Heartbreak in Virginia Thursday for the St. Bonaventure women’s basketball program. The Bonnies fell to Loyola Chicago 61 to 59 in the second round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament — and the final two and a half minutes told the whole story.
St. Bonaventure led 59 to 54 with just 2:42 remaining before Loyola Chicago went on a stunning 7-to-nothing run, capped by freshman Alex-Anne Bessette’s go-ahead layup in the final minute to seal the win. The wild game saw eight ties and 14 different lead changes from start to finish.
For the Bonnies, graduate guard Aaliyah Parker led the way with a game-high 16 points, while Laycee Drake delivered a gutsy 13-point, 12-rebound double-double. With ten seconds left, Bonaventure had to foul — Parker came up with a steal on the next possession — but the Bonnies’ final shot to win the game would not fall.
Despite the loss, this program has plenty to be proud of. This was Bonaventure’s first winning season in a decade, with more wins this year than in the previous three seasons combined. Head coach Jim Crowley called it — “as much fun as I’ve had coaching a group in a long time.” The Bonnies finish 16 and 15. A season to build on.
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