Falcons Best Blue Jays Saturday, 72-55

WEST HARTFORD, Conn - The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) women's basketball team struggled on the offensive end against a very quick and active Falcons team in Albertus Magnus College, taking a 72-55 setback in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) contest inside the O'Connell Center Saturday afternoon. With the loss, the Blue Jays dip to 11-8 overall on the 2021-22 season and 7-5 in GNAC play, while the Falcons make it seven straight wins, improving to 11-8 and 10-2 in conference games. Sophomore guard Caitlyn Scott (White Plains, N.Y.) stole the show offensively, scoring a career-high 32 points to lead the way for Albertus Magnus in the triumph..

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Albertus Magnus 72, Saint Joseph 55
Records: AMC 11-8 (10-2 GNAC), USJ 11-8 (7-5 GNAC)
Location: O'Connell Center | West Hartford, Conn.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Junior point guard and captain Amanda Fudge (Middletown, Conn.) and sophomore forward Jordan Ouellette (Bristol, Conn.) got things going on the offensive end for Saint Joseph, creating some high-percentage opportunities. Both teams were neck and neck in the early going, but the Blue Jays benefitted from a few inside looks from Ouellette, as the score stayed knotted up at eight midway through the opening quarter.

AMC relied on a heavy dose of Scott, who fired from all angles in a 13-point first quarter, scoring as many as the Blue Jays had as a team. Scott connected on a pair of threes in addition to her work off the ball cutting to the rim. Albertus Magnus took a first quarter lead, 18-13.

The Blue Jays aimed to keep it close in period number two, but a 9-0 run by the visitors pushed the gap to double digits, 27-15. Freshman guard Maya Slisz (New Britain, Conn.) finally stopped the run with a mid-range jumper. A few energy and effort plays cut the lead to six, 27-21, with 4:05 left in the half, but that momentum was quickly halted by a tenacious Falcons unit that put pressure on the Blue Jays defense time and time again, benefitting from a series of free throws. AMC scored seven of the last nine to take a 34-23 halftime lead. Scott scored 20 of her 32 in the first half.

In the second half, USJ made several attempts to get back in the game, but each time was met with timely steals and free throws for the Falcons. Scott stayed aggressive on the perimeter, working hard off ball screens and ultimately getting to her spot too often. She added another seven in the third, mostly from the charity stripe, while freshman forward Jakara Murray-Leach (Norwalk, Conn.), a top-five scorer in the GNAC, started showing signs on the offensive end. Albertus took a 52-35 lead into the fourth quarter, but not without four players picking up four fouls.

Saint Joseph got some great looks near the basket particularly in the fourth quarter, with close chances from Slisz, senior forward Lindsey Montminy (Vernon, Conn.) and others, but the hosts were unable to convert. Albertus put together a string of baskets behind the work of Scott, who was all smiles on a career day in West Hartford. The Blue Jays have not beaten the Falcons since 2013-14.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Scott had a career-high 32 points (8-13 FG, 12-13 FT), along with five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Murray-Leach, who struggled in the first half, scored 14 points on 6-of-13 from the field. Sophomore forward Natasha Rivera (Ansonia, Conn.) added nine points and six blocks.

For the Blue Jays, Slisz was the high scorer with a career-high 20 points (7-15 FG) and grabbed seven boards. Ouellette struggled from the field (4-13 FG), but still finished with 12 points. Sophomore forward Olivia Heslin (Plainville, Conn.) added five points and six rebounds off the bench.

USJ was held to 25% shooting on the day (17-68). The Falcons connected on eight long balls, and held a sizeable edge in fastbreak points, 17-2.

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays are in the midst of the toughest stretch of the season. It continues with a rematch with intrastate foe and fellow GNAC rival Albertus Magnus College, this time at AMC. The road contest down in New Haven against Albertus will be played on Monday, February 7 at 5:30 p.m. Please review the most recent updates to spectator policy at Albertus Magnus. You can also head over to www.usjbluejays.com to catch the action live!

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