St. Bonaventure

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – Asianae Johnson scored a game-high 18 points while I'yanna Lops came up with a clutch defensive stop to give the St. Bonaventure University women's basketball team a 50-47 victory over Marshall Sunday at the Reilly Center.

The Bonnies (7-3) led the Thundering Herd by a point, 48-47, as Marshall set up a final possession.

With the ball and five seconds to go, Marshall's Savannah Wheeler drove the lane where she was met by Lops who rejected the shot into the arms of Nikki Oppenheimer. The block ended Marshall's last chance to push ahead.

Johnson scored 16 out of her 18 points in the second half and also dished out a team-high four assists in the win. Also scoring in double figures for the Bonnies was Tori Harris who chipped in 12 points.

Oppenheimer converted a pair of free throws to seal the victory for the Brown and White as the Bonnies rallied from a 13-point deficit after the first quarter.

The Bonnies seemed to flip the switch in the third period behind 10 points from Johnson, outscoring Marshall 23-9 in the quarter.

Harris nailed a triple from the straight away to bring the hosts within one, 34-33, with 4:09 to play in the quarter.

Back-to-back baskets from Taylor Napper put the Bonnies on top for the first time in the contest, 37-34. with just over a minute to play in the third.

Johnson and Harris continued to lead the way for the Brown and White as they headed into the final quarter of action.

The senior duo combined for the first seven points of the fourth, but Marshall was able to answer each basket and retake the lead, 45-44, with 4:42 to play.

Johnson continued her second half onslaught, hitting a step back jumper to put the Bonnies back on top, 46-45, with three minutes to go.

Marshall (3-4) held the Bonnies to 1-of-13 from the field in the first period and was able to take a commanding 13-point, 17-4, advantage after 10 minutes of play.

It was all Thundering Herd in the second period as they held their double-digit lead through the quarter and took a 27-14 lead into the halftime break.

The Bonnies are back in action on the road Saturday, Dec. 18 at Robert Morris. Tip is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

GAME NOTES

·        Lexie Sinclair made the first start of her career Sunday in place of the injured Tianna Johnson, playing 25 minutes.

·        The Bonnies shot a season-best 85.7 percent (12-for-14) from the free throw line.

·        Bona's finished the contest shooting 31.6 percent (18-for-57) from the floor and held Marshall to 28.8 percent (17-for-59) shooting.

·        The Brown and White won the battle in the paint, outscoring the Thundering Herd, 22-16.

·        Taylor Napper set a new career-high with six rebounds, including three offensive rebounds.