HAMILTON – Bucknell displayed its first-place credentials here Wednesday night and pulled away at the end for a 76-65 decision over Colgate.
 
The Bison with their 21st victory of the season clinched the Patriot League regular season title – their fourth in the last five years. Colgate despite the loss locked up a top-four finish thanks to Lehigh's defeat at Boston University.
 
The Raiders are set to host a Patriot League Tournament quarterfinal matchup for the first time in program history. That game takes place Monday, March 9, at 7 p.m.
 
This second meeting of the top two teams in the league played out just as advertised over the first 35 minutes. There were eight ties and 15 lead changes, with neither team gaining more than a five-point advantage.
 
Colgate trailed 23-21 at the end of a hot-shooting first quarter, and the Bison led 40-37 at halftime. But Tegan Graham's 3-pointer from the top of the key capped a 7-0 Raiders run that put Colgate in front 51-49 with 3:20 left in the third.
 
The Raiders were still leading 53-49 on Rachel Thompson's jumper at the 1:06 mark when Bucknell turned in a damaging five-point trip. Autumn Ceppi drove for a layup and was fouled. She missed the free throw but Bucknell's Tai Johnson hustled for the rebound.
 
Johnson fed Ellie Mack and Mack found Ally Johnson for a killer 3-pointer that handed Bucknell a 54-53 lead heading to the fourth.


 
The Raiders regained a 57-56 advantage on a pair of Alexa Brodie free throws with 8:38 showing, and Colgate was still within 65-63 after Graham's driving layup with 5:44 remaining.
 
But Bucknell's Mack sparked an 11-2 closing run over the final 5:16, making a layup followed by a pair of 3-pointers – her only two of the night. The Bison scored on five of their last six possessions and Colgate went cold.
 
Mack finished with a game-high 20 points and handed out seven assists. Colgate's Thompson scored 19 and Graham finished with 10.
 
Bucknell improved to 21-6 overall and 14-2 in conference. The Bison host Boston University this Saturday before finishing at Lafayette. The Raiders are 19-8 and 11-5 with games Saturday at Army and next Wednesday at home against Lehigh.
 
Patriot League Standings
Bucknell    14-2
COLGATE     11-5
Boston U.   11-5
Lafayette   10-6
Holy Cross   9-7
Lehigh       8-8
American     7-9
Loyola       5-11
Army         3-13
Navy         2-14


 
Bottom Line
• Bucknell 76, Colgate 65
 
From the Source
• Head Coach Bill Cleary: (On the game) "It had that tournament feel and our home crowd was great. We went toe-to-toe with them the whole game. But Ellie Mack hits two big threes in those last 4½ minutes and there's your game.
 
"I'm proud of the effort that our players gave. They showed a lot of fight but there are things we have to tighten up, particularly defensively. Points in the paint and second-chance points killed us. Offensively, we did a great job. Our players did what we wanted them to do."
 
(On the third quarter run) "We had good control of the game at that point. One of the things I'd like to see us do is finish those quarters stronger. All of them. We gave up five points at the end of that quarter that handed them a one-point lead. That's a big momentum swing.
 
"But there are things to build on. We told our players after the game that when we played them a month ago at their place, the game was over after the first quarter. That was not the case tonight. We proved we can play with them if we tighten up those things defensively. We can't dwell on this loss. Tomorrow morning, we've got to ready for a tough Army team that scored 93 points earlier this season on our floor."
 
(On what's next) "We've got to take them one game at a time. We've got to do a better job of doing the little things and get a little more physical on defense. We've got to get through our next practice, keep moving forward and then get ready for a huge game Saturday."


 
Stats of the Game
• Bucknell was 10-of-16 from the field in the first quarter and Colgate 9-of-16.
• The Raiders then were 6-of-10 in the second and 7-of-14 in the third before falling off to 5-of-15 in the fourth.
• The Bison outrebounded Colgate 35-26 and finished with a 12-0 scoring edge in second-chance points.
• Bucknell's Abby Kapp scored 12 of her 18 points in the first quarter.
• Ava Williams was the Colgate rebounding leader with six, and she tied for assist honors with three.


 
Gate Grab Bag
• Attendance at Cotterell Court was 444.
 
Up Next
• Colgate plays its final road regular season game Saturday at Army.
• The Black Knights are 7-20 overall and 3-13 in the Patriot League after Wednesday's 64-61 loss at Holy Cross.
• Tipoff from West Point is 1 p.m., with the Patriot League Network carrying all the action.