Feb. 1, 2008
Complete Game Notes 
GAME DAY CENTRAL
DATE: Feb. 3, 2008
TIP-OFF: 4:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Dayton, Ohio
ARENA: UD Arena
CAPACITY: 13,409
TELEVISION: CSTV (DirecTV Ch. 610)
TALENT: Jonathan Coachman (Play-by-Play) and
Ann Schatz (Color)
WEB VIDEO: www.GoBonnies.com
SERIES: St. Bonaventure leads, 7-6
LAST MEETING: W, 70-63 (2/2/07)
UP NEXT: vs. Richmond (2/6/08)
AT A GLANCE
After beginning the conference
season with three straight losses, St.
Bonaventure is currently in the midst of
a three-game win streak with consecutive
triumphs over Fordham, La Salle
and Duquesne to even its mark at 3-3
in the Atlantic 10. The Bonnies head
into Dayton needing just one more
win to match the program's all-time
single-season mark of 16 victories at
the Division I level, accomplished only
three times in school history and most
recently last season. The Flyers enter
today's conference clash with a 17-5
record thanks to a 16-game win streak
earlier this season, but have dropped
three of their last four contests.
SERIES HISTORY
Today's matchup will be the 14th meeting
between the two conference rivals
with the Bonnies holding a slight 7-6
all-time advantage over the Flyers.
The Brown and White have split the
last six meetings with Dayton, while
the home club has been victorious in
the previous seven matchups. Following
losses in their last four trips to
the Gem City, the Bonnies will look to
record just their third win at UD Arena.
THIS DAY IN BONA BASKETBALL
The Bonnies are 4-3 all-time when
playing on February 3 dating back to
the first season with actual dates in
the program record books (1986-87).
Despite dropping their previous two
contests on this date, the Brown and
White rolled to a 4-1 mark in their
first five matchups.
HEAD COACHING MATCHUP
ST. BONAVENTURE HEAD COACH
Jim Crowley
@ St. Bonaventure: 84-135 (8th)
Overall: 123-173 (11th )
Vs. Dayton: 3-4
DAYTON HEAD COACH
Jim Jabir
@ Dayton: 61-77 (5th)
Overall: 281-300 (20th)
Vs. St. Bonaventure: 2-2
Home Court Advantage
After six official games have been played on Bob Lanier
Court at the Reilly Center, the St. Bonaventure women's
basketball team possesses a 5-1 record on the fresh new
playing surface. The Bonnies notched their second straight
victory at home following a 59-49 triumph over Fordham
with a thrilling 62-61 come-from-behind win vs. Duquesne.
Although the Brown and White suffered a loss to Saint Joseph's
in their A-10 home opener, the club began 2007-08
with wins over Bucknell, Albany and Niagara. With a win in
their next home contest on Wednesday, Feb. 6 vs. Richmond,
the Bonnies will become just the 4th team in school history
to record wins in six of their first seven home contests. The
2001-02 club hold's the best home start in the record books
with an 8-1 beginning. The Bonnies own a 32-49 all-time
mark at home vs. the Atlantic 10 in February..
On the Road in the A-10
Since their arrival in the Atlantic 10 Conference, the Bonnies
have posted a 30-140 all-time mark on the road in the
league. The Brown and White have never picked up more
than four victories in A-10 gyms in a season and have gone
winless on the road on four occasions. The Bonnies are
17-69 in conference facilities during the month of February.
However, St. Bonaventure posted a 60-54 triumph over the
Explorers for the program's second ever victory at La Salle.
Bringing it Back....- to-Back
For the second season in a row, the Bonnies have secured double digits
in the win column under head coach Jim Crowley with 15 victories
in 2007-08. Following their thrilling win over Duquesne, the Brown
and White established the school mark for most wins in consecutive
seasons since entering the Division I level in 1986-87 with a combined
31 wins over the past two seasons. This year's edition of the Brown and
White moved past the 1990-91 and 1991-92 team's total of 30 wins in
consecutive seasons. The all-time record for wins in two straight years
currently sits at 33 and was established under former Lady Bonnies
boss Mary Jane Telford in the program's final two years in Division II.
