Women's Basketball Release 1.15.16 

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. -- All ten teams have at least one win against a Patriot League opponent, as Boston University captured a 63-59 win over American for its first win of the season. Bucknell also was resilient in its 80-77 overtime win against Lehigh on Wednesday and will hit the road looking for its sixth-straight win at Colgate. All ten teams will be in action this weekend, with four games slated for Saturday and one on Sunday, and can be seen on the Patriot League Network. Sunday's game in Bethlehem will also air on the American Sports Network.

Patriot League Network
American Sports Network

Patriot League Twitter Notebook - @PL_WBB
* All ten teams will continue League play this weekend with action airing on the Patriot League Network.
* Sunday’s contest in Bethlehem featuring Holy Cross and Lehigh can also be seen on the American Sports Network.
* All five home teams won on Wednesday night.
* Bucknell erased a fourth-quarter 17-point deficit to remain perfect after an 80-77 overtime win versus Lehigh.
* Boston U. earned its first League win of the season, defeating American at home on Wednesday, 63-59.
* The Bison are 5-0 for the first time since the 1999-2000 season.
* The last time Army defeated Colgate by double-digits was a 62-45 win during the 2013-14 season.
* Loyola held Navy to its least amount of points scored during a regulation quarter this season (four points).
* Holy Cross head coach Bill Gibbons earned his 575th career victory with Crusaders 66-49 win over Lafayette.
* American sophomore Maria Liddane set a Patriot League Individual Game-High of 12 assists vs. Boston U.

Patriot League Notebook
Bucknell Makes Astonishing Comeback, Boston U. Earns First PL Win
Patriot League women’s basketball action seems to get better and better as the teams move further into the schedule. It was quite an exciting Saturday, last week, and the teams didn’t fail to deliver another thrilling day of League action on Wednesday. All five home teams earned wins: the Bison’s resiliency helped them remain a perfect 5-0 in League play after a fourth-quarter 17-point comeback win in overtime over Lehigh; Army West Point defeated Colgate by double figures for the first time since the Black Knights’ 62-45 win during the 2013-14 season; Loyola Maryland held Navy its least amount of points scored during a regulation quarter this season, Holy Cross used a 20-4 run into the fourth to secure head coach Bill Gibbons’ 575th career victory; Boston University captured not only its first win against a League opponent but also its first of the 2015-16 season. With this weekend marking the sixth game of the slate, the teams will already be a third of-the-way done and that much closer to the championship tournament.

Sixth Game of Patriot League Schedule This Weekend
All ten teams will be in action this weekend, with four games on Saturday and one on Sunday, and will be broadcast on the Patriot League Network. Sunday’s contest in Bethlehem between Holy Cross (7-9, 4-1) and Lehigh (9-7, 2-3) will also air on the American Sports Network. The game is set to begin at 3 p.m. Saturday’s action begins with three games at 2 p.m. Army West Point (13-2, 4-1) will head to our nation’s capital to play American (4-12, 2-3), while Boston University (1-15, 1-4) will also travel south to take on Loyola Maryland (6-10, 3-2). Navy (8-8, 2-3) will hit the road for a second-straight time to play Lafayette (3-12, 1-4) in Easton. Bucknell (12-5, 5-0) and Colgate (3-12, 1-4) wrap up the day’s action, with the League leaders heading to Hamilton, N.Y. for a 4 p.m. tipoff.

Patriot League Among NCAA Statistics
There a handful of players and teams that rank among the nation’s top in NCAA Division I. Colgate senior Josie Stockill set an NCAA individual game-high of 13 blocks and also set a new Patriot League record during the opening game of the Patriot League season at Lafayette. Currently, she leads the nation with 4.20 blocked shots per game and is second with 63 blocks this season. Stockill’s 13 blocks also helped the Raiders to an NCAA team game-high of 18 blocks, and as a team, Colgate is third in the nation with 6.6 blocked shots per game. Army West Point also appears in several team stats among DI programs, with its highest ranking being No. 3 in three-point FG percentage at 40.5 (104-of-257). Also ranked among the nation’s best individually from the Patriot League is Lehigh’s Lexi Martins, who is No. 1 in defensive rebounds per game (10), tied for No. 2 with 13 double-doubles, No. 2 in rebounds (232), and No. 2 in rebounds per game (14.5). There are several other players in the League as well as teams that are among the Nation’s Top 25 statistically, which can be found on the fifth page of this document.

Follow the Action on the Patriot League Network
Once again, the Patriot League will partner with Campus Insiders on the Patriot League Network, a streaming platform that will enable fans to watch League regular season and postseason events for free. With the exception of the contests on CBS Sports Network, all home games both in non-League and Patriot League play will feature free live streaming on PLN.

