By Mikael DeSanto
Sports Editor
The St. Bonaventure University women’s basketball team lost its final regular season game of the 2016-17 season Tuesday night, falling 83-61 to the Duquesne Dukes. The Dukes (15-14) and the Bonnies (9-19) split the season series 1-1, as the Bonnies won 69-56 on Jan. 21.
The Dukes dominated the glass and paint throughout the game, out-rebounding the Bonnies 49-32, including 18 offensive rebounds, and scored 42 points to the Bonnies 24 in the paint.
The Bonnies were also out-scored in second chance points 14-1 by the Dukes.
The game opened with an 8-0 run for the Dukes, which was ended by a three-point shot by Bonnies junior guard Mariah Ruff. But, the Dukes would maintain control of the offensive flow throughout the rest of the first quarter, leading 17-6 entering the second.
The Bonnies spent the entire second half making attempts to push into the lead, getting as close seven points back on a pair of occasions, but the Dukes responded to every attempt by re-extending the lead. They headed into the half up 34-23.
Both teams continued to duel and trade baskets through the third quarter, but a small 6-0 run late put the Dukes up by 24 at the 2:17 mark, which the Dukes kept the deficit around for the rest of the quarter.
The fourth quarter saw the Bonnies work to get back into the game, but be shut down by the Dukes before anything got started. The Dukes would take their largest lead of the game at 25 points late in the quarter, securing the win and the seventh seed in the Atlantic 10 tournament.
Ruff and sophomore guard Mckenna Maycock led the Bonnies with 15 points each. Ruff also had five rebounds and four assists, while Maycock added six assists and four rebounds. Freshman guard Jalisha Terry contributed 10 points for the Bonnies.
While sophomore guard Chassidy Omogrossa topped the Dukes with 19 points, senior forward Amadea Szamosi picked up 14 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists for a double-double (two assists shy of a triple-double).
The Bonnies must now wait to find out who they will play in the opening round of the A10 tournament. The tournament will begin on Saturday.
desantmj13@bonaventure.edu
