Niagara (3-7) @ St. Bonaventure (8-1)
Friday, Dec. 16 | 7 PM | Reilly Center (5,480)
Game Notes: Niagara | St. Bonaventure | Atlantic 10
Follow & Interact: @Go_Bonnies | #Bonnies
Opening Tip Items
St. Bonaventure will look to extend its streak of 14 consecutive wins over Big 4 rivals when it hosts Niagara Friday night. The 14 straight victories is the longest such streak in the history of Big 4 women's basketball. Furthermore, Bona has won 19 straight games at home against Niagara. The Purple Eagles have never beaten the Bonnies in the Reilly Center since SBU joined Division I in 1986-87, and their last win at the RC came on Feb. 21, 1981, 64-45.
The Bonnies have not lost to a Big 4 school since Nov. 19, 2006, when the University at Buffalo defeated them at the St. Bonaventure Shootout, 67-59. Bona won at Canisius earlier this year, 74-58, and is coming off a 76-45 triumph of UB last Saturday.
Defeating its three local rivals by double figures has been a constant theme throughout Bona's 14-game winning streak, as those victories have come by a commanding average of 18.6 points per game. Only three of those wins were by single digits, and the other 11 have all been by 16 or more points.
That task could be a little more difficult against Niagara as Bonaventure is doubtful to have senior Megan Van Tatenhove, who has started 58 straight games. A Preseason Atlantic 10 First Team selection and currently the team's second-leading scorer (12.2) and rebounder (5.6), Van Tatenhove hit her head on the floor while diving for a loose ball in the first half last Saturday against Buffalo.
St. Bonaventure is holding its opponents to just 50.6 points per game, ranking it 15th in the nation and second in the Atlantic 10. However, over the last four games the Bonnies have locked down even more than usual, allowing just 43.6 points per outing, including the last three games in which they have not allowed an opponent to shoot higher than 26.4 percent from the floor. Also in those last three games, the Bonnies have not allowed their opponents to reach the 20-point mark in the first half.
The Bonnies have a scoring margin of +13 on the year – one of only two A-10 teams with a positive double-figure scoring margin. SBU averages 63.6 points per game and allows just 50.6. South Carolina is the only school in the nation with a greater scoring margin which averages fewer points per game. The Gamecocks score just 61 per game and allow 46.2 to create their +14.8 margin.
Sophomore CeCe Dixon is coming off her fourth double-figure scoring outing of the year with an 11-point performance against Buffalo. That is her fourth double-figure scoring game this season already, as last year she reached that plateau just once. Dixon is the third-leading scorer on the team at 7.9 per game, and has scored 71 points this year after netting 99 all of last year.
Senior Jessica Jenkins – who is closing in on the school and conference 3-pointers made record – is currently on one of the best shooting streaks of her career. Jenkins has made 13 3-pointers in the last three games, tied for the second most over a three-game stretch in her career. Last year she hit 14 3's during a three-game run, and in her sophomore season she knocked down 13 over a three-game stretch.
Through nine games, the Bonnies are tied for their second-best start in program history with the 1992-93 team which also began 8-1. The 2009-10 squad – which commenced its campaign at 11-0 – is the only club with a faster start than the 2011-12 Bonnies.
Scouting Niagara
~ Niagara is 3-7 following a 50-40 loss at Ohio on Tuesday night
~ Illinois-Chicago transfer Lauren Gatto is the team's leading scorer and rebounder at 9.9 and 5.8, respectively
~ The Purple Eagles are averaging just 50.5 points per game
~ Junior guard Kayla Stroman was named to the Preseason All-MAAC Third Team
~ The contest against the Bonnies is the second of a five-game road trip for Niagara
RPI Report #2 (Through Dec. 12)
This Week: 27
Last Week: 19
Strength of Schedule: 114
vs. 1-25: 0-1
vs. 26-50: 0-0
vs. 51-100: 3-0
vs. 101-200: 4-0
vs. 201-342: 1-0
A-10 Ranking: 9/33
St. Bonaventure is one of only four schools in the nation with five road wins, and one of only two (Bradley) which is undefeated on the road with at least five victories.
The Bonnies – for the second week in a row – are the highest ranked A-10 team.
As a conference, the A-10 has won eight games against BCS schools, and Bonaventure is responsible for three of them (St. John's, West Virginia, Indiana).
Next Up
St. Bonaventure will conclude its four-game homestand on Sunday with a visit from perennial mid-major power Marist. The Red Foxes, who went 31-3 last year and lost by just five at Duke in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament, will be looking to avenge a 45-40 loss at the hands of the Bonnies last year. Tipoff between two of the best non-BCS schools in the nation is set for Noon, and will be part of a doubleheader with the men's team.
