BY ANDREW HALE, SPORTS EDITOR
The St. Bonaventure women’s basketball team takes on Robert Morris in the first home game of the 2023-24 season Saturday afternoon.
The Bonnies return home to the Reilly Center, after losing 75-51 to Little Three rival Niagara in the season opener Wednesday.
Senior guards Nadechka Laccen and Tianna Johnson both left Wednesday’s game with injuries, and are ruled out for Saturday’s home opener, according to Bonaventure head coach Jim Crowley. Senior guard Dani Haskell and redshirt junior guard Isabellah Middleton are both day-to-day.
With injuries piling up, Crowley looks to guards Kirah Dandridge and Payton Fields to carry some of the load.
“Not so much against Niagara, but certainly against D’Youville and in our scrimmage, we’ve seen, Dandridge do a nice job [at guard],” said Crowley. “Payton Fields handled it some against Niagara. So fortunately, we’ve worked with a lot of different people handling the ball.”
Robert Morris is coming off a 61-50 season-opening victory against Saint Francis (PA). Junior guards Alejandra Mastral and Simone Morris each scored 13 points for the Colonials on Monday.
[Mastral] plays with really good pace,” said Crowley. “She keeps going and if you relax for a minute, she’s going to get by you. She keeps her dribble alive really well which puts pressure on the defense all the time. If we’re not willing or able to match it, then she can have a big day for sure.”
The game can be heard on WSBU 88.3 FM with the pre-game show starting at 1:15 p.m. for a 1:30 p.m. tip. The game also will be streamed live on ESPN+.
halea22@bonaventure.edu
