Bucknell Comes Back to Beat Women’s Basketball, 70-62
Malissa Burke tallies 16 points for the Raiders while Leandra Fuller adds 13

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Julie Greco
PHONE: (315) 228-7860
January 31, 2003

Game Statistics

HAMILTON, N.Y. – Bucknell’s Molly Creamer set a Cotterell Court record, scoring 37 points in a 70-62 come-from-behind victory over the Colgate women’s basketball team on Friday evening.

Colgate (6-12, 1-5) jumped out to an early lead, going on a 10-4 run to begin the game. After cutting the lead to three, the Raiders used a stifling defensive to hold the Bison scoreless, going on a 9-0 run to take a 19-7 lead with 13:14 remaining in the half. Junior Malissa Burke (Traverse City, Mich.) knocked down a three-pointer to give Colgate its biggest lead of the game, 26-11, at the 8:32 mark before Creamer scored on a lay up and a three to cap off a 7-0 run to cut Colgate’s lead to 26-18 with 5:31 remaining. Two made foul shots by the Bison’s Chelsea Smith brought Bucknell back to within seven points, but sophomore Emily Braseth (E. Grand Rapids, Mich.) hit a jumper before freshman Megan Ballard (Atlanta, Ga.) made a lay up and knocked down a jumper to give the Raiders a 37-24 lead. Creamer ended the scoring for the half with two foul shots as Colgate took the 37-26 advantage into the intermission.

Bucknell’s Deisre Almind made a lay up to start the second half and cut the Raiders lead to nine but sophomore Leandra Fuller (Harrisburg, Pa.) brought Colgate’s lead back to double-digits, 41-28, by hitting back-to-back jumpers.  The Bison continued to chip away at the Raiders’ lead, bringing the score to 54-53 with 6:47 remaining in the game. Creamer then connected on two free throws to give Bucknell its first lead. Burke brought Colgate right back, hitting a three to take the Raiders last lead of the game, 57-55 as the Bison outscored Colgate, 15-5 over the final six minutes to take the 70-62 win.

Colgate held the Bison to 26.3 percent shooting in the first half but were unable to keep up the defensive pressure allowing Bucknell to connect on 48.4 percent of its shots in the second. The Raiders shot a blistering 45.5 percent for the game, including a 33.3 mark from three-point range. Colgate also outrebounded the Bison, 45-33 but Bucknell held the advantage in turnovers, committing only 11 to the Raiders’ 25.  

Colgate was led by Burke with 16 points while Fuller tallied 13 points and nine rebounds. Ballard had a personal-best nine points and a career-high seven assists. Senior Ali Hanson (Norwalk, Iowa) had an all-around strong performance, adding eight points, five assists, three steals and a game high 11 rebounds.  

Bucknell (9-9, 4-2) was led by Creamer’s 37 points and eight rebounds. Kate Franks added 17 for the Bison.

Colgate returns to Hamilton on Sunday, Feb. 2 to face Lehigh on Cotterell Court at 1:00 p.m.