TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – University of Montevallo senior Shay Bonner set a pair of school records in the Falcons' 75-66 loss at Stillman College in overtime in their final non-conference game Dec. 7.
Bonner, a Starkville, Miss. native, shattered the previous school record for steals in a game in the Falcons' NCAA Division II era with 12 steals. Bonner also made 14-of-16 attempts at the charity stripe before fouling out in the final minutes of regulation, with her 14 made free throws eclipsing the previous NCAA Division II era record for made free throws in a game by one free throw. Bonner eclipsed Brandi Roberts' record of eight steals against Lincoln Memorial on Feb. 7, 2005, while Tiffany McClure held the previous record with 13 free throws made against Fancis Marion on Jan. 9, 2012.
Bonner finished with 24 points, just three points shy of her career high, to go along with nine rebounds and two assists.
Junior Taylor Beverly added her fifth double-double of the season for the Falcons (3-4) with 15 points and 10 rebounds after scoring in double figures for the seventh consecutive game to open the season.
Sophomore Jasmine Thomas added eight points, while freshman Ellie Mouyal contributed seven points. Sophomore Carrington Caise added five points and a team-high six assists.
The Falcons opened the game with a 9-2 run, capped with a jumper by Bonner with 12:41 remaining in the half.
Bonner made 1-of-2 free throws at the charity stripe with 4:18 left in the half to give Montevallo a 22-11 advantage, its largest lead in the opening half.
Stillman closed the half with a 12-2 run, capped with a 3-pointer by Angel Mitchell with 20 seconds remaining, which sent Montevallo into the locker room at halftime with a 24-23 lead.
A layup by Bonner early in the second half gave the Falcons a 30-25 lead with 17:36 remaining before the Tigers responded with a 11-2 run, capped with a free throw by Ashante Brown, to take a 36-32 lead.
Bonner then made eight consecutive free throws and Beverly drained a pair at the charity stripe in a 10-0 run by Montevallo, which gave the Falcons a 42-36 lead with 10:47 remaining in the game.
Stillman managed to trim the Falcons' lead to 44-42 following a 3-pointer by Mitchell with 8:22 left in the game, but the Falcons responded with a 7-2 run as Jasmine Thomas gave Montevallo a 51-44 advantage with a pair of free throws with 4:27 remaining in the game.
The Tigers trimmed the deficit to 53-52 following a 8-2 run capped by a 3-pointer by Mitchell before taking a 56-55 lead on a layup by Jamesha Watkins with 23 seconds remaining.
Following a free throw by the Tigers, Carrington Caise found an open Jasmine Thomas darting to the basket for a layup to tie the game at 57-57 with two seconds remaining.
Watkins drained a 3-pointer with just under two minutes left in the overtime session to give Stillman a 68-64 lead the Tigers a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
The Falcons will return to action Saturday, Dec. 14 as they travel to Columbus, Ga., to take on Columbus State University in their Peach Belt Conference opener.
Tip off is set for 12:30 p.m.
