Feb. 22, 2007

Final Stats

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - Freshman Dana Mitchell poured in a career-high 32 points, including 18 of the Bonnies' 28 second half points, to lead the St. Bonaventure women's basketball team to a 64-57 win over Rhode Island on Thursday night at the Reilly Center.

The win moves the Bonnies into sole possession of 10th place in the Atlantic 10 at 5-8 and ensures them a trip to Cincinnati next week for the conference tournament. St. Bonaventure now has an overall mark of 15-13 and is guaranteed its first winning record in regular season play since 1997-98.

Mitchell is the first Bonnie to score 30 points since Stefanie Collins dropped 31 at Saint Joseph's on Jan. 7, 2005. Mitchell added 10 rebounds, including eight at the offensive end, to post her first career double-double while shooting 13-20 from the field.

"Her teammates did a great job of getting her the ball, but certainly she also did a heck of a job on the offensive glass and got a lot of points that way," said head coach Jim Crowley. "Dana is a special player and she is just starting to realize that and that's scary."

With the score tied 6-6, the Bonnies used a 7-0 run to create some separation early in the game. Freshman Dana Mitchell started and finished the run with a pair of layups, while senior Audrey Latendresse buried a three from the top of the key to make it 13-6 6:48 into the game.

The Rams climbed to within one, 23-22, with 5:19 remaining, but a 9-0 Bona run that absorbed just over a minute gave the Brown and White its biggest lead of the half (10), at 32-22 with 3:17 left.

St. Bonaventure took a 36-30 edge into the locker room and finished the half with a dominating 23-10 edge on the glass.

It was all Mitchell early on as the Fairless Hill, Pa. native scored the first eight points of the half in a variety of ways to balloon the Bonaventure lead to 44-30. Mitchell converted on a pair of offensive rebounds, a fast break layup and two points from the charity stripe.

Rhode Island fought off Mitchell's torrid start and responded with a 10-0 run of their own to cut the deficit to four at 44-40.

Back-to-back three-point plays from sophomore Ashley Edwards and sophomore Katelyn Murray pushed the Brown and White's lead back to 50-40 with 13:12 remaining.

The Rams could not get closer than seven points the rest of the second half as the Bonnies cruised to their second straight win.

Latendresse posted eight points and nine rebounds on the night for St. Bonaventure. Ashley Edwards, Murray, and junior Priscilla Edwards each finished with six points and five rebounds, respectively. Priscilla Edwards dished out five assists as well.

The Bonnies continued to shoot well from the free throw line, going 14-17 (82 percent), and controlled the boards by a 41-30 margin.

Sophomore Sierra Cooper led the way for the Rams with 12 points and seven rebounds.

St. Bonaventure will wrap-up regular season play on Sunday when they welcome Charlotte to the RC.