EASTON, Pa. – Junior forward Emma Shields led Lafayette on offense with eight points in the team's 64-48 loss to Bucknell on Wednesday evening at Kirby Sports Center.

Both teams were tied after three and a half minutes of play (5-5), after sophomore forward Tasha Chudy knocked down a mid-range jumper. The Bison then put together an 8-0 run to take a 13-5 lead with 2:23 to go in the first quarter. Ashley Solfilkanich led the visitors through the stanza with six points. The Leopards closed out the quarter with their own 7-0 spurt, guided by a triple from junior guard Sauda Ntaconayigize and two buckets by freshman guard Talia Zurinskas. After 10 minutes, Bucknell led 13-12.

Lafayette continued its momentum into the second session, taking an 18-13 lead thanks to baskets by Shields (2), Halee Smith (2) and Kay Donahue (2). The teams traded buckets over the next minute, but senior guard Abby Antognoli gave the Maroon and White their largest lead of the game (24-17) on a triple with 5:56 remaining in the half. Reese Zemitis responded with her own three-pointer seconds later and the Bison later regained the lead (25-24) on a Sophia Sabino layup. Sabino is the younger sister of former Lafayette women's basketball player Sydney Sabino '21, who played under current head coach Kia Damon-Olson. Heading into halftime, Bucknell held onto a five-point advantage (33-28).

Bucknell outscored Lafayette 14-11 in the third quarter, led by Sofilkanich's seven points. Both teams only committed two turnovers in the stanza, but the visitors won the battle in the paint with eight points to the Leopards' zero. The Bison held a 12-point lead with 2:40 to go in the quarter, prior to free throws by Donahue and a step-back jumper from Zurinskas. The Maroon and White trailed 47-39 with one period to go in Easton.

Zemitis and Sabino dropped in six points apiece in the final quarter to grab Bucknell its second win in league play. The turnover battle was a big key in Wednesday's contest. Bucknell had nine fewer turnovers than Lafayette (16-7), while just edging the Leopards in the rebound column (35-33). Sofilkanich finished with a game-high 22 points and 10 rebounds.

The Leopards return to the court at 2 p.m. on Saturday as they hit the road to take on Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass.
 

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