By Joseph Phelan, @JPhelan13
Last year Emily Michael and Katie Healy gave the Bonnies a boost as freshmen.
This year classmates Hannah Little and Nyla Rueter should provide the Bonnies another one.
The Bonnies beat Edinboro in an exhibition game 65-43 on Saturday afternoon.
Healy, Little and Rueter each scored 15-plus points, while head coach Jim Crowley leaned on Michael to be the floor general.
The first half belonged to Rueter.
“She is a really good weapon—she can handle the ball, she can shoot it, she can get to the rim,” said Crowley. “And she is getting better defensively.”
Rueter helped the Bonnies operate in transition. She doesn’t play point guard, but she has a great feel for the game.
“They (Edinboro) sent five people to the boards a lot, so we felt we could rebound we could really get going in transition and Nyla is really good there,” said Crowley. “Saw a little bit of that in each halve, but especially in the first half we saw a nice bit of it, so that is something more we will explore with her.”
Rueter finished with 15 points, five rebounds, three assists, three blocks and three steals.
She showed her versatility, and will be looked upon to continue to do a little bit of everything as the season begins Friday against North Carolina State.
Last year Little had some difficulties finishing shots. She would get a steal, dribble down court, but sometimes failed to put the ball in the basket.
Saturday provided a little snippet of how Little has improved since last year.
“She has gotten much better at finishing,” said Crowley. “She has a gear that is a high level gear. It is just understanding that gear and making sure she uses it the right way and I thought she had a terrific second half.”
Little used her athleticism to score 16 points and to grab eight rebounds.
Little and Healy have great chemistry, which became evident as Healy passed to a cutting Little for a basket in the second half.
“Hannah can be a really tough match up, especially when Katie’s rolling,” said Crowley. “They have a really good connection with how they play, so if you try to double Katie, Hannah is going to find herself open and she has gotten to where she can finish those.”
As the Bonnies try to bounce back from a disappointing season, Little and Rueter will be crucial for their success.
Saturday gave fans a preview of what could be.
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