By: Dylan Nuzzo, Assistant Sports Information Director
ST. BONAVENTURE (4-1, 0-0 ATLANTIC 10) vs. CLARION (1-4, 0-0 PSAC)
Sunday, Nov. 28 – 12:00 p.m.
St. Bonaventure, N.Y. – Reilly Center
TV: ESPN+
The St. Bonaventure University women's basketball team returns to action following the Thanksgiving holiday break to host Clarion Sunday, Nov. 28 at the Reilly Center. Tip is slated for 12:00 p.m.
OPENING TIP
·       The Bonnies enter Sunday's matchup against Clarion with a 4-1 record to begin the season. Bona's continues its best start to begin a year since the 2013-14 season when that squad started 6-1 and advanced to the WNIT.
·       St. Bonaventure earned its first road win of the season Saturday at Binghamton, defeating the Bearcats, 63-55. Asianae Johnson poured in a season-high 20 points, just one-point shy of her career-high. Tori Harris tallied 15 points while I'yanna Lops chipped in 12 for the Bonnies.
·       After last Saturday's win, the Bonnies are now 11-1 all-time against Binghamton and have won two straight over the Bearcats.
BONNIES BITS
·       The Bonnies are currently one of three teams in the Atlantic 10 to not allow an opponent to score 60 points this season. The other two teams are Rhode Island (5-0) and VCU (2-1).
·       The Brown and White have held their first five opponents to less than 60 points to begin the year for the first time since the 2009-10 season. That squad started 11-0 and advanced to the second round of the WNIT.
·       Entering the week, St. Bonaventure ranked fourth in the A-10 in scoring defense (53.4) and third in field goal percentage defense (33.7). The Bonnies also rank fourth in the A-10 in three-point field goal percentage defense, allowing opponents to shoot just 21.8 percent from beyond the arc.
·       Bona's is pulling down an average of 38.6 rebounds per game as a team this season and are +2.2 in rebounding margin through the first five games.
·       I'yanna Lops leads the Bonnies in rebounding, pulling down an average of 7.8 per game and has eight or more rebounds in four out of five games. The junior forward also ranks fifth in the Atlantic 10 with seven blocks and fifth in blocks per game, rejecting 1.4 shots per contest.
·       The Bonnies have dominated the paint this season, outscoring opponents 156-104 in the painted area and are an average of +10.4 through five games.
JOHNSON LANDS ON ATLANTIC 10 WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
·       Senior guard Asianae Johnson averaged 18.0 points, 4.5 assists and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 52 percent from the floor and 76.9 percent from the free throw line in a pair of wins last week, earning a spot on the Atlantic 10 Weekly Honor Roll.
·       Johnson currently sits 21st on the Bonnies all-time scoring list with 1,034 career points after becoming the 23rd women's basketball player all-time to reach 1,000 career points.
·       The Brooklyn native is currently fourth in the Atlantic 10, averaging 15.8 points per game and is second in the conference in free throws made with 21.
·       Closing out close contests has been key for the Bonnies so far this season as they have outscored opponents, 93-56, in the fourth quarter this season.
LONG TIME, NO SEE
·       Sunday's matchup will be just the third time St. Bonaventure and Clarion has met on the court and is the first time since the 1986-87 season.
·       The Bonnies are 2-0 all-time over the Golden Eagles, tallying a win at home and on the road.
CLARION NOTES
·       Clarion enters Sunday's contest with an overall record of 1-4 to begin the season. The Golden Eagles lone win of the year with a 102-57 win over Penn State-Shenango Nov. 22.
·       The Golden Eagles are led by head coach Jana Ashley who is in her eighth season at the helm of the women's basketball program. Before joining the Golden Eagles, Ashley spent 11 seasons as a Division I assistant (five at Radford, five at George Mason and one at Iona). Clarion was picked to finish ninth in the PSAC West Division as part of the conference's preseason poll.
·       Sierra Bermudez leads the Golden Eagles in scoring through their first five games, averaging 20.0 points and 4.6 rebounds per game while being the only player to average over 30.0 minutes a contest. Also averaging double figures for Clarion are Jada Smith (12.3 ppg), Abby Gatesman (12.2 ppg) and Cory Santoro (12.2 ppg).
UP NEXT
·       The Bonnies remain at home to host Kent State Friday, Dec. 3. Tip is slated for 7:00 p.m.
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