Feb. 5, 2008
Complete Game Notes 
GAME DAY CENTRAL
DATE: Feb. 6, 2008
TIP-OFF: 7:00 p.m.
LOCATION: St. Bonaventure, N.Y.
PLAYING SURFACE: Bob Lanier Court
ARENA: Reilly Center
CAPACITY: 5,780
WEB RADIO: www.GoBonnies.com
TALENT: Brad Randall and Bobby Gohn (WSBU)
WEB VIDEO: www.GoBonnies.acom
SERIES: Richmond leads, 6-3
LAST MEETING: W, 72-69 OT (1/21/07)
UP NEXT: at Charlotte (2/9/08)
AT A GLANCE
Despite posting the second most
true road wins in the nation with nine
triumphs on opponent's home floors,
the Bonnies have enjoyed their few
appearances on the brand new Bob
Lanier Court at the Reilly Center with
a 5-1 mark at home this season. The
Brown and White's sixth win on the
state of the art playing surface would
match the program's all-time Division
I record of 16 victories in a singleseason
established on three different
occasions and most recently last year.
Richmond enters tonight's contest with
a 10-11 mark, but has dropped six of
its last nine games heading into Bona.
SERIES HISTORY
Tonight's matchup will be the 10th
meeting between the new conference
rivals with the Spiders holding a 6-3
all-time advantage over the Bonnies.
After losing six-straight to Richmond
upon its entry into the Atlantic 10
Conference in 2001-02, the Brown
and White have recorded back-toback
overtime-plus victories over the
Spiders in consecutive matchups. In
just three visits to the Reilly Center,
Richmond has been victorious twice.
THIS DAY IN BONA BASKETBALL
The Bonnies are 2-6 all-time when
playing on February 6 dating back to
the first season with actual dates in
the program record books (1986-87).
The Brown and White's only two wins
on this date were over Saint Joseph's
in 2003-04 and Massachusetts in
1991-92.
HEAD COACHING MATCHUP
ST. BONAVENTURE HEAD COACH
Jim Crowley
@ St. Bonaventure: 84-136 (8th)
Overall: 123-174 (11th )
Vs. Richmond: 2-6
RICHMOND HEAD COACH
Michael Shafer
@ Richmond: 36-45 (3rd)
Overall: Same
Vs. St. Bonaventure: 2-2
Scouting the Spiders
Richmond enters tonight's contest with a 10-11 overall
mark and an even 3-3 mark in Atlantic 10 Conference
action. Despite picking up a win over Fordham in
their last outing, the Spiders have dropped six of
nine contests with three losses in league play by an
average of seven points per game. Richmond is led
on the offensive side of the ball by freshman Brittani
Shells and her team-best 13.4 points per game. The
rookie out of Camden, Del. has notched four contests
of at least 20 points and ranks 14th in the A-10 in
scoring and sixth in steals (1.8) per game. The firstyear
phenom is joined in double figures by junior
Johanna McKnight's 13.0 points per contest. McKnight
has also proved to be a pesk on the defensive end as
her 2.43 pilfers per game rank second in the league.
Although ranking near the bottom of the A-10 in field
goal percentage in the non-conference portion of the
schedule, the Spiders are enjoying a hot-shooting
start in conference action, connecting at a rate of 42.4
percent from the floor and 45.3 percent from beyond
the arc. Richmond has lost five of its last six road
games with its lone win coming at Massachusetts.
Last Time Out: First half Flyers surge dooms Bonnies
A 22-7 first half closing run was enough for the Flyers to
clinch a 64-51 victory over the St. Bonaventure women's
basketball team early Sunday evening at the University of
Dayton Arena. The loss snapped the Brown and White's
three-game win streak to drop the club's record to 15-7 (3-4)
on the season. Junior Katelyn Murray led all Bona scorers
with 17 points, including her sixth game with more than a
trio of three-pointers with four vs. the Flyers. Sophomore
Dana Mitchell extended her double-figure scoring streak to
22 games with 13 tallies after registering just two points in
the opening 20 minutes and being saddled with foul trouble
throughout the night. For the second straight contest, junior
Ashley Edwards made her presence felt on the court with
nine points and a game-high nine rebounds in 19 minutes of
action. Despite a hot-shooting effort early in the contest and
five first half triples, the Bona offense turned cold over the
final 12 minutes as the Flyers stormed out on a 22-7 run to
close the half and enter the locker room with a 38-23 lead at
the break.
