Feb. 16, 2008

Box Score
Box Score (PDF) 

WORCESTER, Mass. - Hope Foster scored 16 of her game-high 20 points in the second half to help the Bucknell women's basketball team come back from a 13-point deficit and cut the Holy Cross lead to one point late in the game, but the Bison ended up falling by a 73-67 score to the Crusaders Saturday afternoon at the Hart Center. Bethany O'Dell and Briana McFadden combined for 38 points for Holy Cross.

Bucknell trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half, and by 10 at halftime, but Foster and frontline partner Joyce Novacek helped spearhead the comeback. Foster, who tallied the first six points, and Novacek combined to score the first eight points of the second half for the Bison, who lost their second straight game to fall to 10-14 (5-5 Patriot League). However Bucknell still trailed 41-30 five minutes into the stanza.

The Bison then went on an extended run to cut the Holy Cross (14-11, 7-3 PL) lead to 42-38. The Bison would not trail by more than eight points the rest of the game.

Foster scored 10 of Bucknell's 12 points when it narrowed a 48-40 score to 54-52 with just under five minutes to play. The score remained within four points until Laura Aloisi converted an old-fashioned three-point play to put the Crusaders up 61-56 with 2:37 on the clock. That fast-break layup got the crowd into the game, but Amanda Brown, who was 5-for-8 from 3-point range silenced it with a 3-pointer from the left corner.

After a pair of free throws from O'Dell, Brown hit another 3-pointer from the right wing to bring Bucknell to within 63-62 with 1:47 left. It was the closest the Bison had been since 13-12.

McFadden converted a runner in the lane on Holy Cross' next possession, putting it back up 65-62. Bucknell then called a timeout to set up a play, but Brown missed a contested 3-pointer from the right wing that would have tied the score. McFadden made another layup and the Crusaders connected on all six of their free throws in the final minute to seal the game.

The Bison trailed 67-64 with 15 seconds remaining following a pair of free throws from Lauren Schober. As Holy Cross inbounded the ball, Foster was whistled for an intentional foul near halfcourt. Elizabeth Campbell made both free throws, essentially sealing the game for the Crusaders.

Bucknell's free throw shooting kept it in the game as it was 14-for-15 in the second half and 16-for-19 for the game. Foster made all six of her free throw attempts. Holy Cross shot well too, making 20 of 22 overall, and 17 of 18 in the second half.

In the fast-paced opening minutes of the first half, Bucknell trailed 13-12 with Kesha Champion netting six of those points on an array of jumpers. However, Champion's basket with 14:38 remaining was the final field goal for more than six-and-one-half minutes for the Bison as hot-shooting Holy Cross went on a 14-2 run keyed by three 3-pointers by Bethany O'Dell. The Crusaders made nine of their first 13 field goals.

Bucknell trailed twice by as many as 13 points in the first half (27-14 and 30-17), but narrowed its halftime deficit to 32-22 by limiting Holy Cross to just two field goals over the final eight minutes of the half. The Bison also connected on only two field goals over the final eight minutes of the stanza.

Holy Cross made 5 of 6 from 3-point range in the first half, but missed all four of its attempts in the second half. Bucknell was 3-for-4 from long range in the second half after a 2-for-7 performance in the first.

Thanks to 14 of 24 shooting in the second half, the Bison shot 44.2 percent in the game. Holy Cross was at 44.4 percent.

Brown, who tallied 15 points, all on 3-pointers, and Champion, who registered 14, joined Foster in double figures for the Bison. Foster also had four rebounds and six blocks.

Campbell was the third Crusader in double figures with 14 points and she added 10 rebounds for a double-double.

The Bison turned the ball over just 10 times in the game, including only twice in the key second half.

Bucknell will continue its three-game road trip Wednesday with a 7 p.m. game at Lafayette.