Feb. 20, 2008

Box Score |

EASTON, Pa. - Despite double-digit scoring efforts from two players, the Lafayette women's basketball team dropped a 68-45 decision to Bucknell on Wednesday night at Kirby Sports Center. Junior Cristin Zavocki led the Leopards with 13 points, including nine from three-point range, while senior Vanessa Van De Venter chipped in 11 points.

The Leopards shot just 27 percent for the game while Bucknell connected on nearly half of their field goal attempts (28-of-58). The Bison, who never trailed in the game, held a 47-32 edge in rebounds but did commit three more turnovers than Lafayette. The 23-point loss was the worst of the season for Lafayette, whose record dropped to 13-13 overall and 5-6 in Patriot League play.

Bucknell jumped to a 6-0 lead less than a minute into the game before junior Jessica Spicer drained a three to bring Lafayette within three (6-3). Freshman LaKeisha Wright's free throw at the 18 minute mark made the score 9-5 and Zavocki's trey at 17:38 kept Lafayette within two (11-9). Bucknell quickly increased its lead as a Kesha Champion's basket with 16 minutes to play put the Bison up 15-9 and Lauren Schober's three at 13:15 upped their lead to 14 (23-9).

Lafayette was held without a basket for nearly four minutes before Van De Venter scored at the 10:51 mark and Val Gomez's jumper on Lafayette's ensuing possession made the score 27-13. Van De Venter's layup at 8:30 cut Bucknell's lead to 12 (29-17) and capped off a 6-2 Lafayette run. Bucknell still held a 38-21 edge with less than two minutes left to play and took a 40-22 lead into the locker room.

Schober opened the second half with a three to give Bucknell a 20-point advantage (42-22). Zavocki responded by draining two-straight threes to bring the Leopards within 12 of (42-30) with 16:57 remaining. Wright was fouled on her basket at 14:29 to make the score 44-33 but Bucknell held a 16 (49-33) edge after a jumper by Schober with 12:02 left to play.

Two Van De Venter free throws kept Lafayette within 12 of the lead (50-38) but Schober's third three put the Bison back up by 15 (53-38) with just over eight minutes remaining in the game. Elizabeth Virgin's jumper with 6:47 on the clock made the score 53-41 but the Bison held a 16-point advantage (61-45) with under three minutes remaining. Lafayette failed to close the gap any farther as Bucknell scored the game's final seven points en route to its 68-45 win.

The Leopards are back in action with a road game against archrival Lehigh on Saturday. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.

Postgame Notes:
- Lafayette's 18-point deficit at the half was the largest of the season.
- With her three treys in tonight's game, Cristin Zavocki now has 55 this season and needs only seven more to tie Kara Stetler for the single-season record of 62.
- Vanessa Van De Venter now has 1,325 career points and needs 52 more to tie Chris Sieling '94 for fifth all-time.
- Van De Venter finished with six rebounds in the game and moved into sole possession of ninth place on Lafayette's all-time list. The senior now has 604 for her career.
- Freshman LaKeisha Wright has 246 points this season and needs only 26 more to tie Van De Venter's first-year total of 272 points.