The only thing that has been consistent for the Bonnies this year has been their inconsistency. After starting the season 12-3, the Bonnies proceeded to lose seven games in a row. Then, after three consecutive hard-fought games – two of which resulted in wins – the Bonnies were blown out by George Washington 70-48 last Sunday. Yet after this blowout, St. Bonaventure responded with a 57-55, down-to-the-wire win against St. Louis Wednesday night.
In the team’s win on Feb. 8 over Rhode Island, the Bonnies passed the ball well, connected on most of their shots, and limited Rhode Island’s offense. In their game against George Washington, the Bonnies did none of these things, once again showing their lack of consistency. Against the Billikens, St. Bonaventure did not have its best night offensively shooting only 32 percent from the field, but the team found a way to win.
In a game that was filled with inconsistent play, the Bonnies left St. Louis with an unexpected victory. Bonaventure trailed by as many as 20 points in the second half. Yet, by putting together a consistent effort for the last 10 minutes of the game, the brown and white emerged victorious.
Defense also played a role in the win. The Bonnies did not shoot well, but their defense made up for it. St. Bonaventure held St. Louis to 27 percent from the field. In addition, the Bonnies forced 15 turnovers, scoring 12 points from them.
Perhaps the biggest difference for the Bonnies, however, was the play of junior forward Katie Healy. In the team’s wins against Rhode Island and the University of Massachusetts, Healy had not been the team’s leading scorer, but she had played at a high level and contributed 10 points in the second half against Rhode Island. Against George Washington, Healy, who had been averaging more than 13 points a game, was the team’s third highest scorer with only eight points. After this disappointing outing, Healy responded, scoring a team-high 20 points and adding a game-high 15 rebounds against the Billikens. With Healy playing well, the Bonnies were able to do just enough to win.
Despite their inconsistency, the biggest bright spot for the Bonnies in the last several games has been the emergence of freshman guard Mariah Ruff. Although her season average sits below seven points per game, Ruff was the team’s highest scorer against Rhode Island with 25 points, and she was second in points with nine against George Washington.
In their next game, the Bonnies return to the Reilly Center for a game tomorrow against Davidson. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. This will be the first time the Wildcats and Bonnies have played each other, and Davidson comes into the game struggling. The Wildcats are 5-21 on the year and 1-12 in the conference. They have lost eight straight games and have dropped 13 of their last 14.
Saturday’s game is also senior day. St. Bonaventure’s only senior, guard Ashley Zahn, will be honored before the game begins.
