By: Isaiah Blakely
Captains Mariah Ruff and Mckenna Maycock combined for 45 points and led the Bonnies (5-5) to another second half comeback, this time over Penn State (8-3) 65-62.
Ruff had it going early, after a 6-0 start by Penn State Ruff scored five straight points. Penn State had a balanced scoring attack with six players scoring in the first quarter giving them a 19-12 lead after one.
Freshman Abigail Johnson appeared in her first game of the regular season after being hurt since the exhibition game.
“She’s a really tough presence in the paint” said Maycock.
Her presence was much needed, she got six rebounds including a rebound late that lead to key free throws to secure the victory.
Second quarter the Bonnies clawed back in it thanks to offensive rebounding lead by Johnson and sophomore Rhianna Council.
“Rhianna Council was a difference maker. She came in with her energy. She just had a real nose for the ball tonight and made some plays,” said coach Jesse Fleming.
Council and Johnson’s offensive rebounds were apart of 11-second-chance points in the second quarter. The Bonnies were now down 23-21.
Out of a timeout the Lady Lions went on a 10-0 run to extend the lead to 12. At halftime the score was 40-28 and that was the biggest lead of the game. The Lady Lions were led by junior Teniya Paige who had nine of her 18 points at halftime.
The Bonnies were led by Ruff and Maycock who both had 10.
Bonaventure started the second half on a 17-3 capped off by Ruff’s fourth three of the game giving the Bonnies a 45-43 lead with 3:41 to go in the third. Ruff had 22 points eight rebounds and seven assists. Redshirt-sophomore Amari Carter stopped the run with a three. She ended with 12 points, and helped Penn State go into the fourth quarter with a 52-49 lead.
Maycock scored eight of her 23 points in the fourth quarter. Her layup gave the Bonnies a 54-52 lead with over seven minutes to go. The junior also had eight rebounds and two assists. It was back and forth all quarter. With 2:27 to go Maycock hit a three to give the Bonnies a 59-57 lead. Two possessions later Paige goes down and banks in a fadeaway jumper to take the lead back.
Down the stretch Maycock would get some help. Junior Arielle Harvey had four of her seven points in the fourth quarter including a layup with under a minute to go to put the Bonnies up late 61-60. Sophomore Jalisha Terry hit two clutch free throws to increase the Bonnies lead to three.
Penn State did not go down without a fight. Carter was fouled on a three point shot, and made two out of three. After two crucial Maycock free throws, Penn State had three chances to tie the game, but they couldn’t get any of them to fall.
“The last possession was scary, but we contested everything late, and I thought we did execute really well,” said Fleming.
The Bonnies next test is against Buffalo at home on Friday at 7 p.m. in the Reilly Center.
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