Feb. 8, 2009

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Dana Mitchell scored 22 points to lead the St. Bonaventure women's basketball team to a 64-52 Atlantic 10 victory over Saint Joseph's on Sunday afternoon at the Gallagher Center on national television.

The Brown and White erupted for 42 points in the second half, outscoring the Hawks by a 42-29 margin to pull away for the victory. The Bonnies shot 56 percent (14-25) from the field in the second stanza and 50 percent (23-46) for the game.

With its second win in a row, St. Bonaventure improves to 17-6 on the season and 6-2 in A-10 play. Saint Joseph's on the other hand have now lost two in a row, and drop to 10-13 overall and 2-6 in conference play.

Defense once again carried the Bonnies to victory, as they held Saint Joseph's to 31 percent (18-59) shooting from the field. The Hawks are the fourth team out of the last five that St. Bonaventure has held below 56 points.

The Bonnies were led by Mitchell who's 22 points, on 9-15 from the field, was a game-high. The only other player in double figures for the Brown and White was Priscilla Edwards who tallied 11 points to go along with seven rebounds and three assists.

The Hawks started the first seven minutes of the game on a 9-4 run. A jumper by Mariame Djouara would put Saint Joseph's up five with 13:06 to go in the first.

The Brown and White would pull even with the Hawks after going on a 5-0 run of their own in response. A jumper by Priscilla Edwards would knot the game up at 9-9 with 10:48 remaining in the first half.

Both teams would go cold after Edwards' jumper, as neither squad registered a point over the next three minutes of the game. St. Bonaventure would end the scoreless streak and take its first lead of the game, at 12-9, on a three-pointer by freshman Jessica Jenkins with 7:40 left in the first.

A Priscilla Edwards lay in would extend the Bonnies lead up to 16-11 with 5:35 remaining.

Saint Joseph's would respond with a 9-2 run fueled by six points from freshman Katie Kuester to retake the lead. A three-pointer by Kuester would put the Hawks up 19-18 with 2:19 left in the first. The teams would trade baskets over the final two minutes giving Saint Joseph's a one-point lead going into half.

It wouldn't take long for St. Bonaventure to retake the lead coming out of intermission. Mitchell hit a jumper to give the Bonnies the lead at 24-23 just two minutes in. Senior Erica Schiefen would extend the Brown and White's lead up to four at 31-27 after nailing a straight away three-pointer with 15:27 remaining in the second half.

A left-handed lay-in by junior Andrea Doneth would push the Bonnies lead up to eight at 44-36 with 8:20 left in the game.

However, just when it looked like St. Bonaventure would begin to pull away, the Hawks ripped off another huge run. The Hawks went on an 8-0 run capped by a three-pointer by Jenna Loschiavo to bring St. Joseph's with one, 48-47, with just 5:11 remaining in regulation.

The Brown and White would not get rattled by the home team's run, getting scores on their next three straight possessions. First, Priscilla Edwards hit a pull up jumper, then Mitchell converted a lay in on the Bonnies next possession and finally Schiefen would drill another three-pointer to put St. Bonaventure up 55-47 with 2:24 left in the game.

That is where the Brown and White's lead would stay as they hit their free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.

Senior Katelyn Murray chipped in seven points in the victory, leaving her four away from 1,000 for her career.

Saint Joseph's was led by Ashley Logue and Jenna Loschiavo who tallied 10 points apiece.

St. Bonaventure will be back in action, looking for its third consecutive A-10 win, on Tuesday, Feb. 10, when it welcomes Rhode Island to the Reilly Center. Gametime is scheduled for 7 p.m.