AMHERST, Mass. – The road has been a spot of trouble this season for the St. Bonaventure women’s basketball team, but the Bonnies showed no signs of travel woes Thursday in a 55-38 victory over UMass at the Mullins Center.
JuniorMariah Ruff led an all-around team effort with a game-high 17 points, adding six assists and five rebounds. Graduate studentGabby Richmond added nine points and seven rebounds while sophomoreMckenna Maycock tallied nine points, five rebounds and four assists.
The Bonnies (7-12, 2-5 Atlantic 10) led for 37:50 of game time and trailed just once, by a point at the 8:06 mark of the first quarter.
Bona opened an eight-point lead at halftime and ended any doubt with a 14-3 run in the fourth quarter. The Bonnies led, 38-31, following a UMass free throw from Leah McDerment with 8:27 remaining, butSarah Hart drained a three from the wing on the next offensive possession to push the lead back to double digits.
From there, UMass got within single digits just once – a 43-34 score with 6:37 to play, but again, the Bonnies responded with one of their freshmen. This time it was a runner fromJalisha Terry as the Bonnies rattled off seven straight points to halt any thoughts of a rally from the Minutewomen.
St. Bonaventure fought turnover trouble during the first half, handing the ball over to UMass 10 times before intermission, but when it was able to maintain possession shots were falling. The Bonnies shot 50 percent from the floor during the opening 20 minutes, using a 10-0 run to build a 22-13 lead after a Ruff three with 4:39 left in the half.
UMass got back within six, but Maycock banked in a long two at the buzzer to send the Bonnies to halftime with a 26-18 advantage after forcing the hosts into 11 turnovers themselves.
McDerment and Alyx Stiff each had 11 points apiece to pace UMass (9-11, 3-4).
The Bonnies are set for a quick turnaround, playing the first of back-to-back games at the Reilly Center with a Saturday afternoon date vs. Duquesne. Saturday’s game is set for a 4 p.m. tipoff. For Saturday’s game, all Washington West Elementary School students and staff will receive free admission with parents and families receiving $3 tickets. All other adult tickets are $5 with kids ages 12 and under $3 and St. Bonaventure students free with valid ID.
