ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. (11/25/2006)—St. Bonaventure had three players in double figures to lead the Bonnies past Colgate University, 70-49, in women’s basketball action this afternoon at the Reilly Center. Colgate freshman TaHara Williams (Mason, Ohio) led all scorers with a career-high 16 points, while the Bonnies were led by Andrea Doneth’s 15 points.

 

The Raiders fall to 1-4 overall, while St. Bonaventure evens its record to 3-3 on the season.  Junior Melanie Cargle (Trotwood, Ohio) added 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting.

 

After trading baskets in the early minutes, Colgate put together an 8-0 run to take its biggest lead of the half at 16-9 at the 9:40 mark. The Bonnies chipped away at the Raider lead over the next five minutes, regaining a two-point advantage, 22-20, with 4:20 left in the first frame. Dana Mitchell had five points in the 13-4 Bonnies’ run.

 

Junior Caitlin Gillard (Vestal, N.Y.) knocked down the first of two free throws on the next possession, but the Raiders were unable to find their shooting touch, scoring just one more point in the final four minutes.

 

The Bonnies’ defense held Colgate to just one field goal in the final 9:40 as St. Bonaventure scored eight of the half’s final 10 points for a 30-22 lead at the break.

 

St. Bonaventure picked up right where it left off in the second half, stretching the lead to 14 points, 42-28, at the 14:55 mark. Colgate had cut the lead to six, but the Bonnies used a 10-2 run to pull away from the Raiders for good. St. Bonaventure stretched the lead to as many as 22 points behind 50 percent shooting in the second session.

 

Colgate junior Gretchen Polinski (Mansfield, Ohio) finished with seven points and Gillard had five points and team-high six rebounds. She also finished with a career-high four assists.

 

The Raiders shot 33 percent from the floor from the contest and committed 24 turnovers.

 

Dana Mitchell contributed 13 points and Audrey Latendresse added 12 and a game-high seven boards for the Bonnies. St. Bonaventure connected on 43 percent of its shots from the field for the afternoon, but just eight percent from long range. The Bonnies won the battle of the boards 45-32.

 

Colgate returns to the friendly confines of Cotterell Court for its next contest. The Raiders host BIG EAST rival Syracuse at 7 p.m., on Nov. 28. The game will be webcast through Colgate’s All-Access.