Atlantic 10 Efficiency
Despite a rocky start to the 2008 Atlantic 10 Conference campaign with
three straight losses, the Bonnies have reeled off three victories in a
row to improve to an even 3-3 in league play. The Brown and White's
.500 start in A-10 action matches the program's second best beginning
to the conference slate in school history as only four other teams
equaled or bettered this season's beginning. Head coach Jim Crowley
guided his 2001-02 unit to a 6-2 start in the conference portion of their
schedule to hold the school's all-time mark. With a victory at Dayton,
St. Bonaventure will also match the school's longest A-10 win streak of
four games previously set in 1993-94 and 2001-02.
Back to Business
Including last season's Division I program-tying 16 wins, the Brown and
White's 31 victories in the last season and a half are more than the program's
27 total wins in the previous three years combined. The Bona
women posted nine triumphs in each season from 2003-2006.
Best Beginning in the Books
With a 11-2 start to the season, the Bonnies established the best start in
school history through 13 contests previously held by the 1992-93 editions'
9-3 beginning. The Bonnies next victory will make them just the
4th team in program history with at least 16 wins.
Leading the League
Sophomore sensation Dana Mitchell continues her scoring surge
and sits atop the Atlantic 10 scoring chart through 21 games as
her 19.8 points per contest is the highest among all A-10 players.
Mitchell ranks 14th in the nation in scoring and is third among
second-year players.
First in the Books
In just her second season with the Bonnies, Dana Mitchell has
showed a penchant for putting the ball through the basket in her
first 50 collegiate contests. The reigning Atlantic 10 All-Rookie
team selection has led the Brown and White in scoring in every
game this season but four, while ranking first in the league with
19.8 points per game. Since her arrival on campus, Mitchell has
paced her club in scoring 29 times.
Super Sophomore
In just her second season wearing the Brown and White, Mitchell
is quickly evolving into one of the premier players in program
history. Through 21 games this season, the 6-1 forward is only
one the three players in the Atlantic 10 to rank among the top 15
in points per game (19.8/1st), field goal percentage (.500/11th)
and free throw percentage (.833/4th). The UMass duo of Kate
Mills and Pam Rosanio are the only other two members of the
A-10 joining Mitchell in the elite club. Mitchell is also creeping
up the single-season record book charts with her offensive
outburst on the court. Following her 19-point effort vs. Duquesne,
Mitchell moved into a tie for 14th place with 415 points on the
season. Thanks to her 50-plus percent clip from the stripe, the
Fairless Hills, Pa. product ranks in ninth place with 115 made free
throws in 2007-08.
Halftime Lead = Victory
The Bonnies are 23-2 dating back to last season when owning an
advantage heading into intermission. St. Bonaventure suffered
its first two defeats after leading at the break in two of the last six
contests against Atlantic foes Saint Joseph's and Rhode Island.
Board Watch
After missing 10 games earlier this season due to various injuries,
junior Ashley Edwards is back in action on the floor as well
as on the Bona all-time rebounding charts. After pulling down 20
rebounds in the previous three contests, including a season-high
10 caroms vs. Duquesne, the 5-11 junior from Philadelphia moved
into sole possession of 16th place in the record books with 473
career rebounds. Heading into Sunday's contest at Dayton,
Edwards is three boards shy of moving past Caitlin Crist's 476 rebound
total. Sue Shay carries the all-time rebounding distinction
after hauling down 952 career caroms throughout her four-year
career.
Out of Conference Success
Dating back to last season's six-game win streak to conclude
the non-conference slate, the Bonnies have notched 16 victories
in their last 19 games outside of the Atlantic 10, including
five in a row at the Reilly Center. St. Bonaventure also is 16-6 in
its last 22 non-conference contests away from home.
Missing Pieces
The Bonnies' 15-6 beginning to their 2007-08 campaign is
even more impressive after looking at the team's injury report.
