Feb. 15, 2008

What: Bucknell (10-13, 5-4 PL) at Holy Cross (13-11, 6-3 PL)
Where: Hart Center, Worcester, Mass.
When: Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008, 1 p.m.
Radio: WVBU 90.5 FM and SportsJuice.com
Live Video: Patriot League All-Access
Game Notes

With a Victory Over Holy Cross, Bucknell Would...
► Improve to 6-5 against the Crusaders in the last 11 meetings
► Post four victories in a six-game span for the first time this season
► Guarantee a winning road record in Patriot League play for the third consecutive year
► Win at the Hart Center in back-to-back years for the first time in the history of the series with the Crusaders
► Improve to 3-4 on the first game of three-game road trips over the last three years

About the Game
The regular season enters its stretch run this weekend when Bucknell travels to Holy Cross. The Bison are tied for fifth in the Patriot League with a 5-4 conference mark, but are jsut two games behind first-place Army. The Crusaders, who have won three of their last four games and are 6-3 in league play, are part of a three-team logjam in second place. Bucknell has been strong defensively of late, limiting each of its last three opponents to 50 points or less. Holy Cross has been equally impressive on the defensive end of the floor, holding each of its last four foes to 56 points or less, including two under 50. Saturday's contest will kick off a three-game road trip for the Bison, while the Crusaders will be playing the middle contest of a three-game homestand.

Bucknell-Holy Cross Series
Bucknell is in the midst of one of the best stretches any Patriot League team has ever had against Holy Cross. The Crusaders lead the all-time series 32-10, but the Bison are 5-5 over the last 10 meetings. Bucknell swept the season series from Holy Cross last year, becoming just the third Patriot League team to sweep a sereis from the Crusaders. The Bison won at the Hart Center last year and will be going for back-to-back wins for the first time in series history.

Last Meeting - Jan. 20, 2008
► Holy Cross 48, Bucknell 46 (Sojka Pavilion)
Holy Cross' Bethany O'Dell snapped an 0-for-10 shooting day with a long 3-pointer from the left wing with less than a minute to play to propel Holy Cross to a 48-46 win over Bucknell. O'Dell later made 1 of 2 free throws to put the Crusaders up 48-46 with 11 seconds remaining. A last-second shot by Kesha Champion came up short. Champion led the way for the Bison with 13 points.

Upcoming Milestones
► Kesha Champion (910 points) - 90 points shy of 1,000 in career
► Kesha Champion (164 steals) - 5 steals shy of 10th place on Bucknell career list
► Kristina Collymore (390 points) - 10 points shy of 400 in her career
► Kristina Collymore (199 rebounds) - 1 rebound shy of 200 in her career
► Hope Foster (829 reb.) - 44 rebounds shy of equaling Bucknell's Desire Almind (2001-04) for eighth place on Patriot League career list
► Hope Foster (455 FGM) - 11 made field goals shy of 10th place on Bucknell career list
► Hope Foster (986 FGA) - 91 field goal attempts shy of 10th place on Bucknell career list
► Hope Foster (57 blocks) - 6 blocks shy of holding down top four spots on Bucknell single-season list

History vs. Holy Cross
► Amanda Brown: 17.0 ppg and 4.0 rpg in 2006-07
► Kesha Champion: Six career double-figure scoring games
► Kristina Collymore: 15 points in eight career games
► Hope Foster: 13.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg in last three meetings
► Lauren Schober: Two career double-doubles

Novacek Continues to Rebound
Freshman Joyce Novacek was inserted into the starting lineup three games ago and has pulled down 38 rebounds over that span. With 13 rebounds against Army, 12 against Navy and 13 opposite American, she is the first Bison freshman to record three consecutive double-figure rebounding games since Shannon McGowan in 1993-94. The last Bucknell player, regardless of class, to grab at least 10 rebounds in three straight games was Hope Foster in 2005-06. Novacek is averaging 8.7 points and 12.7 rebounds when she is in the starting lineup.

