BY BRYCE KELLY, SPORTS STAFFER

Duquesne was only shooting 30% from three-point range before today’s game. That number is sure to rise.

Duquesne shot 19/33 from three-point range to blow past the Bonnies 99-75. This is the most points Bonaventure has allowed in a game this season and the second time Duquesne has beaten the Bonnies this season. 

Duquesne improved to 11-15 overall and 6-8 in Atlantic 10 play. St. Bonaventure fell to 12-13 and 4-10 in Atlantic 10 play.   

The Dukes shot 52% from the field overall and 82% from the free-throw line. They had 23 assists to only 9 turnovers. For the year, Duquesne averaged 40% shooting from the field and 14 assists per game. 

“We didn’t sprint back in transition, we didn’t communicate where the shooters were,” St. Bonaventure head coach Jesse Fleming said. “If it was’t our guy we weren’t going to take it. We played pretty selfish defense. We were just confused. Give Duquesne a lot of credit they spread us out and made shots in transition.” 

The Bonnies were in front for most of the first half and went into the locker room leading Duquesne 42-38.  St. Bonaventure shot 50% from the field and 55% from three-point range to have the halftime lead. 

“I thought our spacing was good,” Fleming said about the Bonnies’ first-half offense. “I thought we got some stops at times. There was some good tempo. We had 6 assists we shared it really well. They cranked it up in the second half. Their defense jammed us up we didn’t adjust well.” 

The Bonnies’ first-half lead faded quickly as Duquesne went on a 21-6 run to take and build a sizable lead early in the third quarter. 

This isn’t the first time the Bonnies have let opposing teams make a huge run to take a win. The Bonnies were outscored 23-5 in the fourth quarter in the first game against Duquesne. They were also outscored 23-2 in the fourth quarter against George Washington.  

“I think the team expects the worse right now,” Fleming said about the Bonnies being susceptible to allowing big runs. “So when someone makes a tough shot. I think it’s ‘oh no here we go again’ instead of just staying with the thing that got us there.” 

Duquesne was led by Fatou Pouye’s 27 points and 7 rebounds. Pouye shot 10/16 from the field and 5/7 from three-point range. Pouye also led Duquesne with 16 points in the Dukes’ first win over the Bonnies this season. 

The Bonnies were led by Asianae Johnson’s 17 points on 8-20 from the field. Tianna Johnson also had 14 points on 4/7 shooting from the field and 5/5 shooting from the free-throw line.  

“She had Myers on her so that was the matchup we were trying to attack,” Fleming said about Tianna Johnson’s performance. “She got aggressive and got downhill and got to the foul line a bit and I thought she did a good job getting downhill.” 

The Bonnies’ next game is at Rhode Island on Wednesday night.