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Bison Open Season With Exciting 79-73 Victory over American
Nov. 18, 2000
LEWISBURG, Pa. - In a preview of what is to come, the Bucknell women's basketball team held on for an exciting 79-73 victory over American University in the season openers for both teams on Saturday, November 18. American will become a member of the Patriot League, Bucknell's conference, in the 2001-02 season. Sophomore Molly Creamer (Mendham, N.J./West Morris Mendham) poured in 23 points and junior Vicki Quimby (West Lawn, Pa./Wilson) and freshman Desire Almind (Blairstown, N.J./North Warren Regional) both tallied 21 as the Bison built their one point halftime lead (30-29) to as many as eight in the second frame. American got things started first, jumping out to a 5-2 lead early in the game. The Eagles built their advantage to as many as four (21-17) with 7:24 remaining, but the Orange and Blue used a 13-4 run over the next six minutes to go up, 30-25, with just over a minute remaining in the opening half. American closed out the final seconds with a 4-0 run of its own to cut the halftime margin to 30-29 in Bucknell's favor. In the second half, the Eagles grabbed the lead briefly on a jumper 45 seconds into it, but Bucknell answered with a 14-7 run that put the Bison up by six, 44-38, with just under 15 minutes to go. American trailed by as many as eight in the second stanza, but used 63.0% shooting (17-27) in the half to keep itself in the game. With the contest tied at 65-65 with 3:37 left to play, Almind made her college debut a memorable one for Bucknell. Almind put the Bison ahead, 65-67, with a jumper. The rookie then scored BU's next six points and grabbed two crucial steals to stake the Orange and Blue to a 74-73 advantage with just under a minute to play. Creamer, who combined with Almind to score Bucknell's final 11 points of the game, hit two free throws with four seconds remaining, pushing BU's lead to 77-73 and icing the victory.
"It's great to open the season with a win like this," said Bucknell head coach Kathy Fedorjaka. "The last game we played was the championship game of the Patriot League tournament and I think one of the big reasons we lost that game was that we folded under the pressure. We spend a lot of time in practices working in pressure situations and it paid off tonight."
Bucknell shot 49.2% (29-59) for the game (59.3% in the second half) and committed only 16 turnovers. American hit 46.7% of its shots (28-60) in the game and turned the ball over 26 times. The Bison (1-0) travel to Hampton University for a 7:00 p.m. game on Monday, November 20. American is 0-1. |
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