EASTON, Pa. – After holding Bucknell to just six points in the first quarter, the Lafayette women's basketball team dropped a 56-47 decision on Saturday afternoon at Kirby Sports Center after a 21-point third quarter swung momentum in favor of the Bison.

The Lafayette (6-9, 1-3 PL) defense was stout in the first half, specifically in the first quarter when the Bison shot just 14 percent. Bucknell (12-4, 3-1 PL) found the form in the third, shooting 78 percent from the floor in the period.

With the score tied at 20 through the first half, Bucknell jumped out to a 27-24 lead in the opening five minutes of the third before sophomore Natalie Kucowski spun into the paint and found an open classmate Drew Freeland for the wide open 3-poiner to even the score.

Freeland converted on a pair of treys in the game, the 50^th of her career to move her into a tie for 17^th on the all-time Lafayette 3-point field goals list with Brya Freeland '15 and one off teammate Olivia Martino.

The Bison hit six of their eight total 3-pointers in the second half and entered the fourth quarter, leading 41-32.

The fourth quarter opened in a frantic pace as freshman Nicole Johnson answered a Kaitlyn Slagus 3-pointer with one of her own to open the scoring before the Bison came right back the floor to hit another. Freeland made a layup on the next possession to make it 47-37, Bucknell just 2:30 into the final frame.

Lafayette was able to cut the deficit to eight at the 4:08 mark when Kucowski gathered her own miss and finished through contact and converted the free throw to complete the three-point play.

Kucowski scored a team-high 18 points with a game-high 14 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the season. She also dished out three assists with a block and a steal.

Bucknell hit two more 3-balls down the stretch to ice it, hitting four in the fourth quarter. Slagus led the way with 20 points and six rebounds, hitting four 3-pointers on the afternoon.

Freeland was the second Leopard in double-figures, her third straight game with 10-plus points, with 12 and three rebounds while Martino added seven with three assists and three steals.

Lafayette hits the road for a pair of contests, traveling to Army for an 11 a.m. matchup on Jan. 16 before heading to Loyola on Jan. 20.

For the latest on the Lafayette College women's basketball program, follow the Leopards on Twitter @LafayetteWBB, Facebook at Lafayette Women's Basketball, and Instagram @LafayetteWBB.