Casey’s corner three lifts Bucknell women over Colgate

Isabella Casey’s corner 3 with 18 seconds remaining secured a 46-43 victory for Bucknell against Colgate at Sojka Pavilion on Jan. 17, a finish that crystallized a late-game rally and a defensive stand that defined the fourth quarter.

The Bison trailed at times earlier in the game but tightened their defense and relied on timely offense in the final period. After a timeout, Bucknell ran a drawn play that freed Casey in the corner for the decisive shot. Colgate managed only one field goal in the fourth quarter, a scoring drought that allowed Bucknell to erase deficits and take the lead in the closing minute.

Bucknell’s win is its first Patriot League victory of the season, an outcome with immediate implications for conference standing and team momentum. The Bison’s ability to execute a set play under pressure and to clamp down defensively in the final period points to adjustments that coaching staff and players have emphasized entering conference play: discipline on switches, contested perimeter defense, and situational execution after timeouts.

Game flow reflected a low-scoring, possession-focused contest. Both teams struggled to convert consistently until the fourth, when Bucknell’s defensive focus produced stops and limited Colgate to one field goal over the final 10 minutes. That stretch erased a late Colgate lead and set up Casey’s go-ahead moment, a sequence that underscored Bucknell’s reliance on defense to generate offense in critical stretches.

Short box score Final score: Bucknell 46, Colgate 43. Key play: Isabella Casey 3-pointer with 18 seconds remaining. Fourth quarter note: Colgate recorded only one field goal.

Beyond the immediate scoreboard, the game offers a local snapshot of how Bucknell’s season can pivot on defensive identity and late-game coaching. Converting a drawn play in the corner and closing out the fourth period will be the types of moments that shape attendance and local interest at Sojka Pavilion as Patriot League matchups deepen. For Colgate, the inability to score in the final period will prompt a review of late-game offensive sets and in-game adjustments.

For Union County fans, the result shifts the narrative for Bucknell’s conference season from searching for a first league win to defending a narrow lead in tight games. The Bison leave Sojka with a signature, clutch victory that could influence roster confidence and strategy in upcoming Patriot League play.