This week's stories:
By Tracy Nelson The St. Bonaventure Men's Swimming and Diving Team began hosting the Atlantic 10 Championships at the Flickinger Aquatic Center on the Erie Community College campus in Buffalo on Thursday. "They run a fantastic, world-class meet up there," head coach Sean McNamee said. St. Bonaventure placed second only to Massachusetts in 2001, and hope on improving on last season's success. "UMass is very strong coming in as defending champions," McNamee said. "On paper I would have to consider a much deeper team, but we have really evolved with some dominating strengths as well that we're really going to need to capitalize on." Coming into the championships, St. Bonaventure currently has the top five sprinters in the conference: (50-yard free) freshman Seth Johnson, 21.06; senior Ernest Teo, 21.36; senior Morgan Hagerman, 21.47; senior Ryan Sprang, 21.50; and junior Nick Bedward, 21.63. The Bonnies also hold the fastest season time in every relay event in the A-10. "On this end of things (sprint and relay events) we look very good," McNamee said. "If we can use our strengths and capitalize on our relays, then we could potentially be challenging UMass for a championship." With the January return of Teo, the Bonnies add to their strength in the sprint events. Teo was twice named A-10 Performer of the Week. Teo is only preceded by freshman Seth Johnson in the 50-yard free with a time of 21.06. Johnson also received A-10 honors being named Rookie of the Week in January. Junior Borut Poje is also vying for a strong individual finish to build on his already strong season. Poje holds the fastest time in the 100-yard butterfly, 50.76 and the second fastest in the 200-yard free, 1:42.36. In the diving competition, the Bonnies' top competitor is sophomore Randy Kozlowski who currently stands third in the three-meter dive with a season score of 297.45 and fifth in the one-meter with a season score of 267.74. McNamee says that the Bonnies have shown great improvement in many areas, despite a 5-6 dual meet record. "We went through many rudimentary changes and refocusing to get back to basics," McNamee stated about the beginning of the season. "It's gone very well from what looked to be somewhat of a down year has proven to be quite a positive year."
By Matt Dougherty The women's swimming team will have a new contender to deal with as it competes in the Atlantic 10 Championships at the Flickinger Aquatic Center on the Erie Community College campus in Buffalo, which began Thursday and runs through Saturday. "We know Richmond is going to come out strong," said head coach Lance Brennan. "We can't be intimidated by that. We have to stick to our plan and plug away at each event." Richmond holds the fastest conference times in 21 of 23 events, including all relay events. Seniors Katie Czech and Kelley Northup lead the Bonnies into the A-10s. Czech took first place in the 400-yard individual medley, 4:28.29 in last year's championships and ranks in the top 15 fastest conference times in five categories. Northup finished second in the 400-yard IM and third in the 500-yard freestyle at last year's championships, and currently ranks in the top 15 in seven events. "Our seniors are going to have to play a big part if we are going to be successful," Brennan said. "Since they have experience competing at A-10's, we're going to need to keep the team focused." Junior Erin Smith took second place in the 100-yard backstroke last year, and has the fourth fastest time in that event this season. The Bonnies will also rely on the diving team for points in the A-10s. Senior Katie O'Connell placed second in the three-meter and one-meter events last year and holds the third highest score in the three-meter this season. "The diving squad was a big part in last year's success in the A-10s," Brennan said. "This year they'll be looked to again to put forth the same performance."
