Feb. 12, 2008
Complete Game Notes
GAME DAY CENTRAL
DATE: Feb. 13, 2008
TIP-OFF: 7:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Pittsburgh, Pa.
ARENA: A.J. Palumbo Center
CAPACITY: 5,358
WEB VIDEO: www.GoBonnies.com
LIVE STATS: www.GoBonnies.com
SERIES: Duquesne leads, 26-11
LAST MEETING: W, 62-61 (1/30/08)
UP NEXT: vs. George Washington (2/16/08)
AT A GLANCE
The Bonnies will remain on the road for the second straight game as the club travels to Pittsburgh in hopes of halting a three-game losing streak in their second meeting with Duquesne this season. Still in search of their first win in the month of February, St. Bonaventure has struggled away from Bob Lanier Court at the Reilly Center of late with losses in four of its last five road contests despite owning 10 wins in opponent's home facilities this year. For the fourth game in a row, the Brown and White will attempt to match the school's all-time Division I mark of 16 victories in a season with a second win over the Dukes this year. Duquesne enters tonight's game with losses in six of eight contests, including three straight.
SERIES HISTORY
Tonight's matchup will be the 38th meeting and second this season between the two conference rivals with the Dukes holding a 26-11 all-time advantage over the Bonnies. The Brown and White erased a late 15-point deficit to earn a thrilling 62-61 comeback victory vs. Duquesne earlier this year for their second straight win over the Dukes. Prior to this year's matchup, Duquesne had picked up 16 wins in the last 18 meetings with the Bonnies. St. Bonaventure is winless in its last 10 appearances at the Palumbo Center with its only win in 15 tries in Pittsburgh coming via an 85-66 triumph on Feb. 26, 1991.
THIS DAY IN BONA BASKETBALL
The Bonnies are just 1-6 all-time when playing on February 13 dating back to the first season with actual dates in the program record books (1986-87). The Brown and White suffered a 68-55 loss against Duquesne on their last appearance on this date.
HEAD COACHING MATCHUP
ST. BONAVENTURE HEAD COACH
Jim Crowley
@ St. Bonaventure: 84-138 (8th)
Overall: 123-176 (11th )
Vs. Duquesne: 2-10
DUQUESNE HEAD COACH
Suzie McConnell-Serio
@ Duquesne: 11-12 (1st)
Overall: Same
Vs. St. Bonaventure: 0-1
Scouting the Dukes
Duquesne enters tonight's game with an 11-12 overall mark and a 2-6 record in Atlantic 10 action after losing consecutive contests following its loss to the Bonnies. Although the Dukes have already surpassed last season's win total of seven games, the club has dropped six of eight contests since a 9-6 start. Duquesne is led by A-10 Player of the Year candidate Kristi Little and her team-high 17.2 points per game that places her third in the league. The guard from Altoona, Pa. has reached double digits in all 23 games this season and ranks second in the conference and 17th nationally in assists (5.6) and first and eighth in steals (3.5) through 23 games. Little is joined in the backcourt by fellow double digit scorer Keri Pryor, who averages 10.8 points per outing. Thanks to her improved play in the league, first-year forward Samantha Pollino has also jumped onto the double digit plateau with 10.1 points per contest in her first year in a Duquesne uniform. The Dukes head into this evening's conference clash as the A-10's second highest scoring club at 68.0 points per. Led by former WNBA Coach of the Year Suzie McConnell-Serio, Duquesne is 6-5 at home this season.
Last Time Out: Bona comeback falls short at Charlotte
Charlotte survived a furious 26-8 Brown and White run in the final 5:50 of regulation to post a narrow 60-58 victory over the St. Bonaventure women's basketball team on Saturday evening at Halton Arena. Sophomore Dana Mitchell tallied her 25th straight game in double digits dating back to last season to lead all scorers with 18 points, 14 coming in the second session. The Fairless Hills, Pa. product finished one rebound shy of her sixth double-double of the year with nine caroms to go along with three steals, two assists and one block. Senior Megan Ellis tallied all 12 of her career-high points in the final 4:20 span to spark the thrilling Bona comeback attempt, while junior Tiara Johnson posted her second straight double figure scoring performance with 10 points and five assists on the night. After tallying just 32 points in the first 34 minutes of play, the Brown and White exploded for 26 points in the final 5:50 stretch to nearly pull off an improbable comeback win after trailing by 20 points at 52-32. Ellis played a major role in the rally with a personal 10-0 spurt to pull within eight points.
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. 12, the Bonnies' nine victories on opponent's home floors were tied for third most in the nation.
Home Court Advantage
After seven official games have been played on Bob Lanier Court at the Reilly Center, the St. Bonaventure women's basketball team possesses a 5-2 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 losses to Saint Joseph's in their A-10 home opener as well as to Richmond in their last home appearance, the club began 2007-08 with wins over Bucknell, Albany and Niagara. The 2001-02 club hold's the best home start in the school record books with an 8-1 beginning. The Bonnies own a 32-50 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 30-142 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 17-71 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 19.0 and 10.4 points per game, respectively. The dynamic duo has reached double figures a combined 36 times with 13 games of at least 20 points. Through 24 games, Mitchell and Murray rank as the third highest scoring combination in the Atlantic 10 at 29.4 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.
