Box Score
LEWISBURG, Pa. --- It was a game of firsts as the Lycoming College women’s basketball team squared off against NCAA Division I Bucknell University. The Lady Warriors had never played against the Bison, and it was the first time 17 year Lycoming head coach Christen Ditzler has led her squad against a Division I school. Despite 12 points from senior guard Alicia Engler, Lycoming fell 93-50 on Wednesday, Dec. 30.
The Warriors (2-8) posted the first points of the game as freshman Rachael Scheller (Sunbury, Pa./Shikellamy) was fouled on her way to the basket, allowing her to convert both free throw attempts. After the Bison (3-8) built a 14-2 lead, Engler (Williamsport, Pa./Loyalsock Twp.) knocked down a mid-range jumper to post the Lady Warriors' second basket of the game.
Midway through the first half, Engler scored a pair of free throws to cut the Warrior deficit to 12. Bucknell regained a 15-point lead before freshman Leann Randall (Audubon, Pa./Methacton) hit a deep three-pointer, putting Lycoming down just 21-9.
Senior Jessica Zerbee (Duncansville, Pa./Hollidaysburg) scored her first points of the game with 6:13 left in the first stanza on a running layup. With the clock ticking down on the half, senior guard Gina Manbeck (Shenandoah Valley, Pa./Shenandoah Valley) scored the final points of the first period, hitting a three-pointer to send the Warriors to the locker room down 45-18.
The Warriors opened the second half much as they started the first, posting the first points of the period on back-to-back buckets from Rebecca Spencer (Granville Summit, Pa./Troy); the first coming on a layup and the second a mid-range jumper.
Lycoming’s next two baskets were three-pointers, the first coming off the hands of Zerbee and the second from Engler. With 12:43 left in the game, Allison Mock (State College, Pa./State College) was sent to the free throw line where she knocked down a pair of shots.
Another Spencer jumper at 11:14 cut the Bison lead to 33. After a Bucknell basket, the Warriors again posted back-to-back three-pointers, this time from Randall on the first and Engler on the second. The Bison converted a three-pointer, but senior forward Rebecca Leid (Denver, Pa./Cocalico) answered with a three-pointer of her own.
In the final two and a half minutes of the game, sophomore Chelsea Shearer (Dallastown, Pa./Dallastown Area) posted four points on a layup and jumper, as freshman Emily Mixell (Reinholds, Pa./Conrad Weiser) scored all three of her points in the final minute on a free throw and a jumper.
Engler's shooting was nearly perfect, going three-of-four from the field, hitting both three point attempts, as well as four-for-four from the free throw line. She also chipped in one rebound and one steal. Randall and Spencer were tied for second in scoring, each recording six points. Spencer led the team on the boards, grabbing four rebounds.
The Warriors proved to have a deeper bench, scoring 32 points from the substitutes, while the Bison scored 29 from their bench players. As a team, Lycoming went 9-of-13 from the free throw line, going six-for-six in the first half. Lycoming grabbed 21 rebounds, 13 of which were on defense.
Lycoming is back in action on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 2-3 as it hosts the Hoops for Hounds Holiday Classic, featuring St. Lawrence College, Kean University and Misericordia University. The Lady Warriors will face St. Lawrence in the first game at 6 p.m. on Jan. 2 and the second game on Jan. 3 against Kean at 3 p.m.
