Feb. 26, 2008
Game Notes
GAME DAY CENTRAL
DATE: Feb. 27, 2008
TIP-OFF: 7:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Amherst, Mass.
ARENA: Mullins Center
CAPACITY: 9,493
WEB VIDEO: www.GoBonnies.com
SERIES: Massachusetts leads 29-17
LAST MEETING: W, 63-60 (3/2/07)
UP NEXT: vs. Xavier (3/1/08)
LAST TIME OUT: W, 64-63 vs. Saint Louis
AT A GLANCE
In the midst of its second three-game Atlantic 10 Conference winning streak of the season, St. Bonaventure returns to the road for the first time in two weeks for the club's final regular season road contest at Massachusetts. The Bonnies will aim for their 11th true road win and 12th victory away from the Reilly Center of 2007-08 during their appearance in Amherst. For the third straight game, the Brown and White will look to rewrite the Bona record books as their next win will establish the all-time school mark at any level for wins in a season with 19. Massachusetts enters tonight's contest with a 12-15 overall mark and losses in eight of its last 12 games. The Minutewomen have been a tough out at home this season, owning a 10-3 record at the Mullins Center with a win over Dayton in their last contest.
SERIES HISTORY
Today's matchup will be the 47th meeting between the two conference foes with Massachusetts holding a 29-17 all-time advantage over the Bonnies. Despite owning wins in six of the last nine matchups with the Minutewomen, the Brown and White have not fared well at Massachusetts with a 5-16 all-time mark in Amherst. The club's 70-58 triumph at UMass on January 18, 2004 was St. Bonaventure's first road win in the series in more than 12 years. Nine of the Bonnies' 17 all-time victories over UMass have been decided by seven points or less, while the Minutewomen own a 13.1 average margin of victory in their 29 triumphs over the Brown and White.
THIS DAY IN BONA BASKETBALL
The Bonnies own a 2-3 all-time mark when playing on February 27 dating back to the first season with actual dates in the program record books (1986-87). The Brown and White's only wins on this date were both at Saint Joseph's during the 1999-00 and 1991-92 campaigns. Bona dropped a 67-49 decision to Temple in its last matchup on Feb. 27, 2003.
HEAD COACHING MATCHUP
ST. BONAVENTURE HEAD COACH
Jim Crowley
@ St. Bonaventure: 87-138 (8th)
Overall: 126-176 (11th)
Vs. Massachusetts: 6-8
MASSACHUSETTS HEAD COACH
Marnie Dacko
@ Massachusetts: 74-96 (6th)
Overall: 154-200 (13th)
Vs. St. Bonaventure: 6-6
Scouting the Minutewomen
After posting the program's highest win total since 1997-98 with a 17-13 record last year, Massachusetts enters this evening's contest with its fourth straight double digit win season with a 12-15 overall mark in the current campaign. The Minutewomen have lost eight of 12 contests heading into their matchup with the Bonnies after previously winning six of nine, including their first foray in Atlantic 10 action against Rhode Island. UMass is led by the Atlantic 10's highest scoring duo as senior classmates Kate Mills (17.9) and Pam Rosanio (15.9) combine for a league-best 33.8 points per game. In her final season in Amherst, Mills leads her club in scoring, rebounding (6.9/10th), blocked shots (2.0/3rd), field goal (.528/4th) and free throw percentage (.871/2nd) while ranking among the league's top 10 in every category. Rosanio isn't far behind as she sits among the A-10's elite in scoring (5th), assists (3.3/14th), field goal (.497/8th) and free throw percentage (.772/9th). Thanks to five players connecting on better than 40 percent from the floor, UMass paces the league and ranks 39th in the country in field goal percentage with an overall .439 percent clip on the season. The Minutewomen also excel from the free throw line with a .744 percent rate at the stripe. Junior Sakera Young (3.7/9th) joins Rosanio in the backcourt as the two make up the top distribution tandem in the conference as UMass ranks 14th in the nation in assists per game.
