Photo: Aidan Shinners
BY: KYLE MAIER, SPORTS EDITOR
Jim Crowley, St. Bonaventure University women’s basketball head coach, detailed the versatility and depth nine new players will add to his 2024-25 roster ahead of the team’s first game tonight.
“We have a lot of different things we can do with our lineups,” said Crowley. “We have a lot of people who can play multiple positions; something we didn’t have last year.”
Redshirt senior guard Isabellah Middleton and freshman guard Macy Smith joined Crowley at a media day in the Reilly Center last week.
Bonaventure acquired four new players over 6 feet tall. Freshmen guard Hannah Richardson and forward Caitlin Frost stand at 6’1. Transfer Junior forwards Mya Richardson and Gabby Robinson Forde are 6’2.
Richardson comes from Three Rivers Community College, while Robinson Forde joins SBU from Gulf Coast State.
Crowley highlighted length as an asset to this year’s squads.
“The biggest thing is we have some post threats,” said Crowley. “So that frees up a lot of things because you have to make people guard that.”
Bonaventure’s revamped roster consists of six freshmen. Along with Smith, Richardson and Frost, fellow guards Mackenzie Pettinelli, Zoe Shaw and Lena Walz also join SBU.
Crowley said he needs his first-year players to be ready for action.
“We need more depth,” said Crowley. “The freshmen need to be ready fast. There’s talent there, and they need the confidence to let it out.”
Bonaventure scouted a freshman class fit to handle adversity despite collegiate inexperience, said Crowley.
“[Our recruiting process] was very intentional,” said Crowley. “‘Who can handle the adversity of building a program?’ You have to trip up before you can climb.”
In her first collegiate season, Smith said she looks to bring defense prowess and an efficient mid-range game to Crowley’s rotation.
“My first priority is defense,” said Smith. “On offense, I think I can get into my pull-up jumper well, especially with how coach runs his offense.”
Five fifth-year players return for Bonaventure: Middleton, fellow guards Nadechka Laccen and Dani Haskell, and forward Payton Fields.
In 2023-24, Haskell led the team in scoring with 12.3 points per game, Middleton followed with 11.5 ppg. Laccen added 9 ppg and Fields contributed 6.7 ppg.
Crowley commended the returners’ commitment to the program.
“Wins and losses were extremely difficult last year,” said Crowley. “The resilience and persistence to stay with what we were growing was seen in the film.”
The Bonnies finished with a 4-26 record last season. Middleton said that experience forged her into a leader for her new teammates.
“With all the things we went through, it taught me how to be a leader,” said Middleton. “I really needed, last year, to become the leader. I needed to be for my teammates.”
In practice, Middleton said she pushes the freshmen by bringing intensity every day. \
“When I saw all the freshmen coming in, I told my upperclassmen ‘We need to get into them’,” said Middleton. “That is going to prepare us for other teams; we’re growing every day.”
With an exhibition game against Daemen University tonight, Crowley wants to use this opportunity to see who stands out on the court.
“12 kids have all had really good moments in practice,” said Crowley. “Now we start to get into exhibitions and see who separates a bit.”
The coaching staff wants to see dependability and consistency out of their players against DU, said Crowley.
“Consistency is a really big thing,” said Crowley. “And then dependability. ‘Can I depend on you to play hard?’ ‘To execute?’”
Bonaventure tips off against the Wildcats at 6 p.m. in the Reilly Center. The game can be streamed on ESPN+.
maierkj22@bonaventure.edu
