CLEVELAND (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by offensive inefficiency, the Saint Bonaventure women’s basketball team grinded out a 55-45 victory over Radford on Friday at the Wolstein Center.

The Bonnies, who improved to 6-2, relied on a dominant first-quarter performance to build a cushion they would never relinquish, despite a prolonged scoring drought in the second period. Radford fell to 5-4 with the loss.

Saint Bonaventure exploded from the opening tip, racing to a 21-8 lead after the first quarter. The Bonnies’ offense was crisp and effective, with Aaliyah Parker and Ivona Djikanovic establishing an early inside presence. The lead could have been even larger, but the Bonnies missed several close-range attempts in the quarter’s final minutes.

The game’s complexion changed entirely in the second quarter, as Saint Bonaventure’s offense went ice cold. The Bonnies managed just four points in the period, missing all eight of their field goal attempts from beyond the three-point arc. Radford, led by Cherish Haywood, slowly chipped away at the deficit. The Highlanders outscored Saint Bonaventure 11-4 in the quarter, closing the gap to 25-19 by halftime.

The third quarter saw both teams trade baskets, with Saint Bonaventure struggling to reignite its early offensive flow. Radford continued to close the gap, pulling within a single possession on multiple occasions. The Bonnies’ offense, however, found just enough answers, primarily through Djikanovic in the post, to maintain a slim 37-32 lead heading into the final period.

Saint Bonaventure finally found its footing in the fourth quarter, outscoring Radford 18-13 to secure the win. After a three-pointer from Radford’s Adelyn Traylor-Walker cut the lead to 37-35, the Bonnies responded with a critical 7-0 run. Parker hit a clutch three-pointer and followed it with a steal and a jump shot to stretch the lead back to nine points and effectively seal the game.

The contest was a testament to defensive effort and poor shooting. Saint Bonaventure shot just 36.8 percent from the field, while Radford was even colder at 27.1 percent. The three-point line was particularly unkind to the Highlanders, who made only 3 of 24 attempts from deep. Saint Bonaventure was only slightly better, connecting on 6 of 20.

Aaliyah Parker led all scorers for Saint Bonaventure, finishing with 16 points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Her all-around performance, especially her fourth-quarter surge, was pivotal. Laycee Drake provided a significant contribution despite shooting struggles, pulling down a game-high eight rebounds to go with seven points.

For Radford, Cherish Haywood shouldered the offensive load, scoring 14 points and grabbing five rebounds. Adelyn Traylor-Walker added eight points and three assists.

The Bonnies won the game on the margins, recording twice as many assists as the Highlanders, six to three, and twice as many steals, six to three. Both teams committed a similar number of turnovers, but Saint Bonaventure’s ability to create a few more offensive opportunities proved decisive.

Saint Bonaventure returns to action quickly, facing Valparaiso on Saturday at the Wolstein Center in another neutral-site contest. Radford will also stay in Cleveland to take on host Cleveland State on Saturday.