The Falcon women’s basketball team will look for a repeat of last Friday’s game as they face another undefeated team on the road tomorrow.
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After knocking off 7-0 Vanderbilt a week ago, BG (6-2) will get another tough test in St. Bonaventure (9-0).
The Bonnies haven’t just beaten everyone they faced, they’ve looked good doing it, winning every game this season by at least 10 points and earning five victories by more than 20 points.
A strong BG offense, which is averaging 72.4 points per game this season, will be the second big test for St. Bonaventure this season. The Bonnies passed their first test, downing Marist 61-43 at home.
Those same Red Foxes beat BG 70-65 earlier this season.
Falcon coach Curt Miller said the team will need to use its speed to throw St. Bonaventure off its gameplan.
‘Through the years, when you see their scores, one of the things they’ve always done well is control tempo,’ Miller said. ‘They’re going to keep it a low-scoring game and try to wear you down.’
Low-scoring on defense that is because St. Bonaventure has three players averaging at least 10 points per game in senior forward Dana Mitchell (15.6), sophomore guard Jessica Jenkins (14.3) and sophomore forward Megan Van Tatenhove (12.4). The three have combined to make 141-of-276 field goals (51.1 percent).
BG opponents have shot at 38.9 percent this season.
Meanwhile, BG counters with three guards in junior Lauren Prochaska (16.8), junior Tracy Pontius (13.6) and senior Tamika Nurse (11.8), who will try to lead the Falcons past a stout Bonnie defense that allows 47 points per game.
The Bonnies kept last season’s came close for the first eight minutes, but a 13-0 BG run gave the Falcons all the cushion they would need for a 77-59 win. Prochaska scored 24 points in that game.
The Falcons are coming off a road win against Detroit-Mercy. In what Miller described as a ‘trap game,’ BG earned a 64-43 victory on Wednesday, as Prochaska led the scoring attack with 25 points.
St. Bonaventure, on the other hand, needed a strong second-half hand to down BG rival Buffalo on Wednesday, eventually earning a lopsided 78-57 win. But with a slim 34-29 halftime lead, the Bonnies had to make adjustments for the second half.
‘We weren’t being that aggressive in the first half,’ said Bonnies coach Jim Crowley. ‘I think our kids recognized opportunities and just had a better mindset to attack them. We were really passive in the first half just catching and holding which allowed the defense to reset.’
Opening tip for the two teams will be at 1:30 p.m. from the Reilly Center.