Road Warriors
Although the Bonnies were treated to a brand new
home playing surface named after St. Bonaventure
legend Bob Lanier, the Brown and White have had no
complaints regarding their heavy road schedule. Head
coach Jim Crowley has directed his team to nine true
road wins and 10 triumphs away from the Reilly Center.
As of Feb. 5, the Bonnies' nine victories on opponent's
home floors were tied for second most in the nation.
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 tonight 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 30-141 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
17-70 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.
Double Trouble
The scoring surge from junior Katelyn Murray in conference
play along with the guaranteed double digit effort
from sophomore Dana Mitchell place the two atop the
Brown and White stat sheet with 19.5 and 10.7 points per
game, respectively. The dynamic duo has reached double
figures a combined 34 times with 13 games of at least 20
points. Through 22 games, Mitchell and Murray are the
third highest scoring combination in the Atlantic 10 at
30.2 points per game.
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 reeled off three victories in a
row to improve to an even 3-3 in league play before falling at Dayton
on Super Bowl Sunday. The Brown and White's .500 start in A-10 action
matched 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.
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.
Dipping into Double Digits
With a win at IPFW, the Bonnies became the 20th team in school
history to post double figure wins and the first to reach 10-plus
wins in back-to-back seasons since the 1998-99 and 1999-00
clubs each posted ten wins in consecutive seasons. St. Bonaventure
also became the fastest team in the program record books to
10 wins, breaking last season's January 2 date by 11 days. Under
head coach Jim Crowley, the Brown and White have surpassed 10
wins on two previous occasions, including last season's 16 victories
that sit second all-time in single-season wins.
Leading the League
Sophomore sensation Dana Mitchell continues her scoring surge
and sits atop the Atlantic 10 scoring chart through 22 games as
her 19.5 points per contest is the highest among all A-10 players.
Mitchell ranks 17th in the nation in scoring and is fourth 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 51 collegiate contests. The reigning Atlantic 10 All-Rookie
team selection has led the Brown and White in scoring in every
game this season but five, while ranking first in the league with
19.5 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 22 games this season, the 6-1 forward is one of
only three players in the Atlantic 10 to rank among the top 15 in
points per game (19.5/1st), field goal percentage (.503/11th) and
free throw percentage (.831/4th). 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 13-point effort at Dayton, Mitchell moved
into a tie for 13th place with 428 points on the season and needs
only 20 points to move into the top 20 scorers in program history.
Thanks to her 80-plus percent clip from the stripe, the Fairless
Hills, Pa. product ranks in ninth place with 118 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 seven
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 29
rebounds in the previous four contests, including a season-high
10 caroms vs. Duquesne, the 5-11 junior from Philadelphia moved
into sole possession of 15th place in the record books with 482
career rebounds. Heading into tonight's contest vs. Richmond,
Edwards is three boards shy of moving past Lisa Marquis' 485 rebound
total. Sue Shay carries the all-time rebounding distinction
after hauling down 952 career caroms throughout her four-year
career.
Bonnies in the National Rankings
St. Bonaventure's 15-7 start to the 2007-08 season hasn't gone
unnoticed as numerous national outlets around the country
have ranked the Bonnies among the top 130 teams in America.
The club's nine true road victories and ten overall wins
away from Bob Lanier Court at the Reilly Center has helped
boost the Brown and White's profile up the charts.
Close Contests
The Bonnies own a 11-3 mark in games decided by 10 points
or less and hold an unblemished 4-0 record in game decided
within five points. The Brown and White also are 13-1 when
possessing an edge with under five minutes remaining in a
game.
Records on the Road
Following 22 games of St. Bonaventure's 2007-08 campaign,
the Bonnies matched one feat accomplished by last season's
16-15 club, while surpassing another mark with a win at
Cornell. With six consecutive victories away from the Reilly
Center, the Bonnies tied the mark set by last season's edition
by defeating Florida Atlantic, Colgate, Canisius, Fairleigh
Dickinson, IPFW and Binghamton in a row. The Bonnies also
recently broke the school record for most true road wins in a
season with eight. Bona only needs one more win to tie the
program mark for the most single-season wins away from the
Reilly Center with 11.