Through the first 21 games of the season, three integral parts
to the club's early season success have missed at least one
game due to injury. Junior Ashley Edwards tops the list with 10
absences due to numerous back and ankle ailments. Freshman
guard Armelia Horton has also missed 12 contests in her first
season, while junior point guard Tiara Johnson didn't dress at
Fairleigh Dickinson. However, the Brown and White suffered
their biggest setback before the season even began when
three-year starter Priscilla Edwards was sent to the shelf with a
season-ending shoulder injury.
Defensive Dynamo
A key ingredient to the Bonnies' success in the 2007-08 campaign
has been the club's consistent play on the defensive
side of the ball. Through 21 games, the Brown and White have
only conceded 60.5 points per game that ranks in the top half
of the Atlantic 10. The Brown and White own a 7-1 mark when
limiting opponents to under 60 points per contest, while only
six teams have surpassed 65 tallies against Bona this season.
In the club's last four games, the Bonnies' defense has surrendered
just 55 points per and have evened their record at 3-3 in
the conference during the process with three straight wins.
Free Means Free
After starting the season slow from the stripe, the Bonnies have
swiftly picked up their production at the free throw line of late.
Led by sophomores Andrea Doneth and Dana Mitchell, St.
Bonaventure has moved into fifth place in the league by connecting
at a rate of 72.1 percent. Through 21 games, Mitchell
sits fourth in the conference at 83.3 percent, while her fellow
classmate Doneth is two spots below with a 81.7 conversion
rate. Five members of the Brown and White roster connected
at better than 70 percent at the free throw line.
Triple Threat
Thanks to the hot shooting from junior Katelyn Murray, the Brown and White rank
third in the Atlantic 10 and 42nd in the nation in three-point field goal percentage.
With 21 games in the books, the Bonnies have connected from behind the arc at
a rate of 35.9 percent. Murray leads the team with 36 trifectas on the season and
ranks 11th in the A-10 with a 39.1 conversion rate from three-point land. Following
79 games in a Bona uniform, the Harrisburg, Pa. product ranks fifth all-time with 119
career three-pointers and recently passed 2006 Bona graduate Audrey Latendresse
and Tricia Pawling. Murray is 35 triples shy of moving into the fourth spot in the
trifecta record book currently occupied by current Bonnies' assistant coach Courtney
Mattingly's 154 three-pointers. Suzie Dailer holds the all-time mark for most
three-pointers in school history with 291.
Taking Care of the Rock
Through 21 games, St. Bonaventure has given up the ball just over 15 times per
game that ranks third in the Atlantic 10 and 31st in the nation. The Bonnies own a
6-2 mark when having fewer turnovers than their opponent. Sophomore Andrea
Doneth and junior Tiara Johnson are big reasons for the low number of giveaways
as both rank in the top 15 in the conference in assist/turnover ratio.
500-Point Club
Just 21 games into the 2007-08 season, three members of the Brown and White have
already surpassed the 500-point mark in their careers. Earlier this season at Bowling
Green, sophomore Dana Mitchell shattered the mark in just her 36th collegiate
contest and currently has 808 tallies next to her name. Junior Katelyn Murray
eclipsed 500 points at Colgate and pushed her career total to 645 tallies after three
20-plus point games this season. Fellow classmate Ashley Edwards recently passed
500 points in her hometown of Philadelphia against Temple and now owns 527
points.
We're Going Streaking
After opening the 2007-08 season with five straight wins, the Brown and White
picked up their second win streak of at least five wins with six victories in a row before
falling at Syracuse. The longest win streak in program history stands at seven
games and was most recently reached in 1979-80 on two different occasions. The
Bonnies are currently in the midst of a three-game winning streak with all wins in
conference play.
The Season of Winning
After posting a 6-1 mark in the month of December during last season's record setting
season, the Brown and White posted a 6-2 record this holiday season. Although
the Bonnies opened the month with a loss to nationally ranked West Virginia, the
club responded with consecutive victories at Florida Atlantic, Colgate, Canisius,
Fairleigh Dickinson, IPFW and Binghamton before falling to Syracuse.
