Hoop Falls to Newbury in Tip-Off Tournament Final

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Senior Kayla Guest (Newington, Conn.) dropped in 13 points and added four assists to fight against Newbury College, but it wasn't enough to push the Blue Jays past their competition in the championship game of the 20th Annual USJ Tip-Off Tournament on Saturday afternoon inside the O'Connell Center. The Blue Jays were defeated by the Nighthawks, 60-54.

THE BASICS
Score: University of Saint Joseph – 54, Newbury College – 60
Records: USJ (2-1), NEW (2-1)
Location: West Hartford, Conn. – O'Connell Center
Date: Saturday, November 18, 2017

HOW IT HAPPENED

• An aggressive offense in the first quarter helped the Nighthawks race out to a 12-8 edge over the Blue Jays.
• Freshman Shaniya Williams (New Britain, Conn.) scored the first two points for the Blue Jays in the first quarter.
• Senior Kayla Guest (Newington, Conn.) scored the final points for the Blue Jays in the first quarter, bringing them within four points of the Nighthawks at the intermission.
• USJ opened the second quarter with two free throws, narrowing the Nighthawks' lead to just two points, 12-10, but that would be as close as USJ would get for the remainder of the game.
• Newbury responded with a 9-0 run against USJ. Junior Kenya Anselme (Hartford, Conn.) ended the run with a jump shot in the middle of the second quarter.
• The score remained 21-12 until Destiny Spears (Arnold, Md.) drained a three-pointer, increasing the Nighthawks' lead to double up the Blue Jays, 24-12.
• USJ earned five more points in the quarter thanks to a three-pointer by Anselme and a jump shot by senior Rajeen Mayo (Middletown, Conn.). The Blue Jays wrapped up the first half with a 10-point deficit, 27-17.
• The third-quarter started with a Newbury basket by freshman Jaymesha Sanders (West Haven, Conn.) to make it 29-17.
• A response from Guest brought the Blue Jays up another two points, 29-19.
• A 6-1 run against the Blue Jays carved out an 18-point lead for the Nighthawks, 42-24, heading into the final period.
• In the final quarter, USJ made a late charge and Mayo made both of her free throws, bringing the score within single digits, 58-50, with 1:11 left on the clock.
• The final minutes of the game proved to be the most important. The Blue Jays cut the deficit to just a six-point Nighthawks lead. The late surge wasn't enough however to clench the win. Nighthawks claimed the win, 60-54.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Two players finished in double figures for the Blue Jays as Guest and Mayo each finished with 13.
• Freshman Raelynn Voislow (Windsor Locks, Conn.) poured in nine points to go with a team-high seven rebounds, while Anselme added seven points for USJ.
• Mayo was efficient from the free throw line hitting 7-of-9 attempts. She also added five assists and four rebounds.
• The Nighthawks held a slight 41-38 edge in total rebounds.
• Newbury had three players in double figures. Junior Savannah Olsen (Battle Creek, Mich.) paced the visitors with a game-high 20 points and 14 rebounds, while freshman Jaymesha Sanders (West Haven, Conn.) finished with 16 and 10.