By: Dylan Nuzzo, Assistant Sports Information Director
ST. BONAVENTURE (15-12, 6-9 A-10) vs. LOYOLA CHICAGO (12-13, 8-6 A-10)
Saturday, Feb. 21 – 3:00 p.m.
St. Bonaventure, N.Y. – Reilly Center
TV: ESPN+/YES Network
Radio: Bonnies Online Network
The St. Bonaventure University women's basketball team looks to even the score against Loyola Chicago with a rematch Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Reilly Center. Tipoff is set for 3:00 p.m.
Saturday's matchup will be streamed live on ESPN+ and the Bonnies Online Network. YES Network will also air Saturday's game beginning at 4:00 p.m. on tape delay.
LAST TIME OUT
The Bonnies scored their first-ever win on the road against VCU, 64-53, last Saturday in Richmond. Saturday marked Bonnies head coach Jim Crowley's first career win over the Rams as well.
The graduate duo of Laycee Drake and Aaliyah Parker combined to score 40 points to lead the way for the Bonnies. Drake poured in a game-high 22 points on 10-of-17 shooting to go along with eight rebounds, three assists and three steals. Parker chipped in 18 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals for the Brown and White.
VCU was able to cut its deficit to five, 51-46, late in the fourth quarter, but the Bonnies answered with a 7-0 run to pull away by double digits.
ON THE RISE
The Bonnies have increased their win total by nine games with three games left to play in the regular season. It marks the fifth highest win improvement in the NCAA behind McNeese State (13 wins), Arizona State (11) Long Island (11) and South Dakota (10) while matching the likes of Syracuse, Eastern Michigan and Southern Utah with nine more wins than 2024-25.
60 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER
Bona's is 12-2 this season when allowing 60 or less points, giving up 61.1 points per game. Rhode Island touts the best scoring defense in the A-10, allowing just 53.8 points per contest.
DEFENDING THE THREE
The Brown and White currently sit second in the Atlantic 10 and 46th in the NCAA, holding opponents to a 27.8 shooting percentage from beyond the arc this season.
The Bonnies have held opponents to five or fewer 3-pointers made 13 times this season, including a season-low one made three in the season opener against Mansfield Nov. 3.
DRAKE TURNING HEADS
Bonnies graduate Laycee Drake is one of the most improved players in the country this season. In 28 games last season at UAlbany, Drake averaged 3.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.5 assists across 8.4 minutes per game. She finished the year with nine steals and shot 37.9 percent from the field.
This season, Drake leads the Bonnies in scoring, rebounds and assists. She is averaging 15.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. Drake has registered 50 steals and is shooting 45.4 percent from the field while making a career-high 33 3-pointers.
Drake currently ranks second in the Atlantic 10 in made field goals (161), fifth in field goal percentage (45.4), eighth in scoring (15.1) and ninth in steals per game (1.8).
PARKER'S PROWESS
Aaliyah Parker surpassed 1,500 career points and 700 rebounds, making her one of just 27 active players nationally to achieve those numbers. Her 327 career steals stand fifth among all active players while her 2.84 steals per game are behind only Hannah Hidalgo of Notre Dame, Ny'Ceara Pryor of Texas A&M and Taylee Chirrick of Montana State.
This season she ranks third in the Atlantic 10 in steals (59), fourth in steals per game (2.2) and is 10th in free throw percentage (76.4 percent).
LOYOLA CHICAGO NOTES
- Loyola Chicago enters Saturday's matchup on a three-game losing streak, sitting at 12-14 overall and 8-7 in Atlantic 10 play. Prior to their recent skid, the Ramblers had won six straight games from Jan. 17 to Feb. 7. Loyola Chicago finished last season 13-17 overall and 5-13 against A-10 foes. The Ramblers were picked to finish 13th in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll.
- Alex-Anne Bessette leads the way offensively for the Ramblers, averaging 11.5 points. Alexus Mobley and Alexa Kinas are also averaging double figures for Loyola Chicago, chipping in 10.4 and 10.1 points per game, respectively. On the glass, Brooklyn Vaughn is grabbing a team-best 5.7 rebounds per game.
- The Ramblers are coached by Allison Guth who is in her fourth season as the head coach, touting a 46-71 record during her time in Chicago. Guth is in her 10th season overall as a head coach with an overall record of 145-145.
SERIES HISTORY
The Bonnies and Ramblers are set to meet for the sixth time Saturday afternoon. It will be Loyola Chicago's second time visiting the Reilly Center since the two schools first met in 2023.
The Ramblers got the best of the Bonnies in the Jan. 31 matchup, scoring a 60-52 win at Gentile Arena in Chicago and own a 3-2 edge in the all-time series.
Bonnies head coach Jim Crowley is 1-3 all-time against the Ramblers.
UP NEXT
The Bonnies head back out on the road for the final time in the regular season to take on George Washington Wednesday, Feb. 25. Tipoff is slated for 6:00 p.m.
------
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.
