By: Dylan Nuzzo, Assistant Sports Information Director
ST. BONAVENTURE (9-3, 0-1 A-10) at HOWARD (9-5)
Saturday, Dec. 20 – 2:00 p.m.
Washington, D.C. – Burr Gymnasium?
TV: ESPN+
Radio: Bonnies Online Network
The St. Bonaventure University women's basketball team wraps up a stretch of seven straight games away from home, traveling to take on Howard Saturday, Dec. 20 in the non-conference finale. Tipoff is slated for 2:00 p.m. in the nation's capital.
LAST TIME OUT
The Bonnies battled Mercyhurst to a 60-57 victory on the road last Friday.
Laycee Drake recorded her second double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 rebounds on 8-of-11 shooting. Aaliyah Parker also finished in double figures with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Off the bench, Brillana Boyd and Elyse MacDonough chipped in nine points apiece for the Brown and White.
LAST FIVE
Drake has been on a tear over her last five games for the Bonnies, averaging 16.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.8 steals across 31.1 minutes per game.
She has scored in double figures in four out of five games, including a 21-point effort in a win at Le Moyne.
The graduate student is shooting 49.2 percent from the floor and 40.0 percent from beyond the arc during that stretch.
CAREER-HIGHS
MacDonough's nine points at Mercyhurst last Friday was a new career-high for the freshman. Her three 3-pointers were also a new career-best.
Mackenzie Pettinelli also posted new career-highs in rebounds and blocks, pulling down seven boards and blocking a pair of shots.
DEFENDING THE THREE
The Bonnies currently sit second in the Atlantic 10 and 39th in the NCAA in three-point percentage defense, holding opponents to a 25.9 percent mark from beyond the arc. George Mason leads the A-10 with a 22.9 percent mark against threes.
EFFICIENT SCORING
Bona's is currently shooting 44.1 percent from the floor this season which ranks second in the Atlantic 10. Richmond sits atop the Atlantic 10 with a 45.3 field goal percentage.
60 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER
The Bonnies are 7-0 this season when holding opponents to 60 or fewer points, picking up victories over Mansfield (82-34), Niagara (74-56), Buffalo (64-57), Radford (55-45), Valparaiso (87-55), Le Moyne (66-57) and Mercyhurst (60-57)
HOWARD NOTES
- Howard enters the weekend 9-5 overall heading into the holidays. The Bison have scored key wins over Providence, George Washington, RV Fairfield and Cincinnati. Saturday marks just the fourth home game for a Bison squad that finished last season 22-12 overall and 12-2 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play, advancing to the second round of the WNIT. Howard was picked to win the MEAC this season, receiving 10 first-place votes in the preseason poll.
- Zennia Thomas leads the Bison in scoring and rebounding this season, averaging 15.1 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting 43.5 percent from the field. Zoe Stewart is also averaging double figures for the Bison, chipping in 12.7 points per game.
- The Bison are coached by Ty Grace who is in her 11th season, touting a 167-144 record at Howard. Grace joined the Bison in 2015-16 after spending two seasons at New Haven and is 221-175 all-time across 14 seasons as a head coach.
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday marks the first meeting between the Bonnies and Bison. It will be the third first-time opponent this season for the Brown and White alongside Radford and Valparaiso.
UP NEXT
The Bonnies return home after 39 days on the road to host George Washington on New Year's Eve. Tipoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. at the Reilly Center.
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