By: Dylan Nuzzo, Assistant Sports Information Director
Box Score CLEVELAND – Asianae Johnson tallied 14 points and Maddie Dziezgowski added nine, but the St. Bonaventure University women's basketball team fell at Cleveland State, 58-49, Saturday afternoon.
Johnson tallied 10 of her 14 points in the second half and moved into 23rd on the Bonnies all-time scoring list with 998 career points.
It was a slow start to the contest for the Bonnies, shooting just 27.1 percent (9-for-32) in the first half while falling behind, 26-21, at the break.
Cleveland State (2-0) came out of the halftime break and pushed its lead to as many as 18 after a 3-pointer from Gabriella Smith with 2:51 left in the third.
The Bonnies, playing their third game of the opening week of the year after winning home contests over Robert Morris and Siena Tuesday and Thursday respectively, used a 9-0 run to get back in the contest. Bona worked back within eight, 55-47, following a three from Dziezgowski and a Tianna Johnson layup with just over three minutes to play.
Cleveland State's Destiny Leo scored to put the Vikings back up 10 on the next possession, though, squashing the rally effort.
The Vikings took the early lead, 9-7, late in the first and never trailed again.
Cleveland State turned its first quarter lead into a 23-15 advantage with 2:57 remaining in the second quarter following a layup from Nadia Dumas.
The Bonnies, however, began to chip away at the deficit in the final minutes thanks to a trey from Dziezgowski and an I'yanna Lops layup to pull within five, 25-20.
Bona's and Cleveland State each tacked on a free throw to end the first half with the Vikings on top, 26-21.
The Bonnies return home to host Little Three rival Canisius Wednesday, Nov. 17 at the Reilly Center. Tip is slated for 6:00 p.m.
GAME NOTES
·       After scoring 14 points, Asianae Johnson moves within just two points for 1,000 for her career.
·       Dziezgowski matched her career-high with nine points and hauled in a career-best seven rebounds. She also set a new career-high with three made baskets from behind the arc.
·       The Bonnies were outrebounded for the first time this season Saturday, finishing -12 (49-37).
·       Bona's has held its last two opponents to just 5-for-45 (11.1%) from three-point range.
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