St. Bonaventure tops Richmond, 58-45

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Strong defense stops Spiders' attack

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – Behind double-digit performances from three Bonnies, the St. Bonaventure women’s basketball team topped visiting Richmond, 58-45 on Bob Lanier Court at the Reilly Center on Wednesday afternoon.

The Bonnies now head into their last two conference games 7-5 in Atlantic 10 action and 19-8 on the season while Richmond drops even in conference play at 5-5 and 16-9 overall.

Senior Dana Mitchell and sophomore Jessica Jenkins paced the Bonnies with 13 points each. Mitchell hit 6-of-11 from the field and went 1-for-1 at the line. Jenkins landed 12 points from long range going 4-for-10 and 1-of-2 from the line.

Redshirt sophomore Armelia Horton wrapped up the double figure performances with her first career double-double putting up 12 points and grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds.

Senior Andrea Doneth dished out six of the Bonnies’ total 10 assists on 22-of-45 from the field for 49 percent shooting. Richmond shot 36 percent on 16-of-44 with Abby Oliver chipping in a team-high 16 points from the bench.

Behind sophomore Megan Van Tatenhove’s six caroms and Horton’s 10, the Brown and White owned the boards 30-24. St. Bonaventure took advantage of the Spiders, grabbing 11 steals and converting 18 points off Richmond’s 17 turnovers including 12 points off 11 turnovers in the first half.

The Bonnies jumped front early, 8-0, by the first media timeout thanks to six points from Horton. Richmond answered back scoring six straight points, trailing by only two with 12:40 on the clock.

The teams tied it up at 11-all before consecutive treys from Doneth and two from Jenkins gave the Bonnies the final go ahead for the game 20-11 with 8:11 on the clock.

St. Bonaventure hit two more threes plus a Horton steal and lay up gave the Bonnies its biggest lead (10) heading into intermission, 32-22.

Richmond attempted to strike back opening the half with a three-pointer from Rachel Bilney to pull within seven, 32-25 with 17:37 left to play, but that would be the closest the Spiders would strike for rest of play.

With the help of back-to-back jumpers by Mitchell, St. Bonaventure opened a 12-5 tear to pull ahead 53-35 - its biggest lead of the game – with five minutes remaining. Van Tatenhove added seven of her nine points during the run.

Despite the Bonnies only scoring one field goal in the remaining minutes of the game, Richmond’s three baskets were not enough to overcome the damage.

Behind Oliver, Danielle Bell added eight points for the Spiders, but St. Bonaventure held the A-10’s and Richmond’s leading scorer Brittani Shells to just two points.

The Bonnies finish conference play with two road games with the first game at Duquesne on Saturday. Game time is set for 2 p.m. at the Palumbo Center. St. Bonaventure looks to avenge its loss against the Dukes earlier this season.