St. Edmund bounces Bonnies to open season

St. Edmund Prep 46 Fontbonne 40

Last season’s 2014 Girls CHSAA Division II Varsity champion (3-0) Eagles hosted Fontbonne (1-1) for both teams’ first meeting of the season.

Beginning where she left off last season, the Eagles’ Kelly O’Donnell was coming off a 34-point game against St. John’s Prep, while the Bonnies had just completed a hard-fought non-league win (50-42) over Fort Hamilton led by Katie Marquardt’s 19-point game effort.

“The girls are off to a good start,” said Fontbonne Head Coach Stephen Oliver. “We just finished a tough win over Fort Hamilton and found what this team gives up in size under the boards, we’ll have to make up for with hustle this season.”

Led by playmaker O’Donnell who was the game’s high scorer with 20 points, the Eagles took a 23-17 lead by half time. The Eagles kept the Bonnies at bay and finished with a 32-25 third quarter lead until Fontbonne eventually rallied to cut St. Edmund’s lead down to 41-38 on Brianne McDonnell’s baseline jumper at 2:03 left in the fourth quarter.

Consequently, the Bonnie rally was diffused as Taylor Draxdorf and Tara Burns out-rebounded the Bonnies to allow the Eagles to go on to a final 46-40 win.

“Taylor and Tara were great defensively,” stated St. Edmund Head Coach Frank Kelly. Not taking their good start lightly, Kelly stated, “This is a good beginning, but we still have to face some more competitive teams in this league.”