By: Dylan Nuzzo, Assistant Sports Information Director
NO. 14 ST. BONAVENTURE (4-25, 1-17 A-10) vs. NO. 11 DAYTON (11-18, 5-13 A-10)
Wednesday, March 6 – 2:30 p.m.
Henrico, Va.
TV: ESPN+
Radio: WSBU 88.3 FM
The St. Bonaventure University women's basketball team begins play at the Atlantic 10 Tournament with a first round matchup against Dayton Wednesday, March 6. Tip is slated for 2:30 p.m. at the Henrico Sports & Events Center in Henrico, Va.
NEW CHAMPIONSHIP SITE
The 2024 Atlantic 10 Tournament is in its first season at the Henrico Sports & Events Center in Virginia. The previous two Atlantic 10 Tournaments were held at the CHASE Fieldhouse, the home of the NBA G-League Delaware Blue Coats, in Wilmington, Del.
FEBRUARY FEVER
Redshirt junior Isabellah Middleton averaged 14.7 points over seven games in the month of February. She scored in double figures six times, including two 20-point performances. Middleton registered a season-high 24 points at Saint Louis Feb. 25.
She tallied her fourth 20-point game of the season in the finale against Richmond March 2 with 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting.
ATLANTIC 10 TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The Bonnies are 11-35 all-time in 35 appearances in the Atlantic 10 Tournament and are searching for their first win since defeating La Salle in the 2014 first round.
TRENDING NUMBERS
5.8 – Isabellah Middleton leads the Bonnies this season on the glass, grabbing 5.8 boards per game. Her 168 total rebounds this season ranks 15th overall in the Atlantic 10 and fourth among A-10 guards behind Duquesne's Megan McConnell (250), Massachusetts' Stefanie Kulesza (210) and Saint Louis' Julia Martinez (171). Middleton has pulled down five or more rebounds in 20 games this season, including a season-high 12 in a double-double against Loyola Chicago Dec. 31.
7 – Senior Nadechka Laccen ranked seventh in the Atlantic 10 in free throw percentage last week, shooting at an 87.5 percent clip.
60 – Kirah Dandridge leads the Bonnies this season with a career-high 60 assists, averaging 2.1 per contest. As a freshman last season, Dandridge recorded 16 assists.
SCOUTING DAYTON
- Dayton enters the Atlantic 10 Tournament 11-18 overall and 5-13 in conference play. The Flyers have lost six out of their last seven with their only win coming against Miami-Hamilton. Dayton has picked up A-10 wins against La Salle, St. Bonaventure, George Washington, Loyola Chicago.
- The Flyers are coached by Tamika Williams-Jeter who is in her second season at the helm. Williams-Jeter is 18-39 in two seasons in Dayton and is 36-47 overall has a head coach, spending one season at Division III Wittenburg.
- Ivy Wolf leads Dayton in scoring, tallying 11.9 points per game while Destiny Bohanan also averages double figures at 10.1 points per night. Arianna Smith averages a near double-double for UD, chipping in 9.3 points and a team-high 10.7 rebounds per contest.
SERIES HISTORY
The Bonnies and Flyers are set to meet for the 34th time overall and for the second time this season Wednesday afternoon. Bona's is 11-22 all-time against Dayton, dropping eight out of the last nine matchups. The Brown and White last took down Dayton, 54-53, last season at the Reilly Center behind Maddie Dziezgowski's game-winning shot Jan. 19.
Bona's and Dayton last met at the Atlantic 10 Tournament in the 2012 championship game. The Flyers came out on top, 56-53, capturing the title. The Bonnies, however, earned at at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Sweet 16.
WITH A WIN
With a win the Bonnies move on to face 6-seed Rhode Island Thursday, March 7. Tip is slated for 7:30 p.m.
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For the latest news on St. Bonaventure athletics, stay connected on social media. Follow the Bonnies on X @GoBonnies and get women's basketball updates @BonniesWBB. Keep up with the Bonnies on Facebook /GoBonnies and on Instagram @GoBonnies. Bonnies Women's Basketball can be found on Instagram @bonnies_wbb.
