ST. BONAVENTURE (1-3) at BUFFALO (3-1)
Wednesday, Nov. 22 – 1:00 p.m.
Buffalo, N.Y.
TV: ESPN+
Radio: WSBU 88.3 FM
The St. Bonaventure University women’s basketball team is set for its second of three straight games on the road, traveling to take on Buffalo Wednesday, Nov. 22 at Alumni Arena. Tip is slated for 1:00 p.m.
OPENING TIP
The Bonnies battled Binghamton to the final buzzer Saturday afternoon on the road, falling to the Bearcats, 73-65. Bona’s trailed the Bearcats by as many as 21 points with 2:33 remaining in the third quarter, but were able to cut the deficit to just four with 58 seconds remaining in the game. The Bonnies had multiple chances to pull closer, but shots did not fall as the rally fell short.
Tianna Johnson and Dani Haskell tallied 16 points each to pace the Bonnies offense while Maddie Dziezgowski chipped in 10 points. The Bonnies outrebounded the Bearcats, 39-34, grabbing a season-best 16 offensive rebounds. Five different Bonnies registered five or more rebounds – Johnson (6), Dziezgowski (6), Kirah Dandridge (6), Haskell (5), Claire Cody (5).
AMONG THE RANKS
Dani Haskell has made an immediate impact on the Bonnies roster this season. The Franklinville, N.Y. native enters the week ranked second in the Atlantic 10 in minutes per game (36.6), second in free throw percentage (94.1), third in scoring (16.7 ppg) and seventh in made free throws (16).
Tianna Johnson has excelled at getting to the free throw line this year, ranking sixth in the A-10 with 22 attempts.
ROAD TESTED
Wednesday marks the second of three consecutive road contests for the Bonnies. Following Wednesday’s matchup, the Bonnies remain on the road to take on Loyola (MD) for the first time in program history.
The Bonnies are slated to play seven out of their 11 non-conference games on the road while only hosting four teams at the Reilly Center.
BUFFALO NOTES
Buffalo enters Wednesday with a 3-1 record to begin the new season and are coming off back-to-back wins against Niagara and Stonehill, respectively. UB finished last season 12-16 overall and 7-11 in Mid-American Conference play. The Bulls were picked to finish eighth in the MAC Preseason Poll.
The Bulls are coached by Becky Burke who is in her second season at Buffalo. She has compiled a 128-72 record overall in seven-plus seasons as a head coach. Burke spent two seasons at USC Upstate from 2020-22 and two seasons at Division II Charleston (WV).
Buffalo is led offensively by Chellia Watson who averages 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. Kirsten Lewis-Williams (11.3 ppg), Hattie Ogden (10.8) and Rana Elhusseini (10.3) are also averaging double figures for the Bulls. On the glass, Alexis Davis is pulling down a team-best 7.3 rebounds per game.
SERIES HISTORY
Wednesday marks the 34th matchup all-time between the Bonnies and the Bulls. Bona’s holds the edge in the all-time series, 18-15, but the Bulls are winners of the last five meetings between the two schools. The Bonnies last victory over UB came during Coach Crowley’s final season of his first stint, 59-32, at the Reilly Center Dec. 9, 2015. Coach Crowley is 8-3 all-time against Buffalo.
UP NEXT
The Bonnies stay on the road to take on Loyola (MD) Saturday, Nov. 25. Tip is slated for 2:00 p.m.
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