Jan. 28, 2009

Final Stats

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Behind a game-high 23-point effort by senior Katelyn Murray, the St. Bonaventure women's basketball team fought their way to a 61-55 Atlantic 10 victory over Duquesne on Wednesday evening at the Palumbo Center.

The Bonnies latest win is the team's fourth straight against the Dukes, and seventh of their last eight games. St. Bonaventure enhanced their overall record to 15-5 and improved upon its best A-10 start in program history, elevating its conference mark up to 4-1.

St. Bonaventure was led by Murray, who scored her 23 points on 7-for-11 from the field and 4-of-5 from the three-point line. Junior Dana Mitchell had another strong outing for the Brown and White, tallying 16 points on 7-for-12 from the field to go along with three rebounds and two assists.

Duquesne, who have now lost five of its last six games, drops to 11-9 overall and 1-4 in A-10 play.

The Bonnies started the game with a 9-0 run over the first three minutes of the game. Mitchell fueled the early charge, scoring six of the nine points. St. Bonaventure would extend its early lead up to 16-2, after a Priscilla Edwards lay in, with 13:32 left in the first half.

Duquesne would come storming back with a 12-0 run of its own. A three-pointer by Eve Pyle would cut the Brown and White's lead to 16-14 with 10:14 remaining in the first.

St. Bonaventure would stay out in front as Jessica Jenkins would hit a three-pointer to put the Bonnies up 19-14, with 9:42 to go in the half. Murray would then nail back-to-back three-pointers for the Brown and White to extend their lead up to 26-18, with 5:01 to go.

The Dukes would not let the game get away from them, however, as they would go on an 8-2 run to make the score 28-26 St. Bonaventure with 1:35 left in the first.

The Bonnies would recieve a lay in by Doneth just before half to give the Brown and White a 30-26 lead going into intermission.

Duquesne would keep the momentum it built towards the end of the first coming out of intermission. The Dukes would start the second on a 10-2 run to take the lead, 36-34, with 14:17 to go in the game.

Duquesne would build up a three point lead, but St. Bonaventure would have a response in the form of Murray. Murray would score the next five points of the game, including a three-pointer from the short corner, to put the Brown and White up 45-43 with 6:58 to go.

Mitchell would follow Murray's lead by scoring on back-to-back possessions herself, to put the Bonnies up 53-49 with 3:55 remaining in the game.

The teams would trade scores over the next two minutes until Murray made the play of the game to seal the deal for St. Bonaventure. With the shot clock running down Murray drove the ball to the basket and converted an acrobatic lay in while drawing a foul on Duquesne. Murray finished the old fashion three-point play by hitting the free throw to put St. Bonaventure ahead to stay, 59-53 with only 50 seconds left in the game.

Junior Andrea Doneth also had a strong game for the Bonnies. Doneth had eight points and eight rebounds in the game, while dishing out four assists running the St. Bonaventure offense and breaking Duquesne's full court pressure.

Duquesne was led by Alex Gensler who tallied 11 points on 4-of-8 from the field and 1-of-3 from down town. Teammate Kristi Little was the only other Duke in double figures, tallying 10 points on 3-of-12 from the field.

The Brown and White will be back in action on Sunday, February 1, as they travel to Ohio to take on #23/21 Xavier. The game will tip-off at 1 p.m. at the Cintas Center.