ST. BONAVENTURE 66, MARIST 63
How St. Bonaventure won: The Bonnies won the rebounding battle, 40-26, and had 15 offensive rebounds -- key to keeping possessions alive, particulary late in the game when Bona got tight and missed some easy shots. CeCe Dixon hit two free throws with 23 seconds left and solid Bona defense iced the game.
Player of the Game: Jessica Jenkins. She struggled at times in the second half, but her 16 points in the first half and went 4 for 7 from three point range. That set the tone. When Jenkins is on, the rest of the team relaxes.
Player of the Game II: Doris Ortega. The sophomore had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. She was strong in the paint and a smart player.
Stat Check: Bona won the reboudnding battle, 40-26.
Stat Check II: Bona did not have a turnover in the last 11 minutes of the game.
Play of the Game: Chelsea Bowker's three-pointer to give Bona a 52-49 lead with 9:38 left. That was a huge lift for a stalled offense.
Play of the Game II: CeCe Dixon iced a one-and-one with 23 seconds left to give Bona three-point lead.
She said it: “We really feed off his energy. I’ve never seen him get a technical since I’ve been here. We knew he was trying to get us going a bit. That worked.” -- Jenkins on her thoughts on the technical called on Jim Crowley.
In the House: 713 at the Tucker Center in Tallahassee.
What It Means: St. Bonaventure is in the Sweet 16 in its first trip to the NCAA Tournaemnt.
What's Next: No. 1 seed Notre Dame on Sunday in Raleigh, N.C.
---Amy Moritz
