Women's Basketball Wins Back-To-Back Tip-Off Tournament Titles

WEST HARTFORD, Conn - The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) women's basketball team was clicking on all cylinders Saturday afternoon, claiming the crown in the USJ Tip-off Tournament, presented by Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, in a 71-46 win over the Lightning of Lehman College in non-conference action. The Blue Jays win the tournament for the second year in a row, and the seventh time in tournament history.

Senior guard Amanda Fudge (Middletown, Conn.) who led all scorers with 21 points in the win against Bard Friday, and a near triple-double in the win over Lehman Saturday, was voted the MVP of the USJ Tip-Off Tournament. Junior forward Jordan Ouellette (Bristol, Conn.) also made the all-tournament team after recording a double-double on Saturday.

USJ Tip-Off Tournament All-Tournament Team
#44 Thalia Grandinetti – Bard

#35 Arla Hofer – Wellesley

#1 Brianna Barnes – Lehman

#33 Jordan Ouellette – USJ

#21 Amanda Fudge – USJ (MVP)

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Lehman 46, Saint Joseph 71
Records: Lehman 1-1, USJ 2-0
Location: James A. Calhoun Gymnasium | West Hartford, Conn.
Game Notes: USJ Tip-Off Tournament Championship

HOW IT HAPPENED

USJ continued its strong weekend, jumping out to an early 14-6 lead midway through the first quarter. The run featured a balance offense as Fudge, Ouellette, sophomore guard Maya Slisz (New Britain, Conn.), junior guard Taylor Verboven (Columbia, Conn.) and freshman guard Jordan Farrell (West Hartford, Conn.) all found the bottom of the basket. However, the Lightning fought back, cutting the gap to one, 14-13, at the 3:55 mark. The two teams continued to trade buckets in the closing moments of the first quarter, as the Blue Jays took a 20-16 edge entering the second stanza.

The Blue Jays started the second quarter on fire, using a 7-0 stretch to break open an 11-point lead, 27-16. Fueling the stretch was a Jelly Frigo (Canton, Conn.) triple and layups from Fudge and Olivia Heslin (Plainville, Conn.). The Blue Jays were just as effective defensively, holding the Lightning scoreless in the opening three minutes of the quarter. Both defenses continued to be the main talking point of the second quarter as USJ held a 33-23 edge entering the halftime break. Lehman would be the side that jumped out early in the second half, pulling back within six, 33-27, with 8:35 showing on the clock. However, the Blue Jays defense put the clamps on Lehman for the remainder of the quarter, allowing only four more points as they maintained its lead, 47-31, going into the final quarter of play.

Both offenses would come alive in the final quarter, combining for 39 points. It would be the Blue Jays though that continued its dominating weekend, as they took down the Lightning, 71-46, to claim the USJ Tip-Off Tournament title.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE 

• Ouellette recorded her first double-double of the season, leading the way with 20 points and 15 rebounds.
• She matched her career high in rebounding on the afternoon.
• Fudge was the primary playmaker, dishing out seven assists. The senior guard flirted with a triple-double, dropping eight points while also grabbing eight rebounds. Fudge was also a force defensively, swiping five steals.
• USJ held the advantage on the glass, outrebounding Bard, 53-31.
• The Blue Jays forced 22 Lightning turnovers, while the visitors forced 25 Blue Jay miscues.
• The Blue Jays outshot the Raptors from the field, 40.6 percent to 29.7 percent.
• The contest marks the second-straight game that USJ held their opponent to under 30 percent shooting from the floor.

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays will be back in action next on Tuesday, November 15 against MCLA inside the James A. Calhoun Gymnasium in West Hartford. Tipoff against the Trailblazers is set for 7:00 p.m. Those who cannot attend can follow all the action live on www.usjbluejays.com.

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