For Starters
In the Bonnies first 22 games of the season, head coach Jim
Crowley has sent out the same starting five for the opening
tip in every contest but one. The combination of juniors Tiara
Johnson, Katelyn Murray and Erica Schiefen as well as sophomores
Andrea Doneth and Dana Mitchell have started 21
games for the Brown and White in the club's 15-7 beginning.
Junior Ashley Edwards was inserted into the lineup for one
game when Johnson was out with an 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 22 games, the Brown and White have
only conceded 60.6 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 five games, the Bonnies' defense has surrendered
just 56.8 points per.
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 71.8 percent. Through 22 games, Mitchell
sits fourth in the conference at 83.1 percent, while her fellow
classmate Doneth is five spots below with a 78.1 conversion
rate. Five members of the Brown and White roster are connecting
at better than 70 percent at the free throw line.
Inside the Numbers
Scoring in double digits not only has benefitted the Bonnies'
individual statistics as it has also equated to numerous wins for
the Brown and White this season. St. Bonaventure owns a 9-3
mark when three players reach the double digit plateau and
are a perfect 4-0 when four surpass 10 points. Digging further
into the season box scores, the Bonnies possess a 9-3 record
when sophomore Dana Mitchell and junior Katelyn Murray register
double figures and 5-1 when junior Erica Schiefen posts
10+ points.
Leader of the Pack
After turning in one of the finest freshman seasons in program history,
sophomore Dana Mitchell has picked up where she left off with
the beginning of the 2007-08 season. In her first 22 contests of her
second year, Mitchell has posted 22 straight double figure scoring
efforts this season, including ten 20-plus point performances (1st in
the A-10), one 30-plus point effort (1-of-7) as well as four doubledoubles
(t-5th in the A-10). The super sophomore leads the conference
in scoring with 19.5 points per game, while ranking fourth in
free throw (.831) and 11th in field goal percentage (.503). She has
also proved to be a presence on the boards, hauling down 6.2 (16th
in the A-10) caroms per contest for second place on the Brown and
White.
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.
Little Giant
In her first season in the Brown and White, junior Tiara Johnson has excelled in
her initial 21 Division I contests as a do-it-all quarterback for the Bonnies. In the
absence of three-year starter Priscilla Edwards, Johnson has flashed the same
attributes she displayed in the junior college ranks that attracted the Bonnies to
the North Central Missouri State product. Through 21 games, Johnson leads St.
Bonaventure in rebounding from the point guard position with 6.4 caroms per
contest. The 5-9 junior has hauled down at least seven rebounds on nine occasions,
including a season-high 16 boards at Florida Atlantic that matched the sixth
best single-game rebounding performance in program history. Johnson has also
provided a spark in the backcourt as she is first on the club with 3.3 assists per
contest, including a career-high eight helpers vs. Niagara.
Missing Pieces
The Bonnies' 15-7 beginning to their 2007-08 campaign is even more impressive
after looking at the team's injury report. Through the first 22 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 toped the list early with 10 absences
due to numerous back and ankle ailments. Freshman guard Armelia Horton has
missed 13 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.
Atlantic 10 Accolades
Following her 28 point and 10 rebound performance against Binghamton on Saturday,
Dec. 29, sophomore forward Dana Mitchell was named Atlantic 10 Player of
the Week. The honor was Mitchell's first after garnering four Rookie of the Week
awards as a freshman.
Triple Threat
Thanks to the hot shooting from junior Katelyn Murray, the Brown and White rank
fourth in the Atlantic 10 and 42nd in the nation in three-point field goal percentage.
With 22 games in the books, the Bonnies have connected from behind the arc
at a rate of 35.7 percent. Murray leads the team with 40 trifectas on the season and
ranks 11th in the A-10 with a 40 percent conversion rate from three-point land. Following
80 games in a Bona uniform, the Harrisburg, Pa. product ranks fifth all-time
with 123 career three-pointers and recently passed 2006 Bona graduate Audrey
Latendresse and Tricia Pawling. Murray is 31 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 22 games, St. Bonaventure has given up the ball just over 15 times per
game that ranks fourth 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 22 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 821 tallies next to her name. Junior Katelyn Murray
eclipsed 500 points at Colgate and pushed her career total to 662 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 536
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 just saw their three-game conference winning streak snapped with a loss
at Dayton.
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.
