Nov. 29, 2008

Game Notes   | Statistics thru 11/22  

GAME DAY CENTRAL
DATE: Nov. 30, 2008
TIP-OFF: 3:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Rochester, Michigan
ARENA: Athletics Center O'Rena
CAPACITY: 4,000
CONFERENCE: Summit League
WEB RADIO & VIDEO: www.GoBonnies.com
SERIES: 1st ever meeting
LAST MEETING: never
Up Next: vs. IPFW on December 2

AT A GLANCE
The St. Bonaventure women's basketball team heads into today's match-up against Oakland looking to improve upon its strong 4-0 start this season. The team is off to a 4-0 start for the second straight season. The Brown and White started last season with five straight victories before falling to Bowling Green, 68-61. With the win on the road against Akron, the Bonnies have now won 11 of its last 12 non-conference games, including nine of its last 10 contests away from the Reilly Center.

SERIES HISTORY
Today's matchup will be the first meeting between these two schools. The Bonnies hold a 1-0 all-time record against the Summit League, capturing their lone win last season over IPFW, 76-65 on December 23.

This Day in Bona History
The Brown and White are 2-4 all-time on November 30 dating back to the 1985-86 season.

Scouting the Golden Grizzles
Oakland enters today's game against the Bonnies with a 2-2 record on the season. The Golden Grizzlies have played a very challenging schedule so far this season, having already lost to #21 Purdue and #23 Georgia. Oakland most recently dropped a 68-40 game at #21 Purdue on November 23. The Grizzlies were plagued by poor shooting and turnovers the entire game, shooting only 25 percent from the field while committing 20 turnovers. Senior guard Jessica Pike was named the Summit League preseason Player of the Year, while the Grizzlies were picked to finish second in the Summit League in the same preseason coaches' voting. Oakland sophomore 6-foot-3 center Brittany Carnago is averaging 2.75 blocks per game this season.

Last Time Out: Bonnies outlast Akron , 71-67
The St. Bonaventure women's basketball team survived a scare and came out of Akron with a 71-67 win on November 22. Dana Mitchell had 21 points and four rebounds to lead the Bonnies to their fourth straight win to start the 2008-09 season. Priscilla Edwards scored a season-high 14 point to go along with five assists, while freshman Megan Van Tatenhove had a breakout game for the Bonnies scoring 13 points while grabbing a team-high seven rebounds. The Bonnies shot 42 percent (20-48) from the field and 81 percent (30-37) from the free-throw line for the game. The Brown and White built up a huge lead, as big as 17 points, with just under five minutes remaining in the game. However, the Zips would storm back using a 19-6 run to close within four points with 30 seconds left in the game. The Bonnies would not lose their composure, however, making four free-throws in the last 30 seconds to seal the victory.

Elite Company
Dana Mitchell scored her 1,000 career point in a 71-67 win at Akron on November 22. Mitchell not only became the 16th member of the 1,000 point club, but she also into 16th place on the Bonnies all-time scoring list with 1,006 career points. Mitchell only needs two more points to move into 15th place all-time, passing Beth Gromiowicz who has 1,008 points.

Looking for another fast start
With a 12-3 start to last season, the Bonnies established themselves early on as a team to be taken seriously. This year's squad has started off 4-0, and will not have to deal with a monster six game road trip that last year's squad played through. With home tilts against Michigan State and Syracuse right around the corner, the Bonnies will look to repeat the fast start they enjoyed last season.

Non-Conference Success
Dating back to last season, the Bonnies have notched 16 victories in their last 19 games outside of the Atlantic 10, including six in a row at the Reilly Center. St. Bonaventure is also 10-3 in its last 13 non-conference contests away from home.

Double Trouble
The scoring duo of senior Katelyn Murray along with junior Dana Mitchell are at it again for the Brown and White this season. The tandem have accounted for 47 percent of the Bonnies offense this season. Mitchell is averaging 17.5 points per game and Murray is scoring at a 14.8 clip per game this season. The dynamic duo was the third highest scoring combination in the Atlantic 10 last season at 28.5 points per game. The Bona combo trailed only the Kate Mills/Pam Rosanio (33.3) duo from Massachusetts and the Amber Harris/Ta'Shia Phillips combination (29.3) from Xavier.

Can't Catch Them
The Bonnies have dominated at times during their 4-0 start this season. The Brown and White have opened up a lead of at least 10 points in every game this season. In the Bonnies last two games, both four point wins against Canisius and Akron, they have led wire-to-wire in both victories not once surrendering the lead.

Doing The Time
Senior guard Katelyn Murray is the only Bonnie so far this season to log over 30 minutes in a game. Murray played 36 minutes and scored 18 points in a 60-56 win at home against Canisius on November 19.