By: Dylan Nuzzo, Assistant Sports Information Director
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – Basketball season is just around the corner and the St. Bonaventure University women's basketball program will welcome back two of the most influential teams in program history Nov. 22 at the Reilly Center.
The Bonnies will honor the 1986-87 team, which was the first Bonaventure women's squad to compete at the NCAA Division I level, as the program begins its 40th season of D-I competition.
Bona's also is set to honor the 2015-16 squad on the 10th anniversary of their reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
"Chasing excellence and celebrating success are two of the mantras within our Athletics Department," Vice President and Director of Athletics Bob Beretta said. "Everyone competing at the Division I level understands how incredibly difficult it is to achieve greatness within this arena, so it's vitally important that we celebrate those achievements whenever we attain those lofty standards."
The 1986-87 team was coached by M.J. Telford and she was assisted by the late Randy Stebbins. The roster consisted of seniors Missy Ward, Chris Agresta and Ann Hefke, juniors Bernadette Guest, Kris Nopper and Michele Rouleau, sophomore Patty Mueller, Natalie White, Denise Dee, Kristen DeLuca and Marya Withers as well as freshman Mary Biasotti.
The 2015-16 Bonnies finished the season with a 24-8 overall record and were 12-4 in Atlantic 10 play under head coach Jim Crowley, earning an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament. The Bonnies headed west to Corvallis, Ore. to take on Oklahoma State in the first round, defeating the Cowboys, 65-54. That squad also went a perfect 16-0 inside the Reilly Center during the year and received national Top 25 votes.
The roster featured graduate students Kelcie Rombach and Emily Michael, seniors Nyla Rueter and Katie Healy, juniors Gabby Richmond and Imani Outlaw, sophomores Mariah Ruff, Matea Britvar and Miranda Drummond as well as freshmen Keely Fresh, Mckenna Maycock and Erin Wood.
"It's also critically important that we salute the proud history of St. Bonaventure and its highly successful teams, tremendously talented players and wonderfully skilled coaches," Beretta added. "We are excited to welcome back so many members of the St. Bonaventure Women's Basketball family and honor members of the 2015-16 team, one of the most accomplished squads in the pantheon of St. Bonaventure Basketball."
Festivities begin Friday, Nov. 21 when all women's basketball alumni are invited to attend practice the night before the game. On gameday, all alumni are invited to shootaround prior to Saturday's game.
Both the 1986-87 and 2015-16 teams will be recognized during halftime of the Bonnies game against UAlbany, tipping off at 1:00 p.m.
Following the game, there will be a postgame reception in the Hall of Fame Room that is open for all to attend.
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