Three Blue Jays Log Double-Doubles, Women's Hoops Soars Past Elms Wednesday Night, 59-45

CHICOPEE, Mass. – Three Blue Jays finished with double-doubles as the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) women's basketball team won its third straight road contest, taking down the Elms College Blazers, 59-45, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) contest on the road Wednesday night inside Picknelly Arena in Chicopee, Mass. Juniors Taylor Verboven (Columbia, Conn.), Khalise Harris (South Windsor, Conn.), and Jordan Ouellette (Bristol Conn.) all recorded double-doubles in the triumph for the Blue Jays.

GAME INFORMATION 
Score: USJ 59, Elms 45
Records: USJ (6-1, 2-0 GNAC), Elms (3-4, 0-2 GNAC)
Location: Picknelly Arena (Chicopee, Mass.)

HOW IT HