By SPENCER BATES
SYRACUSE — Despite suffering a loss in its first Atlantic 10 game of the season last time out, the St. Bonaventure women’s basketball team were not phased as they returned to non-conference play with a 66-57 win.
Hitting the road to face a Le Moyne team that had just one win to its name, head coach Jim Crowley refused to ease up his focus. Because while the Dolphins had just one win, they were a team hardened by the experience of playing several quality opponents. That experience was apparent as Bona and Le Moyne exchanged blows for three quarters.
The largest lead of the game never reached double figures at any point and for as much as the sides went back-and-forth on the scoreboard, the Dolphins never once took control of the lead.
Still, at the start of the fourth frame the difference in the scores was just 51-48. After the game against the Billikens, Crowley noted how he was unhappy with his side’s late-game defense. His Bonnies had scored 25 points in the fourth quarter against SLU, which could have possibly changed the game, if they had not also conceded 30 points.
But if there is one thing about this year’s Bonnies, it is that they make the adjustments. With their advantage under threat, Bona locked in defensively and allowed Le Moyne just nine points to their 15, seeing the win over the line.
“Credit to Le Moyne, they really executed their game plan well,” Crowley said. “We just couldn’t separate. But I was really proud of our group in the fourth quarter. We defended, we had some trouble with our fourth-quarter defense the other day, so it was good to see us correct some things. It’s tough to win on the road, so we’ll take it and now we got a few days off here, and then we’ll get ready for Mercyhurst.”
Laycee Drake led the way for the Bonnies on the scoring front yet again, finishing with 21 points — three shy of a new career-high and seven rebounds. But Drake was not alone. Her counterpart Aaliyah Parker had one of her best games with the Bonnies, netting 20 points — three shy of a season-high to go along with eight boards.
Crowley’s star duo spearheaded the winning effort, a victory that saw him reach the 400-win mark for his coaching career.
St. Bonaventure will head to Mercyhurst for its next game, set for Dec. 12 at 6 p.m.
