Women's Basketball Modern Era 

On October 29, 1959, The first women's sporting event took place at St. Bonaventure University. In basketball, a group of SBU students calling themselves the Squaws lost to visiting D'Youville College. Tania Henning scored 28 points for the Squaws in the defeat.

The official St. Bonaventure Women's Basketball records go back to 1971-72. Sally Luna was the first coach that season.  Current head coach Jim Crowley is the tenth coach in the program's history. 

The program was a club sport from 1959-71. It began varsity play in 1971.  They played local area teams then, such as Buffalo State and St. John Fisher College. 

The program has used five different nicknames in its history.

"Bonnies" 1993-Present

"Lady Bonnies" 1979-93

"Bonnettes" 1966-79

"Squaws"/"Lassies" 1959-66

Title IX played a large role in the growth of women's basketball.

Mary Jane Telford guided the women's program for 17 seasons, leading the program to the Division I level in the late 1980s.

Telford had a career coaching record of 201-200 over those 17 seasons.

After Telford, Marti Whitmore took over the program and compiled a 85-110 record over seven seasons as head coach. 

Currently, Jim Crowley leads the Bonnies.

The program joined the Atlantic 10 conference in 1987. and in their second conference game, defeated Rhode Island 75-53. It was the first conference win in school history. 

On Feb. 14, 1994, Suzie Dailer scored on a full court pass to defeat Rutgers. It marked the team's first defeat of a ranked opponent. 

The Bonnies have 16 members of the 1,000 point club. Led by Hilary Waltman. The 1999 graduate finished her career with 2,106 points. 

Waltman also holds 10 other scoring records, including made field goals, made free throws and field goal percentage.

Waltman, along with six other players are in the exclusive 1,000 point and 500 rebound club.

Others in the club include '92 graduate Sue Shay, Jodi Ulrich '93 , Missy Ward 87'  , Courtney Mattingly '03, Audrey Latendresse '07 and Beth Gromlowicz 93'. 

The SBU Athletics Hall of Fame has named many student-athletes who have impacted SBU on the athletics fields in many ways.  Below are those women's basketball players that have been named to the SBU Athletics HOF.

Christine Agresta 

Casey Comoroski

Suzie Dailer

Kathleen Lynch

Sue Shay

Jodi Ulrich

Melissa Ward