By Mikael DeSanto
Sports Editor
The St. Bonaventure University women’s basketball team was eliminated from the Atlantic 10 tournament Saturday afternoon when it lose 73-70 to the sixth-seeded La Salle Explorers. It was the Explorers (17-12) first win against the Bonnies(9-20) in A10 tournament play since 2004.
The game featured a battle in the paint, with the Explorers getting the edge in points in the paint (38-36) and out-rebounding the Bonnies 39-28.
Though the game began as a back-and-forth affair, the Explorers soon took control and built up a lead that reached 19-8 by the end of the first quarter, including a three-point shot hit by sophomore forward Anemone Scheel with seven seconds left in the quarter.
But the Bonnies would not go quietly, mounting an 11-point comeback to start the second quarter, tying the game at 19 with five minutes to play in the first half. Both teams traded baskets for a majority of the remaining five minutes, before going on a 6-0 mini-run to extend the lead. The Bonnies headed to the locker room up 32-28.
Junior guard Mariah Ruff and graduate forward Gabby Richmond led the Bonnies in scoring at the half with eight points each. Sophomore guard Adreana Miller also had eight points at halftime, leading the Explorers.
The second half opened with the Explorers continuing to fight back, until they finally broke through with around seven minutes left in the third quarter, when they began a 10-0 run to tie the game and take the lead. After the Explorers went up by as much as seven points, the Bonnies battled back a sent the game to the fourth quarter down by three, 50-47.
The Explorers scored the first six points of the fourth quarter, but the Bonnies refused to let the game get too far away from them, fighting every step of the way and pulling the game to within three when Ruff hit a three with two minutes remaining.
With less than one minute left, both teams continued to duel in scoring and the Bonnies ended up with the final possession, down three with seven seconds left. Ruff received the inbounds, charged down the court and threw up a three to tie, but it went wide of the rim and the game was over.
Ruff topped the Bonnies with 22 points, while Richmond contributed a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Miller provided a team-leading 20 points for the Explorers and senior guard Jasmine Alston added a double-double of her own with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
desantmj13@bonaventure.edu
