Nov. 14, 2008

Final Stats

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - Behind a solid all-around offensive effort that saw contributions from multiple players, the St. Bonaventure women's basketball team picked up a season opening 66-51 victory over Binghamton Friday evening on Bob Lanier Court at the Reilly Center.

With the victory, the Bonnies earned their fourth straight win to start the new season and their sixth opening day victory overall under head coach Jim Crowley. Tonight's win was also the Bonnies third in three tries against America East member Binghamton, all of which have come in the past two seasons.

"We did not have a great offensive game tonight," said Crowley. "It was good to get this first one out of the way but played sloppy tonight in the first half, but we expect to be better and we will continue to improve."

Murray led the Bonnies balanced scoring attack with a game-high 14 points. Priscilla Edwards netted 12 points and junior Dana Mitchell was held to seven points but tallied a game-high 13 boards.

The visiting Bearcats took advantage of some sloppy ball handing early by the Bonnies, jumping out to an early 15-10 lead when freshman Orla O'Reilly converted on a fast break lay-up off a Bonnie turnover.

The Bonnies would settle down eventually and get back into the game with the help of a familiar face who is back in the lineup this year for the Brown and White. Priscilla Edwards, who missed the entire 2007-08 campaign due to injury, hit two free throws and on the very next Bonnie possession snapped off a mid-range jumper to put the home team up 18-15 with five minutes to go in the first half.

A beautiful set play off an inbounds pass right underneath the Bonnies basket found Murray all alone and she promptly drained a trifecta increasing the Bona lead to 25-17 with two minutes remaining in the first half.

Edwards would hit two more shots from the charity stripe to give the Bonnies a 30-24 lead going into half.

The second half saw some highlight reel plays from the Brown and White out of the gate. A driving lay-up by Ashley Edwards in-between two defenders put the Bonnies up 37-29. Following a Binghamton turnover the other Edwards, Priscilla, converted on a slashing lay-up while getting fouled to give Bona a 10 point lead.

The Bonnies started to pull away during the middle of the second half outscoring Binghamton 12-8 over an eight minute stretch. An Andrea Doneth 3-pointer put St. Bonaventure up 52-37 with just under eight minutes left to play.

The Brown and White lead would swell to as many as 20 points at one point late in the second half. Priscilla Edwards sank another pair of free throws with just under two minutes left to seal the deal putting the Brown and White comfortably ahead 63-46.

"We have expectations this year and the kids know that," Crowley said. "I just think the girls were a little excited and anxious to start the game but once they settled down in the 2nd half we were able to execute better and pull this one out."

Binghamton was lead by junior Erica Carter and freshman Viive Rebane who both tallied 10 points for the game

The Brown and White return to action on Sunday afternoon as the club travels to Buffalo for a 2:00 p.m. tip-off against the Bulls.