Scoring Defense Improves in PL Play
Bucknell limited opponents to less than 58 points per game each of the last two years to claim two of the top three spots on the program's scoring defense list. For most of this season opponents were scoring in the mid-60s, but that has changed with the onset of Patriot League play. Patriot League foes are averaging just 51.3 points per game, and that includes a pair of overtime contests. The Bison have held six of their nine conference opponents to 50 points or less, including each of the last three, to stand one shy of equaling last year's total. Bucknell's current scoring defense of 60.5 would rank sixth in program history and third since 1980.

Coming up Short from Long Range
Bucknell was averaging more than four 3-pointers made per game through its first 19 games. Over the last four contests the Bison have made an average of 2.3 and they saw their streak of 106 consecutive games with a 3-pointer come to an end.

Taking Care of the Ball
Bucknell has turned the ball over fewer than 20 times in each of the last 12 games, equaling its longest stretch from 2006-07. In fact, the 12 games without reaching 20 turnovers is the longest stretch in program history. While the Bison are not turning the ball over 20+ times in many games, their 17.2 turnovers per game are their most since averaging 19.5 in 2004-05.

Not Getting to the Line
Bucknell is averaging 10.2 made free throws per game this season, marking its lowest per-game total since 1981-82. That year the Bison made 9.8 foul shots per game. Last year Bucknell scored an average of 12.1 points per game from the line.

Bench Production
Bucknell's bench has seen its production fall since the beginning of Patriot League play. Over the last nine games the bench has totaled at least 10 rebounds once after reaching that figure eight times during non-league play. Also, the bench has netted at least 20 points over that same stretch just one time after hitting the 20-point plateau four times in the first 14 games. Part of the decline in bench poduction can be attributed to the injury to Amanda Brown, who missed the first six games of the Patriot League schedule.

Halftime Leads
Bucknell's biggest key to victory has been holding the lead at halftime. The Bison are 8-2 when leading at halftime and 2-11 when trailing after the first 20 minutes of play. The most recent game where that pattern did not apply was at Army when Bucknell trailed the Black Knights 24-22 and came back to win 47-46.

Lower Scoring
While Bucknell's defense has stepped up during Patriot League play, its offense is slumping slightly in recent games. The Bison are averaging 57.6 points per game in Patriot League play and have been held under 50 two of the last three games. Against Patriot League foes last year Bucknell averaged nearly 65 points per game. The Bison are averaging 59.3 points per game overall, their lowest figure since 1994-95.

Three-Year PL Win Total
Bucknell will be going for its 28th Patriot League victory in the last three years Saturday at Holy Cross. It would equal the program record for conference wins in a three-year span. The 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001-02 squads went a combined 28-10 in regular-season Patriot League play.

.500 Road Record
While Bucknell's overall road record is 4-8, a win on Saturday against Holy Cross will give the Bison a 4-1 road mark in Patriot League play. If the Bison do win, it would be the third consecutive season they finish with a conference road mark above .500. Over the last three years Bucknell is 13-5 on the road against conference foes.

100 Games for Seniors
Seniors Kesha Champion and Hope Foster each played in her 100th career game earlier this year. They are two of just 25 players in Bison history to play at least 100 games. With five regular-season contests and at least one Patriot League Tournament game remaining, both should at least equal Molly Creamer's program record of 117 games played.

	Bucknell Career Games Played
	1.	Molly Creamer	117
	2.	Monique LeBlanc	116
		Vicki Quimby	116
		Kate Franks	116
	5.	Marie Kocornik	111
		Stacey Spitko	111
		Jennifer Walz	111
		Kesha Champion	111
		Hope Foster	111

Up Next
Bucknell will play the middle contest of its three-game road trip Wednesday, Feb. 20, at Lafayette. The Leopards, who enter this weekend tied for fifth place in the Patriot League with the Bison, defeated Bucknell 64-58 in overtime at Sojka Pavilion last month. It will be the 61st meeting in the series, making Lafayette Bucknell's most common opponent, one game ahead of Lehigh.