Hornets Hold Lead Late, Defeat Blue Jays, 63-48

LYNDONVILLE, Vt.— The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) women's basketball team fell behind in the second quarter and never recovered, losing to Northern Vermont University-Lyndon (NVUL), 63-48, inside Stannard Gymnasium Saturday afternoon in non-conference action.

Sophomore guard Lea Crompton (Dunbarton, NH) led all scorers with 18 points on 8-of-10 from the foul line. She also added three assists and two rebounds. Senior forward Alissa Mitchell (Milton, NH) added 15 points, five rebounds and five steals. Sophomore guard Silvana Barcomb (Middletown, Conn.) led the way for the Blue Jays with 12 (2-5 3FG). Sophomore forward Cheyenne-Mone Smith (Wethersfield, Conn.) was one point shy of another double-double (9 PTS, 13 REB, 5 STL, 3 BLK) for USJ. The Blue Jays lost touch with the Hornets early in the second quarter. They made a run in the fourth to cut it to eight, but the lead was too much to overcome.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Saint Joseph 48, Northern Vermont-Lyndon 63
Records: USJ (6-4), NVUL (3-7)
Location: Stannard Gymnasium – Lyndonville, Vt.

COACH QUOTE [Wendy Davis] "We played better in the second half. The good news is we get to build on that half immediately with the game tomorrow."

KEY MOMENTS

• Both teams traded the lead back and forth in the first quarter. The Hornets held it, 13-9, at the end of one though behind a pair of threes from junior guard Faith Poirier (Portsmouth, N.H.).
• The Blue Jays struggled for offensive in the second quarter. The opposite could be said for the Hornets, who scored 14 of the first 15 points in the quarter to take a double-digit lead. It was a 17-4 run overall, and a 29-16 halftime lead for NVUL. USJ only made 5 shots in the first half (5-28).
• A pair of free throws on a nice drive from Smith cut the gap to 10, 31-21 with 8:16 left in the third, but the Hornets pushed it right back to 15. Crompton nailed a three pointer shortly after to keep the momentum on the home team's side.
• Saint Joseph finally put together a strong offensive quarter, equaling its first half total with 16 in the third. Freshman forward Madison McElroy (Colchester, Vt.) scored six of her eight in the period, as the Blue Jays hung around, down 43-32 to the fourth.
• A 'Barcomb Bomb' brought the lead to eight, 45-37, with 7:14 left in the fourth. The Hornets followed it up with an 8-1 run, holding the lead to the end.

NUMBER TO KNOW

28 – The Blue Jay starters were outscored by the Hornets' starters, 53-28.

NOTES

• The Blue Jays set a season high with 27 turnovers.
• Saint Joseph is 1-4 this season when allowing more than 60 points. They are 5-0 when allowing less than 60.
• Mitchell scored eight of her 15 points in the third for NVUL.

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays will rest up and prepare for another Northern Vermont showdown Sunday, January 5 at 1:00 p.m., when they head to Northern Vermont-University Johnson. It will be their second game in less than 24 hours.

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