OLEAN, N.Y. – Rookie
Mackenzie Smith led all scorers Friday evening with a career high 25 points to push Saint Joseph's (6-10, 2-2 A-10) past St. Bonaventure (8-8, 0-5 A-10), 77-70. Smith led a group of four Hawks in double figures.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- It was an even 9-9 through the first 3:43, before the Hawks took a 6-3 run over the next 2:00 up to the media timeout at 3:49 with SJU up, 15-12. All 15 points were scored by freshmen with Julia Nyström leading all Hawks with six points. SJU held a 3-2 advantage through the rest of the period for an 18-14 lead. St. Joe's with six assists on its seven baskets in the first frame.
- SBU went on a 12-4 run over the opening 5:10 of the second period before senior Lovin Marsicano drained a triple ahead of the media timeout at 4:18 – the Bonnies led, 26-25. SJU held the advantage up to the half, 12-11, for a tie game at the break, 37-37.
- The teams traded the first 14 points of the third for 7 apiece. St. Bonaventure then ripped off four-straight for a 48-44 lead with 5:32 left. St. Joe's owned the rest of the stanza with a 9-2 spurt to the buzzer for a 53-50 lead. Smith led the team with a career high 19 points after three.
- The Bonnies claimed 11 of the next 19 points to tie the game at 61 apiece with 5:21 left. From that point on SJU didn't trail again as it outpaced the home team 16-9 for a 77-70 victory.
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE:
- SJU finished at 43.3% (26-of-60) from the floor, 38.1% (8-of-21) from long range, and 89.5% (17-of-19) from the line.
- SBU tallied 49.2% (29-of-59) overall, 33.3% (4-of-12) from deep, and 61.5% (8-of-13) from the stripe.
- The Hawks won both the rebounding (+7) and turnover (+3) margins.
- Smith added a career best eight rebounds to her 25 points and went 8-of-16 overall, 2-of-5 from long range, and 7-of-9 from the line.
- Graduate student Katie Jekot added 14 points with seven assists.
- Freshman Talya Brugler recorded a double-double with 10 points and a game high 10 rebounds on 4-of-9 shooting.
- Rookie Laila Fair registered 10 points on a 5-of-8 evening with six boards and a career high three blocks.
UP NEXT:
St. Joe's will take on Fordham in the Bronx on Wednesday.