Last Meeting: Bonnies down UMass to advance in A-10
The St. Bonaventure women's basketball team overcame a 16-point second half deficit to stun seventh-seeded Massachusetts, 63-60, in the opening round of the Atlantic 10 Championship at the Cintas Center. The win was the Bonnies first in postseason play since the 2000 A-10 Tournament. The Minutewomen owned a 29-23 lead at the half after leading for just over 17 minutes in the opening frame. Back-to-back three-pointers by Katelyn Murray and Audrey Latendresse to open the half brought the Bonnies to within one at 30-29. Just as it seemed momentum was in the Bonnies favor, Massachusetts responded with its second big run of the game, this time posting a 15-0 scoring spurt to take its largest lead at 45-29 with 15:24 left. Sparked by the return of Ashley Edwards, St. Bonaventure rolled off an impressive 21-3 run capped by another three-pointer from Latendresse to take its first lead in almost 30 minutes at 50-48. The next five minutes featured five ties until the Brown and White took the lead for good with a 1:16 remaining.
On the Road in the A-10
Since their arrival in the Atlantic 10 Conference, the Bonnies have posted a 31-142 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 18-71 in conference facilities during the month of February. However, St. Bonaventure owns a pair of road wins in conference this season at La Salle and Duquesne.
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 18.7 and 10.5 points per game, respectively. The dynamic duo has reached double figures a combined 41 times with 14 games of at least 20 points. Through 27 games, Mitchell and Murray rank as the fourth highest scoring combination in the Atlantic 10 at 29.2 points per game.
Last Time Out: Bonnies battle back for victory over Saint Louis
Junior Erica Schiefen's lay up rattled around every part of the rim before falling through the net with six second remaining to clinch a 64-63 comeback victory for the St. Bonaventure women's basketball team over Saint Louis Sunday afternoon on Bob Lanier Court at the Reilly Center. The Brown and White now sit at 18-9 (6-6) in 2007-08 after winning their third straight conference clash following three consecutive losses in league play. Sophomore Dana Mitchell led all scorers with 21 points to extend her double digit scoring streak to 28 games dating back to last season. The Fairless Hills, Pa. product also moved into 17th place on the all-time Bona scoring list with 897 career points in just her second season. Fellow classmate Andrea Doneth was the only other Bonnie in double figures with 11 points for her third straight double digit scoring performance off the bench. Doneth also added seven assists. Trailing by nine points with just over 12 minutes remaining, Saint Louis exploded on an 18-0 offensive outburst to turn the Billiken's deficit into a nine point lead at 61-52. St. Bonaventure suffered through an eight minute scoring dry spell during the span to allow Saint Louis to take their first lead since midway through the first half. However, the Brown and White tallied 12 of the game's final 14 points to turn around the deficit into a 64-63 victory.
A Win Today Would......
Establish the school's all-time win mark at 19 games
Launch the Bonnies to seven Atlantic 10 wins to match the second highest total in school history
Equal the program's longest A-10 winning streak with four straight victories previously established in 1993-94 and 2001-02
Surpass the all-time Bona mark with 12 wins away from the Reilly Center
Be the club's 11th true road win of the season
Give the club 35 wins over the last two years
Be the 18th victory over Massachusetts and sixth all-time win in Amherst
Give head coach Jim Crowley 88 wins at St. Bonaventure and 127 for his career
1,000/500 Club
In the 36 years of St. Bonaventure women's basketball, only seven players have ever compiled 1,000 points and 500 rebounds during their careers in the Brown and White. Former Bonnie Audrey Latendresse was the last to join the elite club following the culmination of her four-year career last season with career totals of 1,101 points and 538 points. In just her second season at Bona, sophomore Dana Mitchell is primed for her invitation to the club as her numbers quickly creep towards the group standards.