Patriot League Championship, Army-Navy on CBS Sports Network
Both matchups between Army West Point and Navy this season are scheduled to air on CBS Sports Network, with the first of the two being played at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, January 23 at 11:30 a.m. as part of a double-header feature with the men’s teams. A second double-header featuring the Army West Point and Navy squads is on tap for Saturday, February 20, this time from Annapolis with the women tipping off at 11 a.m. CBS Sports Network will also televise the 2016 Patriot League Women’s Basketball Championships, for the seventh year in a row, on Saturday, March 12 at 6 p.m.
CBS Sports Network, the 24-hour home of CBS Sports, is available across the country through local cable, video and telco providers and via satellite on DirecTV Channel 221 and Dish Network Channel 158. For more information, and to access the CBS Sports Network channel finder, go to www.cbssportsnetwork.com.

American Sports Network to Carry Pair of Regular Season Games
American Sports Network will broadcast two women’s basketball contests, beginning with action between Holy Cross and Lehigh in Bethlehem , Pa. on Sunday, January 17 at 3 p.m. The ASN schedule concludes with the regular season as Bucknell visits Lafayette on Wednesday, March 2 at 6 p.m.
American Sports Network is a sports programming initiative of Sinclair Networks Group, a division of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today. Sinclair’s television group reaches approximately 37.5% of US television households and includes FOX, ABC, MyTV, CW, CBS, NBC, Univision and Azteca affiliates.

2016 Patriot League Tournament
The 2016 Patriot League Tournament, featuring all 10 teams playing at campus sites, begins with the first round on Saturday, March 5 (#10 seed plays at the #7 seed and the #9 seed visits the #8 seed) followed by the quarterfinals two days later (#1 overall seed hosting the 9/8 winner and the #5 seed playing at the #4 seed on one half of the bracket and the #2 seed at home against the 10/7 winner with the #6 seed at the #3 seed on the other side). The four remaining squads then move to on the semifinals and championship, which will be hosted by the highest-seeded semifinal team on Friday, March 11 and Saturday, March 12. The first round and quarterfinal games will be shown on Patriot League Network as will the semifinals, while the championship game will be aired on CBS Sports Network. All Patriot League Tournament games will be played at the site of the higher seed.
More information can be found on the women’s basketball championship page, here.

Team Notebook
AMERICAN (4-12, 2-3) The Eagles fell behind early, 10-0, and were never quite able to catch up as the Terriers went on to capture a 63-59 win at Case Gym on Wednesday … The victory was the first of the season for Boston U. and marked the first win over American as League opponents … AU put together a strong second period, netting 22 points to go into the break tied at 31-31, but the Terriers took an early third quarter lead and never trailed ... The Eagles chipped their way back to come within one point, after three-consecutive treys, with 30 seconds left on the clock but were able to secure the win … Jordan Light matched a career high 15 points to lead the Eagles, while freshman Cecily Carl added a personal best 14 … Maria Liddane also notched a career-high 12 assists and set a new individual-game high for a Patriot League player in the category this season.

ARMY WEST POINT (13-2, 4-1) The bench was hot for the Black Knights and played a large role in helping the team to remain a perfect 9-0 at home with a 67-55 win over Colgate on Wednesday night at Christl Arena … Neither team could find the net for nearly the first three minutes of the game, but Brianna Johnson finally found the basket and scored the first points, a three-pointer at 7:01 ... It was a back-and-forth battle until the Black Knights took a 53-42 lead into the fourth quarter … Junior Dani Failor and sophomore Aliyah Murray combined for 33 of Army’s 35 bench points and each posted career highs … Failor, who hadn’t played since Dec. 11, set a career-best 21 points and shot 8-of-10 from the field and five-of-five from the charity stripe … Murray shot a collegiate-career best 5-of-8 and tallied career-highs of 12 points and nine rebounds … Senior Kelsey Minato, who was a perfect 10-for-10 from the line, was one rebound shy of a double-double after notching 18 points and a season-high nine rebounds.

BOSTON UNIVERSITY (1-15, 1-4) The Terriers set the pace early on, jumping out to a 10-0 lead that paved the way to a 63-59 win over American at Case Gym on Wednesday … The victory of the defending Patriot League Champions was the first of the season for Boston U. and marked the first win over the Eagles as League opponents … BU posted its best shooting percentage of the season, going 24-0f-51 from the floor, and also recorded its most points scored in the first quarter this season with 16 … The Terriers took an early third quarter lead and never trailed … Four players reached double-figures in points for BU and was led by Katie Sheftic with 15 points … Corrine Williams netted 13 points, which was backed by a perfect 4-for-4 from the field and a three-pointer, while Sarah Hope and Meghan Green followed with 11 and 10 respectively.

BUCKNELL (11-5, 5-0) Clutch treys from a pair of freshmen helped the Bison erase a 17-point deficit and earn a dramatic 80-77 overtime win Wednesday night in Sojka Pavilion against Lehigh … Bucknell remains perfect in League play at 5-0 for the first time since the 1999-2000 season … The Mountain Hawks ran up the score to lead by as many as 12 by the end of the first quarter and then led by 17, 42-25, as both teams went into the break … The Mountain Hawks found themselves up by 17, once again, but the Bison chipped away at the score to come within four, 69-65, with 49 seconds on the clock … With two seconds left, freshman Kaitlyn Slagus converted a trey that bounced around before finally falling in to tie the game at 71-71 … In an intense overtime and tied at 77-77, freshman Kyi English was left wide open in the corner to drain a pretty-looking three with two seconds on the clock for an 80-77 lead … With one final, desperate chance, Elizabeth Jordan tried to match the trey to tie the score but came up short and Bucknell claimed the thrilling win.

