By SPENCER BATES
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ahead of his team’s final non-conference game of the season, St. Bonaventure women’s basketball head coach Jim Crowley highlighted consistent defense and late-game execution as areas in which he needs to see improvement.
Unfortunately for Bona, it was late on when Howard’s offense came alive and ran away with the result, taking a 76-64 victory.
Through three quarters of play, the Bonnies and Bison were on a relatively even playing field, with the hosts holding a four-point lead. But in that third frame is where the visitors’ offense seemingly ran out of gas.
Bona came out of the intermission down by six points and used a 17-2 run to establish a decent lead. But trouble was brewing. The offense eventually went cold and Howard took advantage.
Behind a 17-5 run, the Bison left the Bonnies in the dust and saw their lead balloon to as many as 14 points.
Despite the loss, Aaliyah Parker put together a solid performance, scoring 17 points along with roping in five rebounds, swiping four steals and dishing three assists. She was the only Bona player to finish with double figures in the score column. Behind her, Mackenzie Pettinelli contributed nine points and four rebounds while Laycee Drake and Brianna Barr-Buday added eight points each. Drake tallied six assists and four rebounds as well.
As for the Bison, Zennia Thomas led the way with 22 points and eight rebounds — both game-high marks. Ariella Henigan, who had 11 points along with four rebounds and four assists, and Zoe Stewart, who racked up 11 points were the other Howard players to reach double-figures.
“Credit to Howard, this was a hard-fought, intense, very good college basketball game,” Crowley said. “I was really proud of our group. We had a shooting lull late in the third quarter (which lasted) into the fourth and that allowed Howard to get some transition. We gave away a few offensive rebounds but I thought our kids played really hard. This was a really good opportunity for us to learn and prepare for Atlantic 10 play.”
St. Bonaventure will make its long-awaited return home — having been away since Nov. 22 — for its first Atlantic 10 game of the season, set for Dec. 31 at 1 p.m. against George Washington.
