ALBANY, N.Y. – A balanced scoring attack led by Tianna Johnson's 17-point, 13-rebound double-double along with Maddie Dziezgowski's 16 points propelled the St. Bonaventure University women's basketball team to a 69-63 victory Siena in a battle of Franciscan sister schools Wednesday evening at MVP Arena.
Johnson went 3-for-9 from the field, but was 9-for-10 from the charity stripe and drained two 3-pointers en route to her first career double-double while Dziezgowski poured in a game-high five 3-pointers. I'yanna Lops chipped in 11 points and seven rebounds and Taylor Napper added 10 points and five boards.
Dziezgowski converted treys on back-to-back trips down the floor midway through the fourth to push the Bonnies ahead by 11, 65-54.
Siena, however, would not go away quietly, pulling back within six with just over three minutes to play.
The Bonnies (1-2) were able to halt the Siena comeback effort and came away with the road victory.
The Saints (1-2) were able to pull within five in the third quarter, trimming the lead to 46-41 while holding the Bonnies without a point for over four minutes of game time.
Bona's responded by holding the Saints scoreless for over two minutes and following a pair of free throws from Breauna Ware gave the Bonnies a 10-point edge.
The Bonnies took advantage at the free throw line in the second quarter, making 9-of-10 from the line.
Johnson's 15 first-half points gave the visitors a seven-point, 44-37, lead at halftime.
The Bonnies jumped out of the gate early, opening up a five-point advantage after the first 10 minutes of play.
Dziezgowski paced Bona's with 10 first quarter points while Aaniya Webb added five in the period.
The Bonnies are off until they head to Cleveland for the Hampton Inn Cleveland Downtown Viking Invitational hosted by Cleveland State. The Brown and White is slated to play Bellarmine (Nov. 23), Georgia State (Nov. 25) and Cleveland State (Nov. 26) in a four-day tournament.
GAME NOTES
- The Bonnies converted 20-of-27 chances at the free throw line Wednesday, the most free throws made and attempted in a game this season.
- Bona's finished the contest shooting 36.2 percent (21-for-58) from the floor and held Siena to 33.7% (28-for-83) from the field.
- The Bonnies' 50 rebounds was the most rebounds in a game for the team since Dec. 12, 2020 when SBU grabbed 50 rebounds against Binghamton.
- Five Bonnies players grabbed at least five rebounds against Siena – Johnson (13), Nadechka Laccen (10), Lops (7), Napper (5) and Dziezgowski (5).
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