ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – The St. Bonaventure University women's basketball team erased a double-digit second-half deficit to defeat Drexel, 69–67, in overtime of the WNIT first round at the Reilly Center Thursday evening.
Laycee Drake poured in a game-high 24 points to go along with eight rebounds, three assists, and two blocks. Aaliyah Parker registered her third double-double of the season, scoring all 13 of her points in the second half while pulling down 10 rebounds.
A 3-pointer from Drexel's Laine McGurk pushed the Dragons ahead by 10, 59–49, with 5:20 remaining in regulation.
The Bonnies, however, were not going to back down.
Bonaventure ended regulation on a 10–0 run, including a three from Parker and a clutch bucket from Drake to tie the game at 59–59 with 2:22 showing on the clock. Parker's shot at the end of regulation fell short, sending the teams into overtime.
A Drexel free throw to begin the extra period gave the Dragons the early edge before Deja Evans pushed the visitors' lead to three on the next possession with a basket in the paint.
Parker cut the Drexel lead to one, and on the following Bonaventure possession, Elyse MacDonough knocked down a 3-pointer to give the Bonnies a 64–62 advantage.
Drexel answered quickly, but MacDonough struck again with 29 seconds to play, putting the Bonnies ahead, 67–64.
Once again, Drexel responded with a three of their own, tying the game with 13 seconds remaining.
With nine seconds on the clock, Parker drove the lane and fought through contact, converting on the layup to give the Bonnies the late lead.
A last-second shot from Drexel fell short, sealing Bonaventure's first postseason win in a decade.
Drexel pulled ahead early, 9–4, before a 3-pointer from Drake cut the deficit to two. Drake scored all nine first-quarter points for the Brown and White as they trailed the Dragons, 13–9, after one.
Both teams connected on 3-pointers to begin the second period as Drexel maintained a four-point lead. The Dragons used a quick 7–0 spurt to take a 10-point, 22–12, edge early in the quarter.
A three from Bria Watkins late in the second gave the Dragons a 29–21 lead, but Drake scored four unanswered points to close the half and pull the Bonnies within four at halftime. She finished the first half with 16 points.
Drexel kept its foot on the gas in the third, growing its lead to as many as 10. Brillana Boyd cut the deficit back to single digits with a basket in the final 30 seconds of the period.
GAME NOTES
- The Bonnies finished the game shooting 34.3 percent (24-for-70) from the field and 50.0 percent (9-for-18) from beyond the arc.
- The two teams were even on the glass, 40-40.
- Bona's committed seven turnovers, matching the season low set against Loyola Chicago in the first round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament.
- Thursday's win marks the first postseason win for the Bonnies since the 2015-16 season. The Bonnies improved to 6-4 all-time in WNIT contests.
QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH JIM CROWLEY
"Drexel is one of the most consistent mid-major programs in the country. I've got so much respect for how they do things. They grow their kids together in a system and they really buy in. We knew that they were going to run their stuff and they were going to put a lot of pressure on us, but we hung around."
"We did what we needed to. I think when Aaliyah hit that three it was probably as loud as I've heard this place in a decade. Our kids fed off that. Just so appreciative of our team's effort and commitment to each other, but also the support of the community and to know this program means a lot to a lot of people, the kids respect that."
UP NEXT
The Bonnies advance to the second round where they will travel to take on Middle Tennessee State Monday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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