Courtesy gobonnies.com
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Senior Jessica Jenkinsknocked down eight 3-pointers and not even 24 hours removed from just its second loss of the season, the St. Bonaventure women’s basketball team (12-2) bounced back with a 58-44 win over Norfolk State (5-7) Friday afternoon in the consolation game of the Monmouth University Hawks Holiday Classic.
Jenkins tallied seven of her season-best 3-point total in the first half, responding from an 0-8 performance from behind the line in the Bona loss to Villanova Thursday. The eight 3’s are one shy of tying the program and Atlantic 10 Conference record in a game, of which Jenkins holds both.
Sophomore Doris Ortega continued her hot play as for the second consecutive game she finished just one point shy of a double-double with a nine-point, 12-rebound performance. The 12 caroms are a career best, breaking the previous high of 11 which she set the day before against the Wildcats.
CeCe Dixon tallied a career-best three 3-pointers – all in the first half – as part of her 11-point day, the sixth time this season she’s reached double-figure scoring in a game after doing so just once last year.
After NSU scored the game’s first basket, Bonaventure tallied the next 10 to give itself a 10-2 lead it wouldn’t relinquish the rest of the afternoon. Jenkins hit her first 3-point attempt from the left baseline to start a 13-2 extended Bona run.
After the Spartans rattled off a 9-0 stretch to pull within eight at 28-20, Jenkins closed the half with four straight 3’s – including one just before the buzzer – to create a 40-22 Bona advantage at the break.
However, Norfolk State didn’t go quietly as it opened the second half on an 11-2 run and held SBU without a field goal until the 11:17 mark. Following the Ortega layup, Jenkins netted her eighth 3 of the day to continue a 10-0 Bonaventure run which put the game out of reach.
NSU, which had 13 players log game action, was led at the offensive end by Whitney Long’s 10-point showing.
The Bonnies once again played without Preseason First Team A-10 selection Megan Van Tatenhove as she continues to recover from concussion-like symptoms.
The win over the Spartans is the 12th in the non-conference docket for Bonaventure, tying the 2007-08 and 2009-10 squads for the most non-league victories in a single campaign in program history.
St. Bonaventure returns to action on Jan. 3 at the Reilly Center as it concludes its non-conference slate against Sacred Heart at 2 p.m. The Bonnies will be looking for their 13th non-league victory in a season for the first time in program history. The game will be free to attend, and more information will be posted in the coming days on GoBonnies.com.
Game Notes: Since her freshman year, Jenkins hasn’t been shut out from 3-point range in consecutive games … in the eight games following Jenkins being held without a 3-pointer over the last 2+ years, she’s hit three or more 3’s in seven of those eight contests … the Bonnies have not lost consecutive outings since a three-game stretch Feb. 2-9 last season … Armelia Horton finished with six points, while Chelsea Bowker and Jennie Ashton scored four each to cap the Bona scoring … Jenkins started her 80th straight game, while Bowker made her fifth consecutive start for Van Tatenhove … the Bonnies turned the ball over a season-high 26 times … SBU dominated the glass, 43-25.
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