Bonnies use break to prepare for Temple
By Matt Dougherty The Bonnies (16-8, 8-5 A-10) welcomed a week off to prepare for Saturday's game at Temple and the home stretch of the season after picking up three straight Atlantic 10 wins over Fordham, Massachusetts, and Xavier. Head coach Jan van Breda Kolff said the Bonnies could use a break, as senior guard J.R. Bremer and sophomore guard Marques Green have received extensive playing time. "It will give us some extra time to work on some slippage areas," said van Breda Kolff. "J.R. and Marques have been playing heavy minutes all year and could use the break." Van Breda Kolff said the Bonnies looked fresh the last time they had a week off, winning 81-75 at Dayton Feb. 3 after two straight losses to Massachusetts and Fordham. "We were really fresh not having to go through those two games in a week," said van Breda Kolff. "I think this will help us in a lot of areas." The game against Temple will be a rematch of the Bonnies' 93-74 win at the Reilly Center Jan. 16, where the Bonnies hit a school record 19 three-pointers en route to victory. Van Breda does not expect the Bonnies to score as easily against a healthier Temple team this time around. "Last time Wesby (senior forward Alex) was out and he's a good defensive player, and Rollerson (senior center Ron) didn't play and he's another bigger guy," van Breda Kolff said. "With their personnel this time, they'll be starting four seniors, and it's senior day so it will be an emotional night for them." "Since they've had their whole team, they've scored less and their opponent has scored less, they've played slower but their defense is bigger and harder to penetrate against," van Breda Kolff said. Temple comes in one game ahead of the Bonnies for second place in the A-10 East at 9-4. The top two teams in each division get a bye in the first round of the A-10 Tournament, which takes place Feb. 6-9 at the First Union Spectrum in Philadelphia. "It's easier to win three games in three days than four games in four days," van Breda Kolff said. "To win the tournament it would be to our best interest to get that bye." The Bonnies have another shot against a team in front of them on Thursday, when they battle St. Joseph's at home on senior night. The Hawks defeated the Bonnies 93-87 on Jan. 13, and won 78-76 last year at the Reilly Center. After struggling to find their shot from three-point range for almost two games, the Bonnies heated up and came back to defeat Fordham 90-84 Saturday at the Reilly Center. "We started really attacking and going to the basket and making shots after the 10 minute mark," van Breda Kolff said. The Bonnies fell behind by as many as eight points in the second half, trailing 66-58 with 9:49 to play. They trailed 68-62 with 8:37 left when the three-point barrage began. Senior forward Vidal Massiah, junior guard Patricio Prato and Bremer hit three pointers sandwiched between Fordham baskets to cut the lead to 72-71 with 6:54 left. Freshman guard Mike Gansey hit a three with 6:29 left to give the Bonnies a 74-72 lead, their first lead since early in the second half. The Bonnies took a three-point lead with under a minute to play, but Fordham had a chance to tie. However, Fordham guard Smush Parker charged into Green, and the Bonnies hit their free throws to hang on for the victory. The Bonnies forced 19 Fordham turnovers in the first half, but led only 43-38 at the half because of the Rams' rebounding and hot shooting. "It was kind of a strange game," van Breda Kolff said. "We forced a lot of turnovers in the first half, but they outrebounded us by 13 at halftime and shot the ball well and we were 3-for-15 from three in the first half." The Bonnies defeated UMass on Feb. 13 despite season lows in points and three-pointers (4-21) in a 60-56 victory. Bremer scored 31 points, his seventh game of 30 or more for the season, and Green added 19 points. "We're used to running up and down, but if we play the kind of defense we did tonight we can win against anybody,"Bremer said. In the win over Xavier, the Bonnies ended the nation's longest winning streak in dramatic fashion with a 80-79 win Feb. 9 at the Reilly Center. Xavier opened its biggest lead at 72-65 with 3:03 left, but Bremer led the Bonnies back. He scored a three-point play with 2:21 left to cut the lead to 72-70, and tied the score with a three-point play with 2:12 left. Xavier had one last chance when Romain Sato stole an inbounds pass but his jumper went off the back rim. "There was determination that we were going to win this game," van Breda Kolff said.
Team's road struggles continue down the stretch
By Nate Dougherty With just two games left in the season and before the Atlantic 10 tournament the women's basketball team hopes to rebound after dropping five out of its last six games. The Bonnies(13-12, 7-7 A-10) play their season finale at home Sunday at noon against St. Joseph's. They faced Fordham yesterday, with results unavailable at press time. On Feb. 17 the Bonnies lost 104-95 at Richmond despite their highest-scoring game of the season. Richmond held a 45-41 lead at the half before an 11-3 run by the Bonnies tied the score at 50 with 18:03 remaining. The Bonnies were able to tie the game again at 60 at 14:45, but Richmond went on a 12-0 run in just 1:45 to stretch the lead to 72-60. Richmond held the lead for the remainder of the game, despite an 8-1 St. Bonaventure run to cut the lead to 87-82 with 5:37 remaining. Freshman guard Stefanie Collins led the Bonnies with 23 points. Junior forward Courtney Mattingly added 14 as five Bonnies scored in double figures. Crowley said that the good offensive output from the Bonnies just wasn't enough to counter Richmond's offensive ability. "We did a great job offensively, but they did a good job of getting the ball to the shooter and played very confidently," said Crowley. On Feb. 14 the Bonnies finally broke the losing streak at a season-high four games with a 62-60 victory over Fordham at home. Mattingly's jumper with 31 seconds remaining in the game gave St. Bonaventure a 60-58 lead and sophomore forward Jade Humble's two free throws extended the lead to 62-58 with just 11 seconds remaining. On the final play the Rams' Lara Henson missed a long three point attempt and though the rebound was put in by Fordham forward Mobolaji Akiode at the buzzer, the Bonnies went on to the win. Senior forward Christina Cole led the Bonnies with 15 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Mattingly added nine points and four rebounds. For the game, every Bonnie who played added at least four points and two rebounds. "We depended on everyone. Our two leading scorers didn't hit their averages and we still won. I think that speaks volumes of how we played together tonight," said Crowley. On Feb. 10 the Bonnies extended their losing streak to four games with a 60-46 loss at Massachusetts. The Bonnies pulled within three points with 16:10 in the second half after trailing at halftime 25-21. The Minutewomen responded at the 10:21 mark with a 14-0 run, holding the Bonnies scoreless over the next six minutes to open a 51-35 lead with 4:38 remaining. Crowley said that the team's inability to capitalize on offense was key in the defeat. "We just weren't able to put the ball in the hoop and take advantage of some scoring opportunities," said Crowley. On Feb. 8 the team lost to Rhode Island 75-54 at Keaney Gymnasium. It was the team's third straight loss. Rhode Island opened a 46-29 halftime lead after outscoring the Bonnies 14-1 over the last 5:52 of the half. Three of the Rhode Island baskets resulted directly from St. Bonaventure turnovers. The Bonnies couldn't pull closer than 15 points in the second half.
