ST. BONAVENTURE (8-3, 0-0 A-10) vs. DAYTON (9-3, 0-0 A-10)
Tuesday, Jan. 4 – 7:00 p.m.
Dayton, Ohio – UD Arena
TV: ESPN+

The St. Bonaventure University women's basketball team returns to action following the holidays on the road at Dayton Tuesday, Jan. 4. Tip is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

OPENING TIP

• The Bonnies return to action from the holiday break after beating ETSU, 56-49, last Thursday in Johnson City, Tenn. Up one at halftime, the Bonnies used a 16-0 run to end the third quarter to take command of the game.
• Asianae Johnson finished with a game-high 16 points to go along with six steals, five rebounds and five assists. Her six steals were the most by any Bonnies player since Megan Van Tatenhove in 2011.
• Tori Harris added 14 points and five boards in the victory while Maddie Dziezgowski registered 14 points on four made threes and also grabbed four rebounds.

BONNIES BITS

• St. Bonaventure completed its non-conference slate with an 8-3 record, its best non-conference mark since 2015-16 when the Bonnies reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. That season also marked the last time SBU scored a win over Dayton.
• The Bonnies are looking to begin Atlantic 10 play with a win for the first time since the 2016-17 season when the Bonnies defeated Rhode Island, 78-69, at the Reilly Center
• The Brown and White are 7-0 this season in games decided by eight or less points and have outscored their opponents 194-135 in the fourth quarter.
• Bona's ranks in the top 50 nationally in multiple defensive categories. As of Dec. 28, the Bonnies are 36^th in the NCAA and second in the Atlantic 10, holding opponents to just 54.9 points per game. The Brown and White also rank 39^th in the NCAA and second in the A-10 in field goal percentage defense, allowing teams to shoot just 35.3 percent from the floor. The Bonnies also defend the 3-pointer, limiting opponents to a 28.5 percent from beyond the arc, a number that sits third in the Atlantic 10.
• The Bonnies interior defense is also one of the best in the Atlantic 10, sitting second in blocks (51) and blocks per game (4.6). Bonaventure currently ranks 41^st in the NCAA in blocks per game and 61^st in total blocks. Bonnies junior I'yanna Lops has played a hand in the interior defense this season, rejecting 22 shots in the first 11 games. She ranks third in the Atlantic 10 in blocks and blocks per game (2.0). Lops' 22 blocks rank 46^th in the NCAA while her 2.0 swats per contest rank 32^nd.
• Senior guard Asianae Johnson continues to produce in her senior year, averaging 15.9 points per game which ranks sixth in the A-10. She also sits sixth in the conference and second among A-10 guards in shooting percentage, hitting 45 percent of her shots.
• Johnson also ranks seventh in free throw percentage (75.5%), eighth in assists per game (3.6 apg), 10^th in steals per game (1.8 spg) and 10^th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.3).

SERIES HISTORY

• The Bonnies and the Flyers are slated to meet for the 31^st time. Dayton leads the all-time series between the two schools, 20-10, and have won the last six matchups against the Bonnies.
• St. Bonaventure last defeated Dayton Jan. 20, 2016 at UD Arena, 59-54. Miranda Drummond poured in 23 points while Katie Healy added 22 to lead the Bonnies to victory.

SCOUTING DAYTON

• Dayton enters Tuesday's contest with a non-conference record of 9-3. The Flyers earned wins over Power 5 opponents Clemson (60-46), Illinois (67-53) and Purdue (78-62). Dayton also has wins against Alabama A&M, Toledo, Florida A&M, Illinois State, High Point and Wright State.
• The Flyers are led by Shauna Green who is in her sixth season as head coach of the women's basketball team. She touts a career record of 110-47 in five-plus seasons at UD, earning postseason berths in all five seasons. Green has guided the Flyers to four Atlantic 10 Regular Season Championships and two Atlantic 10 Tournament Championships. The Flyers have qualified for three NCAA Tournaments and two WNITs under Green's leadership. Green is familiar with St. Bonaventure not only from the Atlantic 10 but also as a player with Canisius. Green is the Griffs all-time leading scorer with 2,012 points.
• Dayton was picked to repeat as Atlantic 10 Champions, receiving 11 first-place votes in the preseason conference poll. Jenna Giacone earned preseason First Team honors while Erin Whalen (Second Team) and Tenin Magassa (Third Team) also earned honors. Reigning Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year Araion Bradshaw was named to the Preseason All-Defensive Team.
• Makira Cook leads the Flyer offense, averaging 15.8 points per game while Whalen chips in 15.0 points per contest. Giacone also averages double figures for Dayton, tallying 12.8 points per game.

UP NEXT

• The Bonnies travel to Pittsburgh to take on Duquesne Saturday, Jan. 8. Tip is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.

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