Location: Bob Lanier Court at the Reilly Center – St. Bonaventure, N.Y.
St. Bonaventure Starters: #11 Hannah Little, #14 Gabby Richmond, #21 Nyla Rueter, #33 Emily Michael, #42 Katie Healy
The Short Story: The St. Bonaventure women's basketball team defeated the Canisius Golden Griffins, 62-46, in their season opener at the Reilly Center on Friday, November 14. The Bonnies have now won 22 consecutive games against Big 4 opponents.
The Bonnies scored 40 second-half points to pull away from the Griffs. Katie Healy led the Brown and White with a game-high 20 points. Hannah Little added 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
How It Happened:
- St. Bonaventure began the game on an 11-2 run. Katie Healy, Gabby Richmond and Nyla Rueter combined for the 11 points.
- At the 9:32 mark, Healy pushed the lead to 9 off a lay-up, which was the largest lead of the first half.
- Canisius was able to cut into the lead off of three three-point field goals and one lay-up. With less than four minutes to go the Bonnies led 18-17.
- Healy scored half of the Bonnies' 22 first-half points with 11. Seven of her 11 were scored consecutively late in the first half.
- The Brown and White came out strong in the beginning of the second half, scoring four straight points off two free-throw shots by Hannah Little and lay-up by Gabby Richmond.
- Canisius brought the game within a bucket at the 16:12 mark off a lay-up from Crystal Porter.
- After being up only by two, St. Bonaventure broke away from the Griffs and went on a 17-5 run within just seven minutes of playing time. Six different Bonnies scored during the run.
- During the run, Imani Outlaw stole the ball from Tiahana Mills and pushed it ahead to Ashley Zahn, who was fouled, but not before she drained the lay-up.
- Canisius didn't record a field goal from the 14:54 mark to the 8:33 mark in the second half.
- St. Bonaventure closed out the game by scoring eight straight points, which included six free-throws and one lay-up by Nyla Rueter.
Beyond The Box Score:
- The Bonnies unveiled their fifth banner in six years tonight. They celebrated the accomplishments of the 2013-14 team that went to the WNIT Second Round.
- St. Bonaventure led wire-to-wire in its 16-point victory over Canisius.
- The Bonnies have now defeated Canisius nine consecutive times, the last six wins have been by 10 points or more.
- At the 11:50 mark in the first half, the Bonnies were playing with five players off the bench, which was something the squad rarely did in 2013-14.
- The Brown and White out-rebounded the Griffs, 20-15, in the first half and six Bonnies recorded two or more boards.
- Each freshman that entered the game recorded either a rebound or a bucket (Mariah Ruff, 2 points; Matea Britvar, 1 rebound; Miranda Drummond, 2 rebounds).
- 11 of the Bonnies' 21 field goals were assisted.
- SBU recorded six blocks, one shy of their 2013-14 game high of seven. Four of the six blocks came in the first half, and three of them came from Healy.
- St. Bona shot 57.1% in the second half.
- Ashley Zahn and Imani Outlaw both went a perfect 2-2 from the field. Zahn recorded her first points since the 2012-13 season.
- 16 of the Bonnies' 40 second-half points came from the free throw line.
- The Bonnies had 10 steals, and seven different Bonnies recorded one.
- Eight St. Bonaventure players recorded two or more rebounds.
- The Brown and White made 20 free throws, compared to Canisius' nine.
- Both teams attempted 49 field goals in the game.
Quotes From Coach Crowley:
"I thought there was a lot to really like, I thought a lot of times our defense was in a really good place, we got a little relaxed in the second half. A lot of that credit goes to Canisius; those three kids that were in double figures were really good guards, they ran in really good motion and they make you earn it. I thought we played the way we wanted to play, which is good."
"What a great atmosphere. What a terrific turnout, so thankful to the community and the students, and the start we had with the national anthem; I don't know if I've ever been part of a better moment in this building so to have that and be part of that; I mean what a great start to our season, and it's on us to keep good things coming."
Up Next: The Brown and White make the quick turnaround and travel to James Madison for a match-up against the Dukes on Sunday, Nov. 16. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.