Junior-captain Mckenna Maycock scored a game-high 15 points and had 6 rebounds to help the St. Bonaventure Bonnies (2-2) defeat the Eastern Michigan Eagles (2-2) 70-51, Saturday afternoon at the Reilly Center .
Maycock helped the Bonnies get out to a quick start with five points in the first quarter. Junior Arielle Harvey sparked an 8-0 run with three of her 13 points coming in the first quarter. The Bonnies led 18-8 after one, but the Eagles woke up quickly.
In the second quarter, the Eagles went on a 14-0 run to take a 22-18 lead with 4:44 to go. Bonaventure had nine turnovers, just in the quarter and only shot 30%. The bright spot was freshman Emily Calabrese, who scored four of her 10 points to stop the EMU run. Eastern Michigan led at halftime 26-24 lead by freshman Courtnie Lewis who scored 11 of her 14 points in the first half including three first half three pointers.
The Bonnies improved drastically to start the second half, shooting 57% from three. That increase began when sharp-shooting sophomore Danielle Migliore gave the Bonnies a 27-26 lead. That three pointer by Migliore also gave senior-captain Mariah Ruff her 300th career assist. Ruff is now the 11th player in program history to reach 300 assists. Ruff ended the game with 10 assists. Migliore finished with nine points and six rebounds.
Harvey was one of the four Bonnies in double figures, and with an and-one layup, she pushed the lead to double digits, 40-30 with 3:45 left in the quarter. Ruff capped the 25-6 quarter by scoring three of her seven points at the buzzer, giving Bonaventure a commanding 49-32 lead.
Maycock credits the defense for the third quarter turnaround.
“Biggest thing was picking up our defense,” Maycock said. “We were just thinking about getting stops because once we do that it leads to good offense”.
Coach Jesse Fleming was straightforward with his directions for the second half.
“Do what we do better than what we did in the second quarter” Fleming said.
The Bonnies sharp shooting continued in the fourth. Led by Maycock, she started the quarter with a layup and a foul. That gave the Bonnies a 20-point lead.
“The thing with kenna is, especially the third and fourth quarters is the kid has a motor that doesn’t stop.” Fleming said. “Late in the game when defenses are tired she is still running, she is still cutting.”
Junior Bree Paulson added 12 points and hit two threes down the stretch in the fourth to secure the win.
“This is why I really enjoy coaching them,” said Fleming. “Anything you challenge them with they will respond.”
Bonaventure’s next test is Tuesday when they travel to play Bucknell at 6 p.m.
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