By: Dylan Nuzzo, Assistant Sports Information Director
ST. BONAVENTURE (3-7) at COLGATE (5-4)
Thursday, Dec. 21 – 1:00 p.m.
Hamilton, N.Y.
TV: ESPN+
Radio: WSBU 88.3 FM
The St. Bonaventure University women's basketball team travels to Colgate Thursday, Dec. 21, wrapping up the 2023-24 non-conference schedule. Tip is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Cotterell Court.
OPENING TIP
The Bonnies look to build off a 55-47 victory over Youngstown State Saturday afternoon at the Reilly Center. A balanced scoring attack led by redshirt senior Claire Cody's 11 points to go along with 10 points each from seniors Payton Fields and Dani Haskell. Fields tallied eight of her 10 points in the second half to help the Bonnies seal the victory.
Youngstown State was able to take a 31-29 lead early in the third quarter, but an 11-0 run from the Bonnies gave the hosts a 40-31 edge heading into the final quarter.
The Penguins were able to cut the deficit to five with just over three minutes to play, but the Bonnies were able to push the lead back to eight, 51-43, on the next possession on a 3-pointer from Haskell.
DOUBLE DIGIT DANI
Since making her St. Bonaventure debut against Robert Morris Nov. 11, Dani Haskell has scored in double figures in eight out of nine contests, including a season-high 23 points against the Colonials in her season debut.
Haskell registered her second 20-point game of the season at Buffalo Nov. 22, making a season-high five threes. The Franklinville, N.Y. native leads the Bonnies in scoring at 12.9 points per game and enters the week 83 points away from 1,000 for her career, sitting at 917 career points.
As of Dec. 18, she leads the Atlantic 10 and 29th in the NCAA in free throw percentage, hitting at an 89.7 percent clip from the charity stripe. Haskell also ranks seventh in minutes per game (33.6).
CROWLEY VS. NEW YORK
There are currently 21 Division I women's basketball programs in New York. Bonnies head coach Jim Crowley touts a record of 87-37 (68.5 winning percentage) against teams from the Empire State.
Coach Crowley has won seven straight matchups against Colgate, touting a 7-1 record all-time vs. the Raiders. His lone loss came Nov. 20, 2004, 73-70, at the St. Bonaventure Shootout at First Arena in Elmira, N.Y.
MIDDLETON MAKING HER MARK
Redshirt junior Isabellah Middleton has made an immediate impact on the Bonnies roster this season. She has started all 10 games and has scored in double figures four times, including a season-high 20 points against Canisius Nov. 30.
Middleton ranks second on the team in scoring (10.8 ppg) and rebounding (5.5 rpg), but leads the team in total rebounds with 55. She has pulled down six or more rebounds in six contests, recording a season-best nine vs. the Golden Griffins.
COLGATE NOTES
Colgate enters Thursday's contest 5-4 on the year following a 69-54 loss to Central Connecticut State Monday afternoon. The Raiders have earned victories over Cornell, UMBC, Canisius, Keuka and Le Moyne this season. Colgate finished 2022-23 with a record of 16-14 overall and 10-8 in Patriot League play. The Raiders were picked to finish third in the Patriot League preseason poll.
The Raiders are coached by Ganiyat Adeduntan who is in her third season in charge, touting a record of 27-42 in Hamilton. Adeduntan helped Colgate to a 10-win turnaround from year one to year two, following a 6-24 campaign in 2021-22. Prior to Colgate, Adeduntan spent 2012-14 at Division III Wheelock, going 8-43 in two seasons.
Colgate is led offensively by Preseason All-Patriot League Team selection Taylor Golembiewski who is averaging 13.5 points per game. On the glass, Sophia Diehl is pulling down a team-high 5.3 rebounds per game, grabbing 48 total rebounds. As a team, the Raiders are shooting 42.6 percent from the floor.
SERIES HISTORY
St. Bonaventure and Colgate are set to meet for the 24th time Thursday. The Bonnies lead the all-time series, 16-7, and are 7-2 all-time on the road vs. Colgate. The Raiders got the better of the Bonnies last December, taking the matchup at the Reilly Center, 66-52, snapping a nine-game SBU win streak.
UP NEXT
The Bonnies begin the Atlantic 10 portion of their schedule Saturday, Dec. 30 when they host Loyola Chicago. Tip is slated for 1:00 p.m.
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