EASTON, Pa. – Lafayette women's basketball completed the season sweep over Bucknell (65-56) for the first time since the 2004-05 season on Wednesday at Kirby Sports Center. Guards Talia Zurinskas (19), Teresa Kiewiet (17) and Haylie Adamski (10) all finished in double figures to lead the Leopards to their eighth win of the season.

Freshman guard Emma Heaney had a career outing for the Maroon and White, posting career highs of nine points, 13 rebounds and three blocks. The Plainview, N.Y. native played all 40 minutes in Wednesday's victory.

Bucknell was first to get points on the board, but Lafayette provided an instant answer with an 8-2 run that forced head coach Trevor Woodruff to call a timeout. Two minutes later Tuana Coskun tied the game at 10 points apiece with a second-chance layup. The Leopards put together an 11-2 spurt to close the quarter, fueled by guards Sauda Ntaconayigize (5), Haley Poser (2) and Heaney (4).

Back-to-back buckets from Zurinskas handed the Maroon and White a 13-point advantage with 8:33 to go in the frame. A driving layup by Adamski at the 5:49 mark kept Lafayette out in front (29-16), but a 5-0 run in less than 40 seconds by the Bison quickly reduced their deficit. Bucknell kept up its quality play and got some stops on the defensive end as time wore down, now only trailing by four points (34-30) heading into the break.

Lafayette was firing on all cylinders coming out of halftime when a 9-0 run boosted its lead to 13 points (43-30) with 8:01 remaining. The visitors managed to regroup and responded with a massive 15-2 run that tied the contest at 45 apiece with 2:27 to go. Junior guard Rosie Scognamiglio (3) and Heaney (2) both drained big shots late in the stanza to grant the Leopards a narrow 50-48 lead after 30 minutes on College Hill.

Head coach Kia Damon-Olson's group outscored the Bison 15-8 in the final period to capture their eighth win of the season and fourth in Patriot League play. Bucknell made just three of its 15 shots in the fourth quarter, which is a true testament to the Leopards' stout defensive performance.

Wednesday's conference matchup was won on the glass and on the defensive end of the floor. Lafayette outrebounded Bucknell 37-32 and it recorded four steals and six blocks to the Bison's three steals and two rejections.

The Maroon and White return to Kirby Sports Center at 2 p.m. on Saturday as they await their first meeting of the season with American. Saturday's contest will also serve as the women's basketball program's National Women & Girls in Sports Day Game. Prior to tip-off, a variety of Lafayette's women's teams will host a pre-game sports clinic at 11:30 a.m. in Kamine Gymnasium.

 
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