Basketball Sneaks Past Lasell in GNAC Opener, 57-52

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. –– The Blue Jays fought their way to victory against the Lasers of Lasell College on Saturday in the O'Connell Center. Senior Kayla Guest (Newington, Conn.) finished with a game-high 15 points and seven assists on the afternoon to give the Blue Jays their first GNAC conference win, 57-52. The Blue Jays travel to Rhode Island to face Johnson & Wales in another GNAC conference game next on Saturday, Dec. 9.

THE BASICS
Score: University of Saint Joseph –57, Lasell College – 52
Records: USJ (5-2), LC (2-3)
Location: West Hartford, Conn. – O'Connell Center
Date: Saturday, December 2, 2017

HOW IT HAPPENED

• 2 points from senior Kayla Guest (Newington, Conn.) and senior Rajeen Mayo (Middletown, Conn.) in the first quarter helped the Blue Jays stay even with the Lasers.
• A big game for Lasers' sophomore Dana Ross (East Haven, Conn.), bringing in six points of her own in the first quarter, helped the Lasers maintain their lead through the first half.
• The Blue Jays kept the score close, never letting the Lasers lead by more than 5 points at any time during the game.
• After the first quarter, Lasell College led USJ 12-8. The Blue Jays came back in the second quarter only allowing their opponents to score seven points s both teams entered the locker rooms knotted at 19-all.
• In the third quarter, junior Diamond Wallen (Hartford, Conn.) drained six points and grabbed six rebounds for the Blue Jays.
• At the end of the third quarter, junior Kenya Anselme (Hartford, Conn.) sparked USJ and drained a 3-pointer and the Blue Jays would lead 35-34 entering the fourth quarter.
• The Blue Jays took the biggest lead of the afternoon in the fourth quarter, leading the Lasers 45-37.
• With only four minutes to go in the last quarter, the Lasers took matters into their own hands going on a 3-1 run against USJ.
• Despite a neck and neck start, the Blue Jays pulled forward to defeat the Lasell Lasers, 57-52.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Four players finished in the double figures for the Blue Jays led by senior Kayla Guest who finished with a game-high 15 points to go with 10 rebounds to post her second double-double of the season. She also added seven assists.
• Anselme and freshman Raelynn Voislow (Windsor Locks, Conn.) both contributed 11 points to the Blue Jays' final score, while Wallen added 10.
• Anselme was a game-changing spark for the Blue Jays. In addition to her 11 points off the bench, she also added six rebounds, five steals and a pair of blocks.
• Lasell's Brianna Hoffman (Milford, N.H.) led the Lasers in scoring, pouring in a team-high 12 points. Ross added 11 for the Lasers as the only two players to finish in double-figures for the visitors.
• USJ's defensive pressure once again was a major factor as they forced 27 Lasell turnovers and converted them into 17 points.
• Lasell College held a slight 59-48 edge in total rebounds as Ross pulled down a game-high 15 to give her a double-double.
• USJ shot 32.4% (23-71) in the game compared to Lasell's 29.2% (19-65), including 44.4% (8-18) in the fourth quarter.

UP NEXT
The USJ women's basketball team will take their next game on the road to Rhode Island where they face Johnson & Wales in the second GNAC game of the season at 1 p.m. on Dec. 9.