Not much has come easy for the St. Bonaventure women’s basketball team this season. Why would win number eight, and the ice cream prize following it, be any different?
The Bonnies fell behind 9-0 to start the game, trailed by eight at halftime and watched a seven-point lead with five minutes left shrink to one two minutes later. Despite these in-game setbacks, they were able to hold on and defeat Rhode Island 77-72 at the Ryan Center.
SBU (8-20, 3-12 in Atlantic 10 play) finally improved its record after eight consecutive losses. It also swept the season series against URI, won its first league road game and ensured it will not finish last in the conference standings. Rhody slipped to 3-25, 1-14 in the league.
Bona, as it often does when it plays a successful game, featured five double-figure scorers.
Senior guard Mariah Ruff led the way with 20 points despite shooting 3-of-14 from the field, scoring 11 of them from the foul line. Junior forward Arielle Harvey scored an efficient 15 points, sinking five of her seven shots from the floor and making three of four attempts from the stripe. Danielle Migliore entered double-digits for the second straight contest, splashing four three-pointers as part of her 14 points.
Sophomore guard Jalisha Terry and freshman forward Emily Calabrese were the third and fourth Bonnies with 10 or more points, recording 12 and 10, respectively.
Calabrese was a rebound away from a double-double, Migliore two boards. SBU won on the glass, 36 rebounds to 31, helping pave the way to victory in addition to the offensive performances.
“Gritty win,” Bonaventure coach Jesse Fleming commented. “I thought numerous players stepped up. Mariah’s shot wasn’t falling but she kept attacking and made big free throws to seal the game. Danielle and Arielle made big shots. Rhianna (Council) came in and gave us great energy and Emily competed against a much bigger player.
Bona didn’t have to rely on junior guard Mckenna Maycock, either. Maycock dealt with foul trouble and played just 19 scoreless minutes. The win was just the second victory she played in but did not score double-digit points.
“There were a couple of times when they could have said it just wasn’t our night, but we kept battling,” Fleming said. “It was big that we won the rebounding battle and I thought we stayed together through adversity.”
Nicole Jorgensen, URI’s 6-foot-5 center, ripped off a 27-point, 13-rebound effort. As Fleming noted, the Rams’ big had a five-inch advantage on the 6-foot Calabrese, so it was a given that Jorgensen would get her points. Bona did an acceptable job on her supporting cast, however, denying a second player from reaching 20 points.
Abby Streeter was URI’s second-leading point-getter with 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting; 10 of them came in the second half.
Fleming noted before the contest that it was important for his team, especially the players who will be returning next year, to win an A-10 road game. Thanks to balanced offense, good defense and the resolve to close the game out, the Bonnies achieved their goal.
As program tradition goes, the squad made a post game pit stop to get ice cream. Some years, the treat has been routine. This time, after just the second road conquest of the season, had to taste that much sweeter.
“I thought we did a good job of attacking their zone in the second half. I think we started to wear URI down,” Fleming said. “Jorgensen is a really tough kid to guard. She’s big and physical. We doubled her and she still got to 27.
“In the end we made enough plays to win.”
