Photo courtesy of gobonnies.com
BY: AIDAN SHINNERS; SPORTS ASSIGNMENT EDITOR
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. — The St. Bonaventure University women’s basketball team defeated D’Youville University 68-56 in its season opener at the Reilly Center.
The Bonnies opened the contest with St. John’s University transfer sophomore forward Kyla Hayes as well as four returning players; sophomores Elyse MacDonaugh and Ivona Djikanovic and junior Mackenzie Pettinelli at the guard positions, as well as junior Brillana Boyd at forward.
Bonaventure started the game slow and went down 18-11 in the first quarter. They managed to bring the game back with a 23-point third quarter including eight points and a steal from MacDonaugh.
Head coach Jim Crowley utilized seven players off the bench, and the Bonnies bench outscored D’Youville’s 33-3. Crowley said the team’s depth is one of their biggest strengths.
“I thought everyone (off the bench) did positive things for us,” Crowley said. “It is something we consider a strength and I think that is something that will continue as the year goes on.”
Freshman forward Ella Trinkaus scored 21 points off the bench leading the Bonnies in scoring in her NCAA debut. Trinkaus credits her teammates for helping her succeed against the Saints.
“My teammates were able to find me cutting through the zone,” Trinkaus said. “I think that’s a big part of (my success).”
Trinkaus also pulled in five rebounds in the contest.
The Bonnies hauled in 11 offense rebounds, including two each from Boyd and Djikanovic. Crowley was happy with his team’s effort rebounding but wants his team to cash in more on second-chance opportunities.
“We were doing a really good job on the boards,” Crowley said. “I would have liked us to put the ball in the basket a little more off those.”
The Bonnies scored four points off their 11 offensive rebounds.
Bonaventure committed 22 fouls; Crowley expressed the importance of getting that number down moving forward.
“We had 5 fouls in the fourth quarter in the first two minutes, and D’Youville was playing with urgency,” Crowley said. “We talked to our group about understanding that and playing against it, so I think that was a really good learning opportunity for us.”
The Bonnies continue their three-game home stand on Nov. 11 when Mercyhurst University makes the trip to the Reilly Center. Tipoff is set for 4:30p.m., and coverage of the game can be found on ESPN+ and the Bonnies Online Network.
