Dec. 17, 2008

Final Stats

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - A 15-4 run to start the game carried the St. Bonaventure women's basketball team to a 64-43 win over Niagara on Wednesday afternoon in front of a sellout crowd at the Gallagher Center.

With today's victory, the Bonnies completed a sweep of the Big 4 season series for the second straight season, having already beaten Canisius and Buffalo last month.

St. Bonaventure improves to 7-2 with today's victory, while Niagara falls to 1-9.

The Brown and White were led in scoring by the trio of Erica Schiefen, Armelia Horton and Megan Van Tatenhove. Schiefen netted 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc. Her 15 points and five made three-pointers, all of which came in the second half, are both new career-highs. Armelia Horton and Megan Van Tatenhove followed Schiefen, chipping in with 11 points each.

Priscilla Edwards also had a solid game for the Bonnies handing out five assists, grabbing seven rebounds and notching three steals in the victory.

St. Bonaventure got out on top early thanks to a 7-2 run to start the game, capped by a Dana Mitchell lay-up. The Bonnies would extend their lead to 15-4 on an Andrea Doneth runner with 13:00 remaining in the first half.

The Brown and White would then turn their attention towards the defensive side of the ball, holding the Purple Eagles scoreless for the next six minutes of the half. Niagara ended its drought with a made free-throw by Ali Morris, making the score 19-5.

The Bonnies would not let Niagara gain any momentum, however, as Horton would score on the Brown and White's next three possessions to put the visitor's up, 25-9, with 4:54 left in the first half.

Niagara would finally break into double digits when Liz Flooks nailed a three-pointer to bring the purple Eagles within 13.

The Bonnies would eventually play their way to a 29-16 lead going into half.

The first four minutes of the second half belonged to Schiefen as she exploded coming out of intermission. Schiefen would hit four three-pointers during that stretch, as she outscored Niagara by herself 12-1, to expand the Bona lead up to 41-17.

The Purple Eagles would cut the Bonnie lead down to 18 after a Jennifer McNamee three-pointer with 8:21 remaining in the game. Schiefen would have an answer for the Bonnies, however, as she canned her fifth three-pointer of the half to put the Bonnies back up 58-38 with 6:57 left.

That is where the St. Bonaventure lead would stay for the remainder of the game, as Niagara didn't come within 20 the rest of the way. The Brown and White shot 40 percent (23-57) from the field and outrebounded Niagara 40-34 for the game. Niagara shot 26 percent (14-55) from the field and 24 percent (4-17) from three-point land for the game.

Niagara was led by McNamee who scored in 14 points on 4-of-15 shooting from the field, while teammate Ali Morris chipped in seven points on a 2-for-11 mark from the field.

The Brown and White return to action on Saturday as they travel to MAAC power Marist. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.