Leading the League
Sophomore sensation Dana Mitchell continues her points production and sits atop the Atlantic 10 scoring chart through 27 games as her 18.7 points per contest is the highest among all A-10 players. Mitchell ranks 26th in the nation in scoring and seventh among second-year players. With two regular season games remaining plus the postseason, Mitchell will look to become just the third Bonnie and fifth sophomore ever to lead the Atlantic 10 in scoring. Hilary Waltman (1998-99) and Suzie Dailer (1992-93) were the only others.
Double Digit Streak
With 27 straight double figure scoring efforts to begin the season, sophomore Dana Mitchell has tallied 28 consecutive and 48 of her last 53 games with at least 10 points. Her last game under 10 points came against UMass in the 2007 Atlantic 10 Championships as the Minutewomen held Mitchell to eight points. The Fairless Hills, Pa. product currently ranks tied for first in the Atlantic 10 with 11 20-point games this season.
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 57 collegiate contests. The reigning Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team selection has led the Brown and White in scoring in every game this season but six with 504 points on the year that ranks as the 8th highest single-season scoring performance in school history. Since her arrival on campus, Mitchell has paced her club in scoring 32 times.
Winning Ways
For the first time since 1990-91 and 1991-92 and only the second time ever in Division I, the Bonnies have clinched consecutive winning seasons at the top level of college basketball. The Brown and White's victory at Duquesne sealed a .500-plus record no matter how the remainder of the season plays out. Prior to the Bonnies arrival in D-I, Bona tallied four straight winning seasons between 1977 and 1981 as well as back-to-back positive campaigns in 1984-85 and 1985-86 all under former boss Mary Jane Telford.
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 18 victories in 2007-08. Following their second three-game conference winning streak of the season, the Brown and White established the school mark for most wins in back-to-back seasons with 34 combined triumphs including 2006-07's 16 victories. The previous mark was established in 1984-85 and 1985-86 when head coach Mary Jane Telford led the Bonnies to 33 consecutive victories in the school's last two seasons at the Division II level. Until the past two years, the Division I record for most wins in a two-year span stood at 31 victories as Telford guided her club's to 15 and 16 wins in two straight seasons.
Back to Business
Including last season's 16 wins along with a program record 18 victories in the 2007-08 campaign, the Brown and White's 34 victories in the last two seasons are more than the program's 33 total wins in the previous four years combined. The Bona women posted nine triumphs in each season from 2003-2006 and a mere six in 2002-03.
Beating the Best
After falling short in two previous attempts against nationally ranked Big East clubs West Virginia and Syracuse earlier this season, the Brown and White cashed in on their third opportunity as #14/13 George Washington fell victim to the Bonnies on Bob Lanier Court for the club's second ever victory over a nationally recognized program in school history. The 1993-94 edition of the Brown and White captured the school's first win over a ranked opponent 14 years ago when St. Bonaventure defeated #18/20 Rutgers 71-70 in the Reilly Center. The Bonnies' 63-60 upset of George Washington is one of just four victories over the Top 25 for Atlantic 10 schools this season.
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 10 true road wins and 11 triumphs away from the Reilly Center. As of Feb. 26, the Bonnies' 10 victories on opponent's home floors were tied for third most in the nation.
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 in three straight contests. 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. With their win over Saint Louis, the Bonnies clinched their second three-game conference winning streak of the season and sit one short of the school's longest A-10 winning streak of four previously set in 1993-94 and 2001-02. A win at UMass would also give the Brown and White seven league triumphs to match the program's second highest win total ever in conference play.
Halftime Lead = Victory
The Bonnies are 26-2 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 conference contests this season against Atlantic 10 foes Saint Joseph's and Rhode Island.
Close Contests
The Bonnies own a 14-4 mark in games decided by 10 points or less and hold a 13-1 record in games decided within six tallies. The Brown and White also are 16-1 when possessing an edge with under five minutes remaining in a game.
