By: Dylan Nuzzo, Assistant Sports Information Director
ST. BONAVENTURE (5-2, 0-0 ATLANTIC 10) vs. BUCKNELL (6-2, 0-0 PATRIOT)
Monday, Dec. 6 – 7:00 p.m.
St. Bonaventure, N.Y. – Reilly Center
TV: ESPN+
The St. Bonaventure University women's basketball team remains at home to host Bucknell Monday, Dec. 6 at the Reilly Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
OPENING TIP
·       The Bonnies are looking to bounce back following a 64-53 loss to Kent State Friday evening. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Brown and White.
·       Asianae Johnson led the Bonnies with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor and 4-of-5 from the free throw line. She also dished out a team-high six assists while playing all 40 minutes. Also scoring in double figures for the Brown and White were Tori Harris with 11 points and I'yanna Lops chipped in 10.
·       Friday marked the first time this season the Bonnies allowed their opponent to score more than 60 points. Despite the Golden Flashes surpassing the 60-point mark, the Bonnies held Kent State well below its season average of 78.7 points per game.
BONNIES BITS
·       Defense has been key for the Bonnies through seven games. St. Bonaventure ranks in the top-50 nationally in multiple categories. Following the Dec. 3 games, the Bonnies are 43rd in the NCAA and fourth in the Atlantic 10 in scoring defense, allowing just 54.3 points per game.
·       The Bonnies have been closing out on shooters, allowing teams to shoot just 34.7 percent from the floor which ranks second in the A-10 and 46th in the NCAA. Bona's is defending the three ball just as well, ranking third in the A-10 and 46th in the NCAA in three-point percentage defense, allowing opponents to hit 24.6 percent of their shots from beyond the arc.
·       Asianae Johnson continues to be one of the more efficient scorers in the Atlantic 10, sitting sixth overall and second among guards in field goal percentage, hitting at a 48.2 percent clip. She also ranks seventh in the conference in scoring, averaging 15.4 points per game. Johnson has also been handing out 3.9 assists per game, a number which ranks ninth in the Atlantic 10.
·       Junior forward I'yanna Lops has emerged as a true presence underneath the basket this season. Lops is currently fourth in the Atlantic 10 in blocks (11) and blocks per game (1.6). She leads the Bonnies in rebounding and is ninth in the A-10, pulling down 7.4 rebounds per game while pulling down six or more rebounds in all but one game this season.
SERIES HISTORY
·       Monday will be the 14th meeting all-time between the Bonnies and the Bison. SBU holds an 8-5 advantage in the all-time series, but Bucknell has won the previous two matchups. The two teams last met Nov. 13, 2019 in Lewisburg, Pa., with the Bison coming out on top, 68-60. The last time the teams played at the Reilly Center was in 2018 with Bucknell winning, 77-46.
·       The Bonnies last win against the Bison came Nov. 21, 2017 in Lewisburg. McKenna Maycock poured in 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the 59-48 victory.
·       SBU is 5-3 all-time vs. Bucknell at the Reilly Center.
BUCKNELL NOTES
·       Bucknell enters Monday's contest with a record 6-2 and is coming off a 62-46 win over Penn Friday for its fifth straight win. The Bison have also beaten Saint Francis (PA) (68-31), Vermont (68-53), North Dakota (64-59) and Iona (55-48) during their win streak. The only two losses on the docket for Bucknell this season have come against Ohio State (71-48) and Temple (59-46).
·       The Bison are coached by Trevor Woodruff who is in his third season at the helm of the Bucknell women's basketball program. In two-plus seasons, Woodruff touts a record of 39-9 overall and 24-2 in Patriot League action. During his time in Lewisburg, Woodruff has had six different players earn All-Patriot League honors, including the 2019-20 Patriot League Player of the Year Ellie Mack. Bucknell was picked to finish third in the Patriot League preseason poll and received four first place votes. Senior guard Taylor O'Brien was named to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team.
·       O'Brien paces the Bison in scoring, pouring in an average of 18.3 points per game and is also leading the team in rebounding at 6.4 per game. Also averaging double figures for the Bison are Carly Krsul (10.9 ppg) and Cecilia Collins (10.8 ppg).
DEFENSIVE COMPARISON
·       Defense will a topic of discussion during Monday's matchup between the Bonnies and the Bison. Bucknell is allowing just 52.9 points per game and are holding their opponents to a 36.1 shooting percentage as well as just 27.9 percent from beyond the arc.
·       The Bonnies are holding opponents to 54.3 points per game and a 34.7 shooting percentage through the first seven games.
UP NEXT
·       The Bonnies are back on the road Thursday, Dec. 9 when they travel to Hamilton, N.Y. to take on Colgate. Tip is slated for 7:00 p.m.
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For the latest news on St. Bonaventure athletics, stay connected on social media. Follow the Bonnies on Twitter @GoBonnies and get women's basketball updates @BonniesWBB. Keep up with the Bonnies on Facebook /GoBonnies and on Instagram @GoBonnies.
