Dec. 31, 2007

Final Stats

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Syracuse controlled the lead for the final 31-plus minutes of the game en route to their 11th win in a row by defeating the St. Bonaventure women's basketball team 72-57 on Monday afternoon in the Carrier Dome.

The Bonnies first loss in nearly a month snapped the club's six-game win streak, while the Orange improved to 12-1 to match the program's best start in school history. The last Bona defeat also came against the Big East as the Brown and White dropped a 64-37 decision to nationally ranked West Virginia at the Florida Atlantic Holiday Classic on December 1.

Syracuse became just the second team this season to surpass 70 points against the Bonaventure defense, while the Bonnies' 57 points this afternoon was their third lowest offensive output this season.

Sophomore Andrea Doneth led the Brown and White with 11 points and six assists in her third straight double digit scoring effort. Fellow classmate Dana Mitchell tallied her 14th consecutive contest in double figures with 10 points to go along with six rebounds. The Fairless Hills, Pa. product was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Week earlier this afternoon following her 28 point and 10 rebound performance at Binghamton on Saturday, Dec. 29.

Senior Fantasia Goodwin led all players with 19 points and 10 rebounds for her fifth straight double-double. Junior Chandrea Jones and reigning Big East Freshman of the Week Erica Morrow added 15 and 12 points, respectively.

Syracuse dominated the blocks throughout the contest, outrebounding the Bonnies 43-25 with 18 offensive boards on the afternoon. Sophomore Nicole Michael joined Goodwin with 10 caroms. The Bona frontcourt had no answers for the Orange post players as they tallied 44 of the team's 72 points in the paint.

After trading baskets in the opening four minutes of the second session, Syracuse put together a 19-9 run over a 9:36 span to give the Orange their largest lead of the game of 23 points with 14:07 remaining in regulation. Jones registered eight points during the contest clinching run, including a clever fade away jumper at the 14:07 mark. The Bonnies never came closer than 15 points during the Syracuse spurt.

However, the Brown and White closed the game with 10 of the final 12 points, including a deep three-pointer by Doneth just before the final buzzer. Mitchell sparked the spurt with a baseline jumper before Doneth converted a conventional three-point play on a driving lay up at the rim. Senior Maripier Malo connected on her second field goal of the afternoon, before Doneth's triple from well behind the arc.

A 36-11 run to close the opening 20 minutes of play sent the Orange into the locker room with a 44-29 advantage at the break. The 15-point Bona deficit was the second largest of the year after trailing by 16 tallies to West Virginia.

Syracuse scored 28 of its 36 points in the paint during the first session, while shooting a sizzling 60.0 percent clip from the field. Six first half three-pointers kept the Bonnies in striking distance for most of the opening session as junior Katelyn Murray connected on a perfect 3-for-3 from behind the arc for nine first half points.

After falling behind 12-4 in the opening minutes of action, the Bonnies tallied 12 consecutive points to take a 16-12 advantage thanks to hot shooting from three-point land. The Brown and White drained triples on three straight possessions to turn an eight point deficit into a four point lead.

Freshman Cara Gustafson sparked the spurt with three-pointers on back-to-back possessions to cut the Orange lead to one basket at 12-10. Schiefen put the Bonnies up 13-12 the next time down the floor with the club's third trifecta of the half from the left wing.

Malo made an immediate impact upon her entry into the contest with three quick points, including a driving lay up down the left baseline to extend the Bona advantage to four points.

However, the `Cuse responded with 36 of the final 47 points in the half, while the Bonnies managed just four field goals in the final 11:44.

The Brown and White will remain on the road for their final contest of the club's 10-game road stretch at Cornell on Friday, Jan. 4. Tip-off is slated for 7:00 p.m.