By SPENCER BATES
ST. BONAVENTURE — After a fruitless start to Atlantic 10 play, the St. Bonaventure women’s basketball team is looking to get back on track with a road win over George Mason.
Entering the contest, the Patriots hold an 11-2 overall record, which is tied for the best in the A10 with Saint Joseph’s. They have won four of their last five games, losing their most recent to the Hawks of Saint Joe’s and sit with an even 1-1 conference record in the early goings of the “second season.”
Meanwhile, Bona finds itself in a near-opposite situation, sitting at the bottom of the league table with an overall record of 4-9, winners of one of their last five and 0-2 in the A10.
The Bonnies will be looking to flip the script of their conference fortunes thus far this season. But in order to do so, they will need to slow down George Mason’s Kennedy Harris, Zahirah Walton, Nalani Kaysia and Paula Suarez who each average over eight points per game with a field goal percentage of 37% or higher.
Much like Bona saw in its game against Rhode Island on Jan. 2, the Patriots top-four scorers are a combination of bigs and supplemental guards. Against the Rams, it was Harsimran Kaur and Sophie Phillips that provided the punch. But the issues those two players caused will now double against the Patriots.
The Bonnies will once again look for a big outing from Zoe Shaw, one of the many first-year players on the team, but one that has garnered some of the highest praise from coach Jim Crowley. Caitlin Frost is another who has been complimented based on how quick she has grown into the system.
The growth of Bona’s younger players is crucial in that it will help take some of the attention away from Dani Haskell, the team’s veteran and leading scorer.
But, Crowley noted, if his players are to continue to grow, there will need to be a higher level of effort across the board.
“I saw a comfortable effort at this level,” Crowley said after his side’s 82-48 loss to Rhode Island. “It’s got to be an uncomfortable effort. It’s something you can talk about a lot, it’s something you can even show on film, but it takes a commitment and habitual work to do it. And I’ve got to do a better job of getting us there.”
Crowley will hope some of that work pays off as his side is set to tip-off against George Mason on Jan. 5 at 3 p.m.
