Bonnies Pull Away in 2nd Half, Davidson Falls 72-56

Saturday, February 21

Olean, N.Y.

1:00 p.m.

Davidson College

5-22, 1-13 A-10

St. Bonaventure

15-12, 5-9 A-10

Davidson

St. Bonaventure

Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com

Bonnies Pull Away in 2nd Half, Davidson Falls 72-56

2/21/2015 3:36:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Gavin McFarlin - Assistant SID

Box Score (pdf)
DavidsonPhotos.com

OLEAN, N.Y. — Freshman forward Mackenzie Latt tallied her 11th double-double of the season, but St. Bonaventure pulled away from Davidson in the final eight minutes as the Wildcats dropped a 72-56 Atlantic 10 decision on the road Saturday afternoon in the Reilly Center.

The 'Cats were within two points at 52-50 when the Bonnies ran off an 18-4 spurt that helped them break open a close game. SBU ran its record to 15-12 overall and 5-9 in A-10 play.

Latt's impressive freshman year continued as she finished with 17 points and 13 rebounds to pace Davidson. She has registered seven of her 11 double-doubles in league play and it was the first-year's 18th double-figure scoring game.

Hannah Early became the Wildcats' single-season record holder in three-pointers with a triple in the first half for her 67th of the season. She went on to score 11 and just missed a double-double with nine rebounds.

Leading the Bonnies was Mariah Ruff with 20 points, while Katie Healy and Nyla Rueter each added 19. Ruff (12) and Rueter (14) combined for 26 second-half points and hit seven of SBU's nine three-pointers for the game.

Four times Davidson (5-22, 1-13 A-10) was within two points in the second half, only to see the Bonnies pull ahead each time. An Alexandra Long trey, one of three she hit in the second half for her nine points in the game, made it 38-36, and then with 13:32 on the clock, Melanie Ransom's free throw made it 43-41.

After St. Bonaventure pulled head again, this time by seven, the Wildcats came right back with another shot by Long from downtown and a layup by Latt to make it 50-48. Dakota Dukes' layup 30 seconds later made it 52-50 with 8:52 remaining.

It would be as close as the 'Cats could get. A Ruff three-pointer started the Bonnies run and over the next seven minutes, they opened up their lead to 70-54 before a Latt jumper halted the spurt.

Davidson dominated on the boards with a 42-28 advantage and pulled in 15 offensive rebounds. The Wildcats finished the game shooting 35.5 percent compared to St. Bonaventure's 46.2 percent, including 9-of-18 from behind the arc.

The first half was a back-and-forth contest, featuring six lead changes and three ties until SBU pulled ahead at the end for a 28-25.

A Shannon Eriksson triple gave the 'Cats a 10-9 lead early and then later another three-ball, this time by Ransom, made it 17-16 with 8:14 left. Four straight points by Saadia Timpton (eight points, five rebounds) and a layup by Latt tied things up at 23-all with 3:04 remaining before the Bonnies grabbed the three-point halftime advantage.

Davidson returns home for its home finale and Senior Night next Wednesday, Feb. 25, against VCU at 7 p.m. Prior to the game seniors Lillian McCabe, Eriksson and Mellissa Giegerich will be honored.

GAME NOTES: Early' 67 three-pointers broke a tie with Ashley Lax's single-season record 66 set in 2008-09 … Early's double-digit scoring game was her 24th of the season … Davidson's 15 offensive rebounds was the 23rd time this year it has pulled in 10 or more in a game … the 42-rebound output was the 'Cats' 13th of the season and fifth in the past six games.