Women's Basketball Falls Behind Early, Loses 60-49

NEWTON, Mass.—Despite 14 second-half points off the bench from freshman guard Silvana Barcomb (Middletown, Conn.), the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) Blue Jays fall short in another comeback attempt, losing 60-49, to the Pine Manor College (PMC) Gators.

The Blue Jays (2-4) led 40-39 with 6:15 left in the fourth quarter. The Gators (1-4) closed it out on a 21-9 run, 13 from the foul line. PMC came into the night allowing 85 points a game, and scoring just 54 (-31 PPG differential). PMC flipped the script tonight, allowing just 49 points. Junior guard Arielle Harrell (Stockton, Calif.) and freshman guard Oceane Tabbak (Norwood, Mass.) scored 15 each to lead the Gators. Barcomb scored a game-high 16 points (6-10 FG) in 26 minutes for the Blue Jays. Sophomore guard Melicia Mendez (Hartford, Conn.), starting for the injured Cheyenne-Mone Smith (Wethersfield, Conn.), scored six points and grabbed ten rebounds. USJ as a team made more field goals and three-pointers, but PMC shot 22 more free-throws, good for 16 more points.

Pine Manor forced six first-quarter turnovers, and led 13-4 after one behind fine play from Harrell and Tabbak. It was the Blue Jays' fourth single-digit scoring quarter in the last five quarters. USJ had only given up five points in the first six minutes, but could not stop the PMC offense to close it out.

First Year Head Coach Wendy Davis drew up an answer in the second, as senior center Diamond Wallen (Hartford, Conn.) and freshman guard Lindsey Montminy (Vernon, Conn.) worked to get Saint Joes back in the game. Wallen scored underneath and blocked a shot, while Montminy crashed the glass (10 rebounds). Both teams scored 11 points in the second, and the gap remained at nine, 24-15 PMC at the half.

Sophomore guard Raelynn Voislow (Windsor Locks, Conn.) opened the third quarter with a three-ball, and lay-in for five quick ones. Sophomore guard Anna Chevarella (Derby, Conn.) made a basket and a few free-throws as well. Barcomb began her red-hot shooting with a three late in the third, and all of a sudden, the lead was just two, 31-29, with 2:34 left in the quarter. Two quick baskets (assisted by Harrell) closed the quarter with the momentum back on the Gator's side.

USJ was not done though, taking the lead 40-39 with 6:15 to play. Pine Manor stayed aggressive, shooting 13-for-16 from the foul line in the fourth quarter alone, stopping any chance of a Blue Jay comeback. Harrell and Tabbak, along with senior forward Aleah Lauti (Millbrae, Calif.) sealed the deal.

Up Next
Saint Joe's is headed home for a matchup with Hartford's Trinity College this Sunday, November 25th, at 12:00 p.m., inside the O'Connell Athletic Center on the campus of USJ. Pine Manor has an away game against Norwich University (VT) on Tuesday, November 27^th, at 7:00pm.

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