Taking Care of the Rock
Through 27 games, St. Bonaventure has given up the ball just over 15 times per game that ranks fourth in the Atlantic 10 and 40th in the nation. The Bonnies own a 7-2 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.
Inside the Numbers
Scoring in double digits not only has benefited the Bonnies' individual statistics as it has also equated to numerous wins for the Brown and White this season. St. Bonaventure owns a 11-5 mark when three players reach the double digit plateau and are a perfect 5-0 when four surpass 10 points. Digging further into the season box scores, the Bonnies possess a 11-3 record when sophomore Dana Mitchell and junior Katelyn Murray register double figures and are 6-2 when junior Erica Schiefen posts 10+ points.
Triple Threat
Thanks to the hot shooting from junior Katelyn Murray, the Brown and White rank first in the Atlantic 10 and 34th in the nation in three-point field goal percentage. Murray hasn't been the only weapon from long range as seven Bonnies connect better than 30 percent of their shots from downtown. With 27 games in the books, the Bonnies have connected from behind the arc at a rate of 36.2 percent. Murray leads the team with 49 trifectas on the season and ranks 8th in the A-10 with a 38.9 percent conversion rate from three-point land. Following 85 games in a Bona uniform, the Harrisburg, Pa. product ranks fifth all-time with 132 career three-pointers and recently passed 2006 Bona graduate Audrey Latendresse and Tricia Pawling. Murray is 23 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.
It's Raining Threes
This season's top three-point shooting team in the Atlantic 10 has helped continue a streak spanning almost four full seasons as the Brown and White have connected on at least one triple in 118 straight contests. It has been more than four years since the Bonnies last failed to connect from behind the arc as Bona shot 0-for-9 against Temple on February 14, 2004. The Bonnies have knocked down a season-high nine triples in two of their last four contests, while draining a stretch-best 12 trifectas against Niagara on December 6, 2005.
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 fourth place in the league by connecting at a rate of 71.8 percent. Mitchell sits fifth in the conference at 81.9 percent, while her fellow classmate Doneth is five spots below with a 76.9 conversion rate through 27 games. Five members of the Brown and White roster are connecting at better than 70 percent from the free throw line. Bona owns a 14-5 mark this season when connecting on more free throws their its opponent.
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 in the 2007-08 season. In 27 contests of her second year, Mitchell has posted 27 straight double figure scoring efforts this season, including 11 20-plus point performances (t-1st in the A-10), one 30-plus point effort (1-of-11) as well as six double-doubles (6th in the A-10). The super sophomore leads the conference in scoring with 18.7 points per game, while ranking fifth in free throw (.819) and 10th in field goal percentage (.491). She has also proved to be a presence on the boards, hauling down 6.4 (14th in the A-10) caroms per contest to lead the Brown and White. The 6-1 forward is also one of only three players in the Atlantic 10 to rank among the top 15 in points per game, field goal percentage and free throw percentage.
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 nine rebounds at Duquesne, the 5-11 junior from Philadelphia moved into sole possession of 13th place in the record books with 500 career rebounds. Heading into tonight's contest at Massachusetts, Edwards is 22 boards shy of moving past Jodi Urich's 522 rebound total. Sue Shay carries the all-time rebounding distinction after hauling down 952 career caroms during her four-year career.
On the Glass
Despite ranking 11th in the Atlantic 10 with 34.7 rebounds per contest, the Bonnies effort on the defensive glass along with timely boards has been a key component to the Brown and White's success in 2007-08. With only two games remaining in the regular season, St. Bonaventure boasts one of the best rebounding defenses in the league allowing team's just 32.7 caroms per contest that ranks second among A-10 affiliates. The Bonnies also hold a 14-4 advantage when outrebounding opponents, while dropping five of eight games in which they are beaten on the boards. Led by sophomore Dana Mitchell and junior Tiara Johnson, who both rank among the A-10's best, the Bonnies have held the edge in rebounding in two of their last three contests.
