Junior Katie Healy scored a season-high 25 points, but her performance was not enough to carry her team as the Bonnies dropped their seventh straight game, falling to Duquesne on Wednesday.
As has been the case during the team’s losing streak, inconsistent play plagued the Bonnies. They fell behind 11-0, but then, true to form, their play improved. At the midpoint of the first half, the Bonnies trailed, 13-15. The Bonnies could not maintain their run, however, and they fell behind 32-24 at the half.
Just like the first half, St. Bonaventure failed to find a rhythm in the second 20 minutes. Duquesne grew its lead to 12 points, but the Bonnies battled back, cutting the lead to five, 52-57, with less than eight minutes remaining. Once again, the Bonnies failed to sustain their play, and Duquesne pulled away, winning 76-63.
“It is kind of draining” junior guard Nyla Rueter when asked about the team’s lack of consistency said. “We had a good season last year; we only lost two in a row, so we’re not quite used to it.”
Rueter continued, saying that the team members need to believe in themselves. “It’s a confidence thing,” she said.
Healy, who was honored before the game for scoring over 1,000 points in her collegiate career, agreed that the team’s inconsistency has been hard to deal with.
“We’re pretty good at feeding off each other when things are going well,” Healy said. “We need to find a way to not get in ruts so much.”
Throughout the game, the Bonnies missed multiple lay-ups, something that Coach Jim Crowley attributes to a lack of pace in practice.
Despite the loss, Crowley was pleased with pace of the game and the effort of his team against Duquesne. The Bonnies had more possessions and attempted more shots Wednesday night than they did in their last game, while making a higher percentage of their shots. Crowley referred to his team’s pace as the best he’s seen since Jan. 14 and said, “We did enough offensively to give ourselves a chance to win.”
Crowley was not pleased with his team’s defense, especially the team’s rebounding. The Bonnies gave up 44 rebounds, 16 of them offensive, while only securing 29. This led to 12 second-chance points for the Dukes. “We weren’t making them beat us; we were letting them,” said Crowley of his team’s performance. Rebounding has been a constant problem for the Bonnies, as they have been out-rebounded in their last six games.
Rueter agreed that stronger defense is needed, saying, “Defense transitions to offense.”
The Bonnies have had a few days to sort things out after the loss; their next game is tomorrow at 2 P.M. against UMass. The Minutewomen have lost three straight games.
kibbeei14@bonaventure.edu
