By: Dylan Nuzzo, Assistant Sports Information Director
ST. BONAVENTURE (11-5, 2-2 A-10) at RHODE ISLAND (13-2, 4-0 A-10)
Saturday, Jan. 10 – 1:00 p.m.
Kingston, R.I. – Ryan Center
TV: ESPN+
Radio: Bonnies Online Network
The St. Bonaventure University women's basketball team returns to action Saturday, Jan. 10 when it travels to take on Rhode Island. Tipoff is set for 1:00 p.m. at the Ryan Center.
LAST TIME OUT
The Bonnies scored a gritty, 46-38, win on the road at Duquesne Wednesday evening.
Aaliyah Parker led all scorers with 15 points to go along with five rebounds. Laycee Drake tallied eight points and eight rebounds while Brianna Barr-Buday chipped in seven points for the Brown and White.
Back-to-back 3-pointers from Brianna Boyd and Drake were the turning point in Wednesday's contest which tied the game at 32-32 at the end of the third.
Parker scored 11 of her 15 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Bonnies to their first win in Pittsburgh since the 2011-12 season.
BOUNCE BACK BONNIES
The Bonnies are 4-1 this season following a loss with the only consecutive defeats coming to UAlbany (Nov. 22) and Cleveland State (Nov. 26).
Following each of the five losses, the Bonnies are allowing just 53.6 points per game.
Bona's is 9-0 this season when allowing 60 or less points and sit fourth in the Atlantic 10 in scoring defense, giving up 59.2 points per game. Rhode Island touts the best scoring defense in the A-10, allowing just 55.1 points per contest.
GRAD DUO
The graduate duo of Laycee Drake and Aaliyah Parker have been key for the Bonnies this season.
Drake leads the Bonnies in scoring (15.9), rebounds (6.6), assists (2.1) and steals (1.9). Parker sits second on the squad, averaging 13.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game.
The duo has shined during Atlantic 10 play with Drake averaging 15.3 points per game while Parker is chipping in 13.1 points per contest.
DEFENDING THE THREE
The Brown and White currently sit second in the Atlantic 10 and 60th in the NCAA, holding opponents to a 27.5 shooting percentage from beyond the arc this season.
The Bonnies have held opponents to five or fewer made 3-pointers nine times this season, including a season-low one made three in the season opener against Mansfield Nov. 3.
RHODE ISLAND NOTES
- Rhode Island enters Saturday's matchup 13-2 overall and a perfect 4-0 to begin Atlantic 10 play, scoring conference wins over Saint Joseph's, Richmond, Loyola Chicago and George Washington. The Rams finished last season 17-16 overall and 11-7 in the A-10. URI was picked to finish fourth in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll.
- Tammi Reiss is in her seventh season as the head coach at Rhode Island, touting a 123-70 record during her tenure. She has guided the Rams to three seasons with 20 or more wins.
- Brooklyn Gray leads the way for the Rams offensively, averaging 13.2 points to go along with 4.8 rebounds per game. Palmire Mbu (12.4 ppg) and Vanessa Harris (11.3 ppg) are also averaging double figures for URI. On the glass, Mbu and Albina Syla are pulling down 6.1 rebounds each per contest.
SERIES HISTORY
The Bonnies and Rams are set to meet for the 61st time Saturday afternoon. Bona's holds the edge in the all-time series, 33-27, but the Rams have won seven straight against the Bonnies.
The Brown and White are 12-17 all-time when taking on Rhode Island away from home. The Bonnies last defeated Rhode Island Jan. 26, 2020 at home, 64-59, behind 21 points from Asianae Johnson.
Bonnies head coach Jim Crowley is 11-12 all-time against Rhode Island.
UP NEXT
The Bonnies return home to host Saint Joseph's Wednesday, Jan. 14. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m. at the Reilly Center.
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