Alexis Dobbs added another chapter to the AU women’s basketball team’s storybook season Feb. 22 in Lewisburg, Pa.
The sophomore’s 3-pointer with 0.7 seconds left gave the Eagles a 62-59 victory over a tough, upset-minded Bucknell University squad.
“This was a heck of a win for us,” AU Head Coach Matt Corkery told AU Athletics. “Our execution in the last 10 seconds was critical, and Lex hit a big-time shot.”
Dobbs' winner is the Eagles’ (21-6, 13-0 PL) first game-winning shot in the final five seconds of a game since Chanel Hunt did it against Colgate University in 2004.
The victory means AU is the first team in Patriot League history to start 13-0 in conference play.
Senior Lisa Strack also made her way into the record books, as she became the 15th player in program history to reach the 1,000-point plateau. Strack finished the night with 19 points and picked up the assist on Dobbs’ 3-pointer that gave the Eagles the win.
After AU’s Arron Zimmerman hit a jumper to put the Eagles in front 40-30 with 15:10 remaining, Bucknell (5-23, 3-10 PL) fought to get back into the game.
The Bison went on a 15-0 spurt over a five-minute stretch to take a 45-40 lead at the midway point of the second half.
AU answered with a run of its own, scoring the next eight points to regain the lead at 48-45 with 7:39 to go.
The Eagles continued to build upon their lead. Strack’s layup, followed by Dobbs (11 points) splitting her trip to the foul line, put AU up 59-52 with 2:43 to play.
But with their backs against the wall, the Bison scored the game’s next five points to cut the deficit to two at 59-57 with one minute left.
After a missed Strack 3-pointer, Alyssa Dunn (game-high 20 points) was fouled with 14 seconds remaining and knocked down both free throws to tie the game at 59 apiece.
Coming out of an AU timeout, Strack received the ball near midcourt, dribbled to the right wing and faced a Bucknell double team.
With time running out, Strack found Dobbs curling to the top of the key, who drilled the dagger 3-pointer for the AU victory.
“Bucknell is playing some good basketball right now,” Corkery said. “After getting down by five in the second half, we did a nice job of responding to build a seven-point lead.”
The Eagles, who have already clinched home-court advantage and the No. 1 seed in the Patriot League Tournament, will wrap up the regular season at Lafayette College Feb. 25 as they try for a perfect 14-0 record in conference play.
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