WASHINGTON – After a successful trip up to Lehigh to kick off the conference season, the American University women's basketball team will host Bucknell in Bender Arena on Saturday, Jan. 6 at 2 p.m. for their home, league opener. The Eagles will be looking to keep the momentum going into conference play while the Bison will hope to bounce back after a loss to Holy Cross on the road.
QUICK INFO
- Date/Time: Saturday, Jan. 6; 2 p.m.
- Site: Washington, D.C. (Bender Arena)
- Series History: American leads, 27-26
- TV: ESPN+
INSIDE THE SERIES
- The Eagles and the Bison have an almost equal series record, with American owning the one game edge in the 27-26 game series. In the most recent five matchups, however, American is down 2-3 to Bucknell, including Bucknell sweeping the series last season.
- In the most recent matchup, the two programs met for the final game of the regular season in Lewisburg, Pa. in March. The game in Sojka Pavillion came down to the wire when the Bison won 69-66 over the Eagles.
- In that game, Ivy Bales led for the Eagles with a career-high 17 points, going 7-8 from the field, and 1-2 from the line to grab her total. She also had three rebounds, four assists, and a steal.
- Lauren Stack and Emily Johns followed Bales with 14 and 13 points respectively. Both had four rebounds apiece, along with four from Kayla Henning.
- The Bison were led by Emma Shaffer with a double-double; she had 24 points, also leading on the boards with 11; Tai Johnson and Cecelia Collins followed with 12 each. All three players have since left Bucknell's roster.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT AMERICAN
- The Eagles secured a conference opening win on the road against Lehigh, outlasting the Mountain Hawks to take the game 68-65. The AU win was despite being held to just a 6.7% three-point percentage; the team did shoot 42% from the field overall.
- A career high 16 points for Laura Nogues led the offensive charge for the Eagles in Bethlehem. Despite foul trouble following her the entire game and fouling out with 55 seconds to go in the contest, the sophomore shined bright in her first Patriot League start. She also had a career high five steals and grabbed five rebounds, as well as tallying three assists.
- Senior forward Emily Johns was once again an essential offensive key to American's game plan against Lehigh, dropping 15 points. She also grabbed six rebounds. Johns leads the team, averaging 11.2 points per game so far this season.
- Molly Lavin has been a staple all season on defense and tonight's game was nothing new. The Londoner grabbed five boards, and for the season is leading the team, averaging 4.8 rebounds per game.
- Bailey Garbee tied with Johns and was instrumental on the boards with six rebounds as well. Garbee also had a key block and tipped in five points as well. The junior guard is averaging 3.6 points per game and 3.5 rebounds per game across eight starts so far this season.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT BUCKNELL
- The Bison will be coming into Bender off a road loss to Holy Cross, falling 54-69 to the reigning champions. Despite leveling the score at 41-all late in the third quarter, the Crusaders outscored the Bison 32-16 over the final quarter and a half to cement the win.
- Emma Theodorsson scored 19 points on 9-of-13 from the court, and Ashley O'Connor delivered 10 points on 3-of-6 shooting. Theodorsson is leading Bucknell this season with an average of 11.3 points per game and on the defensive side tops the team with 5.9 rebounds per game.
- Sophomore forward Grace Sullivan, who averages 6.2 ppg, shot 3-of-3 and 2-of-2 from the charity stripe to score eight points. Sullivan found herself in foul trouble against Holy Cross, collecting her second and third within a minute of the second period starting. It wasn't until six minutes remaining that she picked up her fourth and just under two minutes that she fouled out.
- Isabella King scored four points, collected five rebounds, and distributed five assists. The junior is third on the team in scoring average so far this season (7.5 ppg) and collects an average of 3.7 rebounds per game. She has also recorded a team leading 19 assists along with 10 steals.
- Bucknell's second-highest points earner, Ashley Sofilkanich, was limited to just 10 minutes, and one point, against the Crusaders. Sofilkanich is the only Bison besides Theodorsson who's averaging double digit points (10.4 ppg). She also leads the team in blocks (20) and in steals (14).
KEEP UP WITH US
