Women's basketball huddles on the court at the beginning of the fourth period.
cof.photos
77
Winner Bucknell Buck 16-13,11-7 Patriot
46
American Americ 1-28,1-17 Patriot
Winner
Bucknell Buck
16-13,11-7 Patriot
77
Final
46
American Americ
1-28,1-17 Patriot
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Bucknell Buck 23 15 22 17 77
American Americ 11 12 9 14 46

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Bucknell Surges Past Women’s Basketball in Final Regular Season Contest

WASHINGTON – The American University women's basketball team had a tough final regular season contest in Bender Arena against Bucknell, losing 77-46 to the Bison. The Eagles will now play in the first round of the Patriot League Tournament as the No. 10 seed against No. 7 seed Lafayette on the road in Easton, Pa. on Saturday, March 8.
 
Inside the Box Score
  • Once again, it was the freshman Cecilia Kay that led for the Eagles both offensively and defensively. The forward topped out with 12 points and nine boards, one shy of her ninth double-double of the year.
  • Classmate Madisyn Moore-Nicholson was the second leading scorer of the game for AU, dropping eight points in her 10 minutes on the floor.
  • There were four Bison in double digit scoring position: Ashley Sofilkanich (22), Sophia Sabino (14), Tuana Coskun (10), and Elana Weisman (10). Sofilkanich also topped all players on the glass Wednesday night with 11 rebounds. She stuffed her stat line with five assists, a steal, and six blocks. Sabino also had five assists.
  • Bucknell shot 47 percent from the floor overall and 36 percent from three, making eight 3-point baskets. AU struggled offensively, being held to just 28 percent overall.
  • In rebounding, the Bison had the narrow 42-39 edge over the Eagles.
How it Happened
  • After grabbing the tipoff, Bucknell took the early lead, sinking a three to kick off the scoring. Both teams would then endure three consecutive scoreless drives each before Lexi Salazar found the net with a mid-range floater.
  • Bailey Garbee joined the scoring with a hook shot to bring the Eagles to six points with 4:12 to play. After going back and forth, Bucknell would double their lead to 16-8 in the first frame.
  • Grace Koepke draws a foul in the final two minutes of the first quarter, shooting two for two to bring the Eagles back within 10 points of the visitors. AU would earn six free throw attempts throughout the quarter, shooting 50 percent from the line.
  • Through the five ten minutes, the Bison outshot the Eagles 52 percent to 30 percent, overall, proving their dominance from the jump.
  • Kay opened the scoring in the second, making what would be AU's only free throw opportunities of the quarter.
  • Two scoreless minutes passed until Bucknell broke the drought with a jumper. American struggled to find the net until a layup from Ivy Bales brought the score 30-15 with just under 5 minutes left in the half.
  • A crafty spin move from Kay earned her an open layup, sparking momentum for the Eagles. The Bison are unable to convert on the following drive, resulting in a rebound by Kay. The Eagles worked the ball to Laura Nogues, who hit a three from deep.
  • Bucknell continued to press the Eagles, limiting their offensive opportunities and taking converting on their own.
  • As the clock ran out, Bales lobbed a pass to Salazar, who, without hesitation, drained a three at the buzzer. Despite these moments, the half would end in Bucknell's favor, 38-23.
  • Bucknell stepped onto the court for the second half in identical fashion to the first, dropping a three-pointer to advance their dominant lead. The two teams took turns on three attempts until Bucknell's fell, doubling the score 46-23.
  • It was much of the same from there on out. A positive moment for the Eagles was when Molly Driscoll entered into the game with five minutes left to play in the third and charged the five on the floor up.
  • Moore-Nicholson entered the game in the final 10 minutes–ultimately playing all ten of them–and started off by racking in a three-point play off a Bucknell shooting foul. With eight minutes to play, AU's lineup consisted entirely of first year players.
  • The rookie squad pressed the Bison, bringing new energy as the young squad managed to keep pace with the visitors offensively.
  • Driscoll drops a 3-pointer with just under 7 minutes to play and Moore-Nicholson went on a torrent, shooting 3-of-6 from the floor to help AU to score 14 points total in the final frame to Bucknell's 17 in the same timeframe.
  • The deficit was too great for the Eagles to recover though, and American would fall 77-46 in their final regular season contest.
On the Horizon
The Eagles will be one the road for game one of the Patriot League Tournament as the No. 10 seed. They will face No. 7 seed Lafayette on Saturday, March 8 at 4 p.m. in Kirby Sports Center.

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