Tag: atlantic 10 women’s basketball

NEW: Brown, Johnson lead Bonnies past Duquesne

photo courtesy of gobonnies.sbu.edu

By Dustyn Green

ST. BONAVENTURE, NY — The St. Bonaventure women’s basketball team and head coach Jesse Fleming needed a bounce-back game on Monday night. They did just that by beating Duquesne, 72-55, at the Reilly Center. 

The Bonnies came out fast to start the game.  Scoring came from all over for SBU. Senior forward Emily Calabrese had seven points in the first half, including a nice and-on3 from the rim. 

“The ball movement was really good; I thought the ball moved really well tonight,” Fleming said of the hot start. “I am proud of the girls.”

The Bonnies took exactly what the doctor ordered. Sophomore guard Olivia Brown went 5-for-7 from 3-point range on her way to a 17-point performance.

“My teammates got looks for me which was amazing,” Brown said. “Everyone was getting shots.” 

Redshirt junior guard Tori Harris and junior guard Asianae Johnson combined for 15 points in the first half. The duo’s explosion came in the midst of 63% shooting for the Bonnies in the opening frames.  

The Bonnies took an 8-for-8 combination from the field for Calabrese and Brown to the locker room, and they led 46-21. 

The Bonnies only saw six points fall before the third quarter media timeout fell. Upon the return, Deja Francis was called for an offensive foul, but Asianae Johnson scored two from the inside before picking up her third foul.  

The Bonnies finished with only 12 points in the third quarter. 

“Duquesne really knocked us out of our mojo coming out (in the 2nd half with a press)” Brown said. 

The woes continued in the fourth quarter, Brown had to get on the ground to corale the basketball. Duquesne went on a 6-0 run before Asianae Johnson who had 9 assists played hero again. 

“(Johnson did a nice job at the end of the press creating the layup,” Fleming said. 

Ny Langley finished with a game-high 17 points for the Dukes. Fleming praised the junior college transfer as “very physical.” 

Brown and Calabrese finished with 17 and 11 points respectively. Their teammate, Johnson finished one digit shy of a double-double with 18 points and nine assists. 

The Bonnies will round out the season in Philladelphia with contests against St. Joseph’s and Lasalle. Both games can be found on ESPN+. 

“We just have to finish our fight now,” Fleming said. 

Bona splits pair of road games at George Mason, GW

photo courtesy of gobonnies.sbu.edu

By Dustyn Green

WASHINGTON, DC — The St. Bonaventure women’s basketball team  put together a three-game win streak last week, but had it put to rest on Sunday against George Washington.

After beating Davidson in back-to-back home games last week, the Bonnies and head coach Jesse Fleming took care of business against George Mason on Friday, winning 72-62, but face-planted in a slow offensive effort on Sunday. The Bonnies were the victims of a 56-39 George Washington win.

Bona junior guard Tori Harris led the Bonnies in Friday’s contest with 16 points and 10 rebounds, her third double-double of the year. Junior guard Deja Francis followed her with 12 points and assisted on six occasions. Junior guard Asianae Johnson and senior Emily Calabrese chipped in with 11 and 10 points, respectively. 

The Bonnies led for 35 minutes, out-scoring the Patriots by no more than four points in a single quarter. Patriots star Rachel Balzer would threaten with 6:36 remaining by making two shots from the charity stripe that cut the SBU lead to eight points, but Francis and Harris made crucial plays. Francis hit one from the charity stripe, and Harris followed down low with a layup. 

George Mason forward Dajjah Jefferson had a game-high 25 points to go with 10 rebounds. 

After winning by double digits on Friday, the team was slowed down on Sunday afternoon. Sophomore guard Olivia Brown attempted to find a pathway to victory. Brown, who led the way in scoring with 13 points, also tallied four steals on the afternoon.  

Despite the 13 points from Brown, the Bonnies could not secure a win. Sophomore guard I’yanna Lops chipped in 12 points, but first-half shooting woes proved too much to overcome for the Bonnies. The team shot a lackluster 26.9% in the first half. The Bonnies found themselves down 25-15 heading into the locker room. 

To start the second half, things looked a little different for St. Bonaventure. Brown came out firing on all cylinders to start the third frame. She hit two big 3-pointers to lead the Bonnies on an 8-0 run, but GW had an answer.  

The Colonials went on a 6-0 run to finish the third quarter, and held on the rest of the way. Ali Brigham had 15 points on the day and led both teams in scoring. 

The Bonnies were out-rebounded in both games, as the Patriots held a 39-24 advantage on the boards, while GW out-rebounded Bona, 30-18.

SBU returns home this coming Saturday, when it hosts Rhode Island at the Reilly Center.

Bona women beat Davidson on back-to-back nights

photo: Connor Raine/The Intrepid

By Connor Raine

ST. BONAVENTURE, NY —  The St. Bonaventure women’s basketball team put up over 70 points on back-to-back nights against Davidson. 