Off the Bench
Although they have been outscored throughout the season, while dealing with a rash of injuries shortening the rotation, the Bona bench has proved to be an integral ingredient in the success of the Bonnies this season. Members outside of the Brown and White starting five have accounted for 11 double digit scoring efforts this season with St. Bonaventure holding a 10-1 mark when someone off the pine steps it up in the scoring column. After beginning the game on the floor during the first 23 contests in 2007-08, sophomore Andrea Doneth has excelled as instant offense off the bench in the last three games, averaging 11.0 points and 6.3 assists per contest
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 5.6 points followed by a 3.3 boost from junior Katelyn Murray.
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 27 games, the Brown and White have only conceded 60.9 points per game that ranks in the top half of the Atlantic 10. The Brown and White own a 8-1 mark when limiting opponents to under 60 points per contest, while only seven teams have surpassed 65 tallies against Bona this season. In the club's last 10 games, the Bonnies' defense has surrendered just 59.5 points per game while limiting the league's highest scoring offense in George Washington to 60 tallies.
Positive Production
Although the plus/minus statistic is normally prominent in hockey box scores, the Bonnies have carried the on ice stat to the hardwood thanks to the Fast Model program used on the Bona bench. For the season, sophomore Dana Mitchell boasts the highest positive production at +102 followed by juniors Tiara Johnson (+85) and Erica Schiefen (+35). The Brown and White fare well on Bob Lanier Court according to the program's tabulations as three of five starters own positive rankings in the Reilly Center.
Series Sweeps
The Bona brooms have been busy during the 2007-08 campaign as the club has swept a pair of teams this season. Earlier this year, the Bonnies captured two wins over America East foe Binghamton, including a victory in Elmira at the St. Bona Shootout. With consecutive wins over Duquesne this season, the Brown and White posted their first Atlantic 10 series sweep since 2003-04's double dip over Massachusetts.
Records on the Road
In contradiction of the old saying, "There's no place like home," the Brown and White have established numerous records away from home with 10 true road wins and 11 triumphs away from Bob Lanier Court. With six straight road wins at Florida Atlantic, Colgate, Canisius, Fairleigh Dickinson, IPFW and Bighamton, the Bonnies equaled the school record for consecutive road wins. St. Bonaventure also holds the program record with 10 true road wins and need one more victory to surpass the all-time Bona mark of 11 wins away from the Reilly Center.
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.
Best Beginning in the Books
With an 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 the first team in program history with 19 wins at any level.
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 their second three-game Atlantic 10 Conference winning streak heading into tonight's clash at Massachusetts. The all-time school record for most league wins in a row stands at four and has only been reached on two occasions in 2000-01 and 1993-94.
Little Giant
In her first season in the Brown and White, junior Tiara Johnson has excelled in her initial 26 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 26 games, Johnson sits second on the St. Bonaventure stat sheet in rebounding from the point guard position with 6.1 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 tied for first on the club with 3.4 assists per contest, including a career-high eight helpers vs. Niagara.
Missing Pieces
The Bonnies' 18-9 mark in the 2007-08 campaign is even more impressive after looking at the team's injury report. During their 27 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 18 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.
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 10.5 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 49 three-pointers on the season. She has reached double digits in 14 contests, including three games of 20 or more points through the Bonnies' 27 games. Murray has started 77 of 85 contests since arriving on campus and has developed into one the best three-point shooters in school history as her 132 career triples rank fifth all-time.
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.
For Starters
In the Bonnies 27 games of the season, head coach Jim Crowley has sent out the same starting five for the opening tip in every contest but six. 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 18-9 beginning. Junior Ashley Edwards was inserted into the lineup for one game when Johnson was out with an injury, while freshman Cara Gustafson has earned her first four career starts in the Brown and White's most recent three contests.
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.
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.
