Bona senior class ready to grab its spot in history

By Aaron M Smith

ST. BONAVENTURE, NY — Saturday brings with it the opening of conference play as Duquesne and St. Bonaventure do battle in a game that could go a long way in determining the Atlantic 10 champion. For the denizens of the Reilly Center, the contest marks another spot in the time line of what could be the most successful class in the program’s history.

Team records and individual accomplishments lie ahead in the path. But it is the achievements not so easily measured that separates Jim Crowley’s senior class from others.

Mired in mediocrity for almost a decade, the Bonaventure women’s program has risen to new heights in recent years with three consecutive seasons of 20+ wins  and accompanying post-season trips to the WNIT. A major catalyst in the Bonaventure turnaround can be credited to the 2012 senior class of Jennie Ashton, Armelia Horton (rs senior), Jessica Jenkins and Megan Van Tatenhove.

While one class does not make a team or a program, the 2012 senior group is on pace to compile the most victories in St. Bonaventure history. Currently, the record is at 85 victories, and this class is on pace to break that mark (80).  Armelia Horton is currently the winningest player in the Brown and White history with 96 wins.

“Coach Crowley came to watch me to play in Chicago,” Van Tatenhove reflected.  “When I came to visit the campus, I loved how enthusiastic the coaches were about where the program was headed.  They have such a passion for the game. I wanted to be a part of it.”

For the Brown and White,  the program’s turnaround can be credited to its team defense.  SBU has been tops in the A-10  only allowing an average of  54.6 points per game for the past two years, the best of any team in A-10 history. This year’s team is on a similar pace averaging 54.1 points per game through their first 15 games. ” We take great pride in our defense,” the Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin native confirmed.  “We really try to make the other team play our game. Coach Crowley has made that a priority since we have been here.”

If one word was required to describe this class it would be heart. ” When we recruited these girls we knew they were good,” Coach Crowley reflected.   “What we underestimated is how competitive they are. They love to compete, and it really doesn’t matter who we are playing.”

There is no better example of this than last week’s Monmouth Classic. In the first game, the Brown and White were ice cold from the field against Big East opponent Villanova and fell 55-44.  Jenkins was just 2-13 from the field, going 0-8 from behind the 3-point line. But less than 24 hours later, the sharpshooter nearly matched her career high, hitting eight triples against Norfolk State in a 58-44 victory.

On an individual level, Jenkins needs just 16  3’s to become the school’s and A-10 all-time leader in 3-point field goals. Currently sitting at 276, the Marion, Ohio native will surpass former Bonnies player, Suzie Dailer (291), for the all-time record. Van Tatenhove currently sits at 1,172 points points scored, and Jenkins has 1,173 points on her career. Both are good respectively for ninth and tenth  all-time in St. Bonaventure history.

But the success of this senior class hasn’t come without the benefit of prior classes’ experience. ” Each senior class has passed along their experience to us,” Jenkins admitted.  “We are trying to do that as well, letting our teammates know you can’t take a play off. We have to go hard all the time and not give anything easy to our opponents.”

“Each senior class, including this one has put everyone before themselves and have embraced their role,”  Crowley added. “They truly believe in what we are doing here and have put the success of the team first.”

However, as conference play begins, the path of success won’t be easy for the Brown and White.  Despite returning all five starters from last year, SBU was picked in A-10 preseason voting to finish sixth in the conference.  The voting speaks to the strength of the A-10 conference, which was ranked 7th out of 31 conferences in the 2010-2011 season.

The players aren’t deterred. ” Going to the WNIT was a big deal for us,” Jenkins said. ” Ultimately, we want to play in a NCAA tournament game.”

The first step starts on Saturday, January 7th as the Brown and White host the Duquesne Dukes (12-2) at the Reilly Center. Tip off is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Be sure to get  to the Reilly Center to watch the 2011-2012 SBU women’s basketball team before it is too late. That way,  when a “Remember them… ” conversation starts about this basketball team  – you can be part of the conversation.