After defeating the Wildcats at home on Sunday, 71-58, the Bonnies once again hosted Davidson on Monday night in the second half of a back-to-back at the Reilly Center. 

This season has been a tough one for the Bonnies, who currently sit at 11th in the Atlantic 10 conference with a 4-10 record. However, the team’s record doesn’t show for the chemistry displayed this weekend to sweep the doubleheader.  

After winning big on Sunday, the Bonnies returned to the court with slow start on Monday, as they trailed 15-7 after the first quarter. The Bonnies shot only 27% from the field in the first quarter. This was their lowest shooting percentage (by quarter) from the field in the contest. 

The Bonnies were able to make up some ground in the second quarter, converting on 46% of their shot attempts from the field. The Bonnies trailed only by four points going into halftime.  

“Today we came out a little flat,” said St. Bonaventure head coach Jesse Fleming. “I was proud to see us battle back.” 

Led by Asianae Johnson, who scored points 20 points and collected and two assists, the Bonnies were able to bounce back and secure the victory late in the third quarter where they were leading by as many as 12 points.  

“It is amazing to win back-to-back, our team had to play 80 minutes in two days,” said Johnson, a junior guard. 

Also contributing to the scoring was I’yanna Lops with 13 points and seven rebounds, and Tori Harris contributed with critical 3-pointers in the game, totaling 12 points and seven rebounds. Jurnee President and Deja Francis each had 11 points.   

Johnson was named A-10 player of the week this past week for her double-digit scoring performances against Saint Louis and Dayton. 

“At the end of the day I am proud of my accomplishments, I have been putting in so much work and everyone can see it,” said Johnson.  

This accomplishment was well deserved, as Johnson also had a career night Sunday in the first game of the double header, shooting 8-for-11 from the field totaling 18 points. Johnson is now averaging 14 points per game on the season and shooting 47% from the field. 

“Well deserving (of her accomplishment),” Fleming said. “I don’t think she has missed a day since the end of July when we returned to campus. She couldn’t shoot outside of three feet a year ago, now she has a very strong pull up jumper.” 

The Bonnies look to continue their two-game winning streak as they travel to Fairfax, Virginia on Friday evening to take on the 3-14 the Gorge Mason Patriots. The Patriots are currently 0-10 in league play and are sitting in last place in the A-10 conference.  

On Sunday, the lady Bonnies will take on George Washington in Washington D.C, which will conclude a two-game road trip. Gorge Washington is currently 1-9 in conference play and 4-12 overall sitting at 13th in the A-10. 

“We have to find a way to win on the road,” Fleming said.  

Three out of the four Bonnies wins this season have come at home. The Bonnies are looking to flip the switch and gain two wins on the road and are coming into the weekend road trip with momentum after winning two straight against Davidson.  

Women’s basketball: Schedule release, and notes from the summer

By Joseph Phelan 

On July 23, St. Bonaventure released its non-conference schedule.

“The non-conference schedule that we set up, and I give (assistant coach) Andi (Andrea) Doneth all the credit–she did a great job, (the schedule) was set up to best prepare us for A-10 play,” said head coach Jim Crowley.

The schedule features seven road games, four home games and two games in the Brown University Classic.

St. Bonaventure will face two 2014 NCAA tournament teams in November when the Bonnies travel to James Madison on the 16, and to Penn State on the 25.

“Penn State is a great opportunity for us. They obviously are one of the top teams in the country,” said Crowley. “James Madison is another highlight. They are one of the nation’s best mid-majors, and one of the few we have yet to play.”

The rest of the opponents should provide good tests for the Bonnies before they embrace conference play beginning in 2015.

Continue reading “Women’s basketball: Schedule release, and notes from the summer” →

Women’s basketball: La Salle Preview

By Joseph Phelan, @JPhelan13

Today at 5 p.m. in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 tournament, St. Bonaventure takes on the La Salle Explorers.

St. Bonaventure (22-9) finished second in the A-10 and spent Thursday on a bye while La Salle (15-14), as a seven seed, beat Saint Louis 65-56.

The Bonnies and Explorers meet for the third time this season.

St. Bonaventure beat La Salle in western New York in January.

La Salle defeated St. Bonaventure last Saturday in Philadelphia.

Continue reading “Women’s basketball: La Salle Preview” →

Women’s basketball: Chelsea Bowker will be remembered as a winner

By Joseph Phelan, @JPhelan13

Chelsea Bowker has hit 221 three pointers in her career, but she shouldn’t be remembered for them.

Even if that number continues to rise with two more regular season games and then whatever the postseason has in store for the Bonnies.

She has scored 10 or more points in 37 games during her career. In those games, St. Bonaventure has a 33-4 record.

Bowker’s ability to stretch the floor gave space for Megan Van Tatenhove before and Katie Healy now for one-on-one match ups.

Continue reading “Women’s basketball: Chelsea Bowker will be remembered as a winner” →