Court Smarts
Not only have the Bonnies enjoyed a successful start to their season on the court, junior Katelyn Murray displayed the Brown and White's ability in the classroom with her recent academic achievement. The 5-9 guard was named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District I first team by the College Sports Information Directors of America for her performance on and off the floor. Murray is in the midst of her best season in the Brown and White averaging a career-best 10.4 points per game, while carrying a 4.0 cumulative grade point average in biology. The Harrisburg, Pa. native sits second on the club in scoring with a team-best 42 three-pointers on the season. She has reached double digits in 12 contests, including three games of 20 or more points through the Bonnies' 24 games. Murray has started 74 of 82 contests since arriving on campus and has developed into one the best three-point shooters in school history as her 125 career triples rank fifth all-time.
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 24 games as her 19.0 points per contest is the highest among all A-10 players. Mitchell ranks tied for 18th 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 53 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 19.0 points per game. Since her arrival on campus, Mitchell has paced her club in scoring 30 times.
Super Sophomore
Second-year post player Dana Mitchell is quickly evolving into one of the premier players in program history. Through 24 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 (19.0/1st), field goal percentage (.488/11th) and free throw percentage (.828/5th). 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 18-point effort at Charlotte, Mitchell moved into 11th place with 456 points on the season and became the 19th leading scorer in program history. Thanks to her 80-plus percent clip from the stripe, the Fairless Hills, Pa. product also ranks in eighth place with 120 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 11 games 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 33 rebounds in the previous five contests, including a season-high 10 caroms vs. Duquesne, the 5-11 junior from Philadelphia moved into sole possession of 14th place in the record books with 486 career rebounds. Heading into tonight's contest at Charlotte, Edwards is five boards shy of moving past Lisa Marquis' 490 rebound total. Sue Shay carries the all-time rebounding distinction after hauling down 952 career caroms throughout her four-year career.
Close Contests
The Bonnies own a 11-4 mark in games decided by 10 points or less and hold a 4-1 record in game decided within five tallies. 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 24 games of St. Bonaventure's 2007-08 campaign, the Bonnies have 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 after 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 nine. 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 24 games of the season, head coach Jim Crowley has sent out the same starting five for the opening tip in every contest but two. The combination of juniors Tiara Johnson, Katelyn Murray and Erica Schiefen as well as sophomores Andrea Doneth and Dana Mitchell have started 22 games for the Brown and White in the club's 15-9 beginning. Junior Ashley Edwards was inserted into the lineup for one game when Johnson was out with an injury, while freshman Cara Gustafson earned her first career nod into the starting five at Charlotte.
Double Digit Streak
With 24 straight double figure scoring efforts to begin the season, sophomore Dana Mitchell has tallied 25 consecutive and 45 of her last 50 games with at least 10 points. The Fairless Hills, Pa. product currently owns the Atlantic 10 lead with ten 20-point games this season.
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 24 games, the Brown and White have only conceded 60.7 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 seven games, the Bonnies' defense has surrendered just 58.0 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. Mitchell sits fifth in the conference at 82.8 percent, while her fellow classmate Doneth is four spots below with a 77.3 conversion rate through 24 games. Six members of the Brown and White roster are connecting at better than 70 percent from 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 9-5 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 are 5-2 when junior Erica Schiefen posts 10+ points.
Step Up
With the graduation of departed senior Audrey Latendresse and the season-ending injury to Priscilla Edwards, multiple Bonnies have stepped up their performance in the 2007-08 season. Five members of the Brown and White have improved their previous year's scoring average with sophomore Dana Mitchell providing the biggest jump at 5.9 points followed by a 3.1 boost from junior Katelyn Murray.
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 24 contests of her second year, Mitchell has posted 24 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-9) as well as five double-doubles (t-5th in the A-10). The super sophomore leads the conference in scoring with 19.0 points per game, while ranking fifth in free throw (.828) and 11th in field goal percentage (.488). She has also proved to be a presence on the boards, hauling down 6.5 (11th in the A-10) caroms per contest to lead 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 23 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 23 games, Johnson sits second on the St. Bonaventure stat sheet in rebounding from the point guard position with 6.3 caroms per contest. The 5-9 junior has hauled down at least seven rebounds on 10 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 3.5 assists per contest, including a career-high eight helpers vs. Niagara.
Missing Pieces
The Bonnies' 15-9 mark in the 2007-08 campaign is even more impressive after looking at the team's injury report. During their 24 games this 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 11 absences due to numerous back and ankle ailments. Freshman guard Armelia Horton has missed 15 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. The Fairless Hills, Pa. product was also named MVP of the St. Bona Shootout as well as earning All-Tournament honors at the Florida Atlantic Holiday Classic earlier this season.
Triple Threat
Thanks to the hot shooting from junior Katelyn Murray, the Brown and White rank first in the Atlantic 10 and 33rd in the nation in three-point field goal percentage. With 24 games in the books, the Bonnies have connected from behind the arc at a rate of 36.6 percent. Murray leads the team with 42 trifectas on the season and ranks 11th in the A-10 with a 38.9 percent conversion rate from three-point land. Following 82 games in a Bona uniform, the Harrisburg, Pa. product ranks fifth all-time with 125 career three-pointers and recently passed 2006 Bona graduate Audrey Latendresse and Tricia Pawling. Murray is 29 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 24 games, St. Bonaventure has given up the ball just over 15 times per game that ranks fourth in the Atlantic 10 and 37th 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
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 849 tallies next to her name. Junior Katelyn Murray eclipsed 500 points at Colgate and pushed her career total to 677 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 540 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, but are currently going in the opposite direction with a three-game losing streak.
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.
