Women's Hoops Dominates Dean, Earns 11th Win Of The Season

WEST HARTFORD, Conn - The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) women's basketball team handled the Bulldogs of Dean College, 62-32, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) contest in the O'Connell Center Tuesday evening. With the win, the Blue Jays moved to 11-7 overall on the 2021-22 season and 7-4 in GNAC play, while the Bulldogs fall to 2-9 and 0-7 in conference competition. Saint Joseph has already equaled its win total from its last full season (11-14 in 2019-20), and are on pace to win 14 games, which would tie for the most in the last 10 seasons (14-11 in 2012-13).

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Dean 32, Saint Joseph 62
Records: DEAN 2-9 (0-7 GNAC), USJ 11-7 (7-4 GNAC)
Location: O'Connell Center | West Hartford, Conn.

COACH QUOTE [Wendy Davis] "Our press in the first quarter worked really well, and then the consistency of play regardless of who was in the game the rest of the way is what kept the lead. Janai Oliver also had herself a career day. A great win for the team."

HOW IT HAPPENED
USJ wasted no time making an impact in this one, outscoring the Bulldogs, 28-4 in the first quarter behind a tenacious full-court press. The Blue Jays forced nine turnovers, which led to a series of high-percentage baskets. Junior point guard and captain Amanda Fudge (Middletown, Conn.) and sophomore forward Jordan Ouellette (Bristol, Conn.) combined for 16 of the Blue Jays 28 first-quarter points. Saint Joseph scored the first 11 points of the contest, then scored the last 12 before the first period ended.

It was all catch-up from there for the Bulldogs, who settled in during the second stanza (12-12 scoring in the period), but were unable to establish a run in this one to get back in the game. The Blue Jays meanwhile turned to their reserves for most of the way, including freshman guard Janai Oliver (Hartford, Conn.), who scored a career-high 10 points on 4-of-7 from the field. She also hauled down four boards. Oliver scored seven of her 10 in the fourth and final quarter. Saint Joseph led by 20+ points the entire second half.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Ouellette scored a game-high 14 points (7-9 FG), along with four rebounds and three steals. Fudge added 10 points and three assists. 13 players scored for the Blue Jays on the night, outscoring the Bulldogs bench, 28-3. The hosts also owned several other areas of the game in this one, including points off turnovers (27-7), second chance points (15-5), points in the paint (40-26), and fastbreak points (12-2).  USJ is now 3-0 all-time vs Dean, outscoring the Bulldogs this season, 130-48.

Up Next
The Blue Jays now prepare for what will be the toughest stretch of the season. It starts with a home and away with intrastate foe and fellow GNAC rival Albertus Magnus College. USJ will be host the Falcons on Saturday, February 5 at 1:00 p.m., part of a doubleheader with the men's team. A road contest down in New Haven against Albertus will follow on Monday, February 7 at 5:30 p.m., also part of a doubleheader. Please review the University's latest spectator policy. You can also head over to usjbluejays.com to catch the action live!

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