Women Start Fast, Dispatch Saint Louis For Historic Win

St. Bonaventure University Athletic News

January 14, 2012 Social Media Recap (New!) Watch The Archived Game ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – St. Bonaventure (16-2, 3-0 Atlantic 10) raced out to a 12-0 start and never trailed en route to a program-record A-10 win with a 64-52 victory over visiting Saint Louis (6-12, 0-3 A-10) Saturday afternoon at the Reilly Center. The 3-0 start in A-10 play is a first for the program, and extends its winning streak to five straight – the second five-game winning streak of the season already. Seniors Jessica Jenkins and Megan Van Tatenhove led a balanced SBU scoring attack with 15 and 14 points, respectively. Jenkins knocked down three 3-pointers and is now just nine shy of breaking the school and A-10 record of 291 3's in a career. For Van Tatenhove, it was her third straight double-digit scoring performance since returning to the starting lineup following concussion-like symptoms. It is also her 65th career double-figure scoring outing, and fourth in as many years against the Billikens. After SLU cut its 12-point deficit at the start down to just four, 24-20, with three minutes left in the first half, the Bonnies went on a 13-0 run spanning both halves and covering more than eight minutes to open up a 37-20 advantage. The nation's second-best ball-protecting team, the Bonnies committed a season-low two first-half turnovers while forcing the Billikens into eight giveaways. The six SBU turnovers for the game are tied for a season low. The victory also extends what is the longest unbeaten streak in regular-season league action as the Bonnies have now won seven straight dating back to last season. Redshirt senior Armelia Horton stuffed the stat sheet with nine points, a game-high-tying eight rebounds and a game-best four assists. Sophomore Doris Ortega added eight points, while junior Chelsea Bowker contributed seven and sophomore Alaina Walker tallied six. Janisha Gearlds was the lone Billiken to reach double figures as she scored a game-high 19 points and pulled down eight rebounds. St. Bonaventure remains at home as it continues A-10 play next Wednesday, Jan. 18, against Richmond. The Spiders are 14-3 after being picked to finish 8th in the A-10 preseason rankings. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. from the Reilly Center. Game Notes: Senior Jennie Ashton provided a spark off the Bona bench as she corralled five rebounds, four in the first half … sophomore CeCe Dixon added five points for the Bonnies … for the second game in a row Van Tatenhove's first points of the contest came off a 3-pointer … SBU now leads the all-time series, 6-2, including a 4-0 mark at the RC … Bowker hit her head hard on the floor after taking a charge midway through the second half and did not return … the starting lineup of Walker, Horton, Jenkins, Ortega and Van Tatenhove is now 8-0 on the year … sophomore Ashley Zahn played in her first game since Dec. 30 against Norfolk State … the Bonnies are now 15-0 when leading with five minutes remaining.