounder for the Bison with six.
Alongside Tessa on the newcomer front, Grace Feeney was the other freshman to record her first collegiate points with a three pointer late in the fourth quarter.
Mariah Hardy was the second leading scorer for Bucknell with nine points on a 4-of-7 shooting performance from the field and one free throw. Ella Kreuzer followed closely behind with eight points.
Overall, the Bison out-shot the Gators from three sporting a 38.9 percent mark compared to Florida's 26.3 percentage. The Gators however bested the Bison from the field and free-throw line. Bucknell also bested the Gators in turnovers having only nine to their 11 and steals with eight to their seven. Defensively, Bucknell showed up strong against a taller and more physical SEC squad.
Where Bucknell felt the size was in the paint as they were out-scored 46-24 in that area, but they were able to make up for it a bit in their perimeter shooting and 23 points off the bench.
Florida opened the game by winning the tip, but after a missed shot Tessa Liggio came up with a diving defensive rebound. Florida then got the ball back with a rebound of its own and Kyomi McMiller hit the first shot of the game. The Bison quickly answered with an Anna Kunzwiler bucket to make it 2-2. Both teams continued to go back and forth with Ella Kreuzer making two free-throws and Mariah Hardy finding her first bucket of the game before Florida put up a layup and one play to take a 12-6 lead at the media timeout.
Out of the media, Hardy made a smart bucket and drew a foul, making her free throw as well. Florida then hit their first three of the night, courtesy of Harris. Despite Isabella Casey finding a nice jumper to close the gap to four, the Gators then went on a 10-0 run to make it 25-11. Tessa Liggio broke up the Gator scoring with her first collegiate bucket on a three pointer, but Florida made the last shot of the quarter to extend its lead to 27-14.
Florida opened the second quarter with a 13-0 run before Tessa Liggio hit a jumper to break up the Gator scoring just before the media timeout. Bucknell then came out of the break and dominated the final 4:15 of the half as it went on a 9-0 run with back-to-back big plays from Elana Weisman, a jumper from Hardy and a free-throw from Kreuzer. After Bucknell made it a 15 point game, McMiller hit Florida's lone bucket of the final 4:15 to make it 42-25 at halftime in favor of the Gators.
The third quarter started off back and forth, but Florida then broke away with an eight-point run to take a 53-30 lead. Just before the media timeout with 4:14 left to go, Weisman drained her second three of the game. Out of the media timeout, the Bison out-scored the Gators 9-7, cutting their deficit to 20 with 10 minutes left to play.
The fourth quarter continued its back-and-forth momentum with Florida out-scoring Bucknell 11-8, extending its lead to 23. Weisman and Kreuzer each hit a three throughout that stretch. Out of the media timeout, the teams went an even 10 and 10 in terms of scoring. Bucknell's Grace Feeney found her first collegiate basket in that stretch on a three-pointer.
Bucknell women's basketball will continue its road slate of non-conference games on Saturday, Nov. 7 at Brown at 3 p.m.