Bremer receives regional honors
By Matt Dougherty Senior guard J.R. Bremer received recognition for his play this season, earning a spot on the National Association of Basketball Coaches/Pontiac All-District One First Team, the NABC announced last week. The selection makes Bremer eligible for the NABC All-America team, which will be chosen following the season. There were 150 players named to the 15-district first teams. Bremer joins Marques Hatten of St. John's, Sean Kennedy of Marist, and Preston Shumpert and DeShaun Williams of Syracuse on the District One First Team. Bremer ranks third in the nation and leads the Atlantic 10 Conference in scoring at 25.5 points per game. He also averages 4.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. Van Breda Kolff hopes Bremer's season will bring him conference and national respect as well. "We'll see when the Atlantic 10 teams come out where he fits in that situation as well,"van Breda Kolff said. "We hope by the end of the year he gets some national recognition on the All-America teams." Bremer received national honors earlier in the season when he was named national Player of the Week by Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, and ESPN.com after he scored a career-high 33 points in a win at Connecticut on Dec. 28. St. Bonaventure has had two All-America players in men's basketball in the history of the program. Bob Lanier won honors in 1968, 1969, and 1970 and Tom Stith received honors in 1960 and 1961.
Men, women resume A-10 play after home tournament
By Jesse Fleming The St. Bonaventure men's and women's tennis team return to action tomorrow against Atlantic 10 foe Duquesne. The men travel to Duquesne and then visit Penn State Sunday while the women host the Dukes at 3p.m. tomorrow at the University Fitness Center. Junior Mikko Haulos' undefeated tournament play highlighted the men's tennis team's performance at the Nike Spring Scramble held last weekend at the St. Bonaventure Fitness Center. The team finished the tournament 2-1 with victories over Niagara and the University of Rochester while falling to Binghamton. In the 5-2 victory against Niagara, Haulos defeated Mike Kelly 6-4, 6-2 while fellow junior Vili Nurmi won his match against Jonathan Bozanich 6-1, 6-1. Also picking up a singles win against the Purple Eagles was freshman Mario Arce who took care of Jonathan Abella 6-1, 6-1. In doubles play, the team of freshmen Nikhil Murali and Kevin MacDonald captured the doubles point for the Bonnies. In the 4-3 loss to the Binghamton Bearcats, Haulos picked up the only singles victory with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Dmitriy Litvak. "Binghamton and us are two very evenly matched teams," said head coach Michael Bates. "We beat them in the fall 4-3 and this match could have gone either way," he said. The Nike Spring Scramble matches featured a 5-1 playing format where teams play five single matches and one doubles match deciding the score. This format differs from the A-10 format where teams play four singles matches and two doubles matches. Bates said the different format caused him to shake up his lineup in the team's final match of the tournament against the University of Rochester. "I put (No. 1 singles player) Vili Nurmi with Kevin MacDonald to try to get the doubles points in the last match," he said. Despite the tandem's 6-2, 6-3 loss to Dan Williford and Colin Raye, the Bonnies were able to pull out a 4-3 win against Rochester. Playing at No. 1 singles in the final match Haulos ousted Avinash Reddy 7-6, 6-3. At No. 2 singles Arce defeated Schoenherr 6-1, 6-3. Bates said he was very confident that despite being a freshman, Arce could play at the No. 2 spot. "He can win at any spot in the lineup. He could play and win at No. 1 if he had to,"he said. Also picking up victories for the Bonnies were Murali and freshman Adam Price. Playing at No. 3 singles Murali picked defeated Aaron Arfman in three sets 6-0, 5-7, 10-4. Price won at No. 4 against Nithin Raikar 6-2, 6-4. "Rochester is a good team," Bates said. "It was good to see our team come back after a tough loss to Binghamton the day before." The women's team compiled a 1-2 record in the Nike Spring Scramble Feb. 9-10. In the Bonnies first match they lost to fellow Atlantic 10 member Dayton 5-2. Picking up win's for the Bonnies were sophomores Amanda Pesono and Natalie Rumpel. In