COLGATE (3-12, 1-4) The Raiders kept the Black Knights on their toes but fell to the preseason favorite, 67-55 on Wednesday night at Christl Arena … Neither team could find the net for nearly the first three minutes of the game, and it was Army’s Brianna Johnson that struck first with a three-pointer at 7:01 ... Katie Curtis responded with a trey of her own at 6:44 and a back-and-forth battle commenced ... However, the Black Knights took a 53-42 lead into the fourth quarter and even though the Raiders pulled within seven with 6:24 on the clock, the home team would remain in the lead the rest of the way … Colgate was led by Paige Kriftcher (15 pts.), Katie Curtis (13 pts.), and Josie Stockill (12 pts., 6 rebounds, three blocks).

HOLY CROSS (7-9, 4-1) The Crusaders found Lafayette to be an early challenge and trailed by one-point, 27-26, into the break … A strong second half by the home team helped them earn a 66-49 victory in the Hart Center on Wednesday over the visiting Leopards though and improve to 4-1 in Patriot League play … Tied at 31-31 with 3:38 on the clock in the third quarter, the Crusaders went on a 20-4 run that reached into the fourth period for a 51-35 advantage with 7:53 left in regulation and Lafayette was unable to come closer than 11 points the remainder of the way … Lisa Mifsud led the team with 16 points and four helpers, while classmate Molly Hourigan was all over the final stat sheet with 12 rebounds, eight points, four assists, five blocks, and four steals … Infiniti Thomas-Waheed also reached double figures with 13 points, in addition to contributing six rebounds, and Tricia Byrne pitched in 11 points, three assists, and three steals.

LAFAYETTE (3-12, 1-4) The Leopards kept things interesting for the Crusaders early on and held a one-point, 27-26, lead going into the break … However, a strong second half by Holy Cross helped them earn a 66-49 victory in the Hart Center on Wednesday … Tied at 31-31 with 3:38 on the clock in the third quarter, the Crusaders went on a 20-4 run that reached into the fourth period and Lafayette was unable to come closer than 11 points the rest of the way … Despite the loss, Ashley Lutz recorded an outstanding performance with a career-high 19 points and also contributed 14 rebounds to earn her fourth double-double of her career and first of the season … Jamie O’Hare was behind Lutz in both categories with 12 points and seven rebounds and also had four assists and four steals.

LEHIGH (9-7, 2-3) The Mountain Hawks led by 17 points in the fourth quarter but allowed the Bison to comeback and eventually earn a dramatic 80-77 overtime win Wednesday night in Sojka Pavilion … Lehigh ran up the score to lead by as many as 12 by the end of the first quarter and then led by 17, 42-25, as both teams went into the break … Bucknell was able to come within six in the third, but back-to-back baskets from three-point land by Bernadette Devaney and Quinci Mann stretched Lehigh’s lead in to the final period … Another trey by Mann and a good free throw from Lexi Martins put the Mountain Hawks up by 17, once again, at 9:07 … A good free-throw by Hailey Pascoe gave Lehigh its final lead of five points, 70-65, before freshman Kaitlyn Slagus hit a layup with 16 seconds on the clock and then converted a trey that bounced around before finally falling in to tie the game at 71-71 with two seconds remaining … In an intense overtime, the teams traded points and tied at 77-77, freshman Kyi English drained a pretty-looking three with two seconds on the clock … With one final, desperate chance, Elizabeth Jordan tried to match the trey but came up short and Bucknell claimed the win.

LOYOLA MARYLAND (6-10, 3-2) A strong performance by senior Colleen Marshall paved the way for the Greyhounds’ third win of the Patriot League slate with a 51-38 victory over Navy Wednesday night at Reitz Arena … It seems fitting that Marshall started the scoring, netting a layup at 9:13 to give the home team the first lead … After Sarita Condie tied the game with a layup of her own at 7:52, Marshall responded with a three-pointer at 7:37 … The Mids ended up with a 14-13 lead after the first quarter, however, the Greyhounds limited Navy to just a mere four points in the second to go into the break with a 22-18 lead … Loyola maintained the advantage the rest of the way … Aside from her 24 points, Marshall also hauled in five rebounds, while Diana Logan put up eight points and grabbed three rebounds and Jeneh Perry led the team with six boards.

NAVY (8-8, 2-3) After two-straight wins, the Mids dropped its fifth Patriot League contest to the Greyhounds, 51-38, Wednesday night at Reitz Arena … Navy ended the first quarter with a 14-13 lead, but the Greyhounds limited the Mids to just a mere four points in the second to go into the break with a 22-18 lead … Loyola then maintained the advantage the rest of the way … Taylor Dunham led the way for the Mids with 11 points, three steals, and three rebounds ... Condie and Peyton Winters each pitched in six points, while Winters also nabbed eight boards, as did Justice Swett.