their second match the Bonnies swept Cleveland State 5-0. Wins by No. 1 singles player senior Johanna Pesola and Rumpel highlighted the match for the Bonnies. Pesola handled Fatima Martin 6-1, 6-0, while Rumpel picked up her second consecutive victory of the tournament with a 6-0, 6-3 victory over Erin Johnson. "It was nice to see everyone get a win against Cleveland State," Bates said. "CSU was not a very strong team." In their final match of the tournament the Bonnies loss to the Niagara Purple Eagles 5-2. Rumpel remained undefeated in the tournament with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Colleen Cary at No. 3 singles. Bates has been extremely pleased with Rumpel's play throughout the season. "Natalie played really well the last couple of matches. Come April she'll be playing even better." Picking up the other point for the women was junior Michelle Kearney. She won 6-2, 6-0 over Kristen Christopher at No. 4 singles. "Michelle is really starting to find her strokes," Bates said.
By Nate Dougherty An unprecedented event occurred in the world of sports this week. Canadian figure skaters Jamie Sale and David Pelletier received gold medals one week after a French judge snubbed them in favor of a Russian couple. The Canadians brought allegations that the judge was involved in a deal with the Russians to ensure gold for the French in this week's ice dancing competition. In fact, French skaters Marina Anissina and Gwendal Peizerat, won over a Russian team. An event of this magnitude has never before occurred in the world of sports. Very often sports teams have pulled victory from the jaws of defeat, but rarely does it occur one week after the event has ended. Imagine if this sentiment of reprisal spread to other sports. Just think of how jubilant Buffalo Sabres fans would be if NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman decided that Brett Hull's skate was indeed in the crease in Game Six of the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals. Sabres fans could get the second chance that they have been so desperately whining, err, pleading for. Imagine if Major League Baseball were as forgiving as the Olympic governing body. I bet there would be a good number of Baltimore Orioles fans pleading commissioner Bud Selig to take another look at Derek Jeter's homerun in game one of the 1996 American League Championship Series. Maybe umpire Angel Hernandez would admit that he blew that call because of a deal he had with the Yankees to ensure them a World Series victory. Sure, such a plan may seem far-fetched, but as to a fervent Yankees hater, it makes perfect sense. Many would even question the Olympic committee itself. In 1972, the Olympics gave the sports world one of its greatest controversies in a basketball game in which the Soviet Union defeated USA. Olympic officials allowed time to be put back on the clock after it had expired, and the Soviets used the added time to defeat the Americans. If only the officials then had the courage that has been shown in the ice-skating debacle, then the whole controversy might have been avoided, and the United States would be a co-champion right now. If all sports had the same policies that the Olympic committee has, maybe justice could finally be done to all Buffalo fans. After all, the international conspiracy against Buffalo teams winning could finally be broken, right? How sweet it would be for Buffalo fans to hear that not only was Hull's skate in the crease, but the lateral was forward, and Scott Norwood's kick really split the uprights. OK, maybe there wasn't actually a conspiracy there. I guess those fans will just have to live with it.
J.R. Bremer Year: Senior Sport: Basketball This week: Bremer scored 27 points in the Bonnies 90-84 win over Fordham on Saturday and scored 31 points in the 60-56 win over Massachusetts on Feb. 13. He was named to the District One first team by the NABC.
Men's basketball Sat. at Temple 4 p.m. Thu. ST. JOSEPH'S 8 p.m. Women's basketball Sun. ST. JOSEPH'S noon M/W swimming Thu.-Sat.A-10 Championships Men's tennis Sat. at Duquesne 3 p.m. Sun. at Penn State noon Women's tennis Sat. DUQUESNE 3 p.m
98 The number of points J.R. Bremer needs to become the all-time leading scorer among guards in St. Bonaventure history. Mark Jones is the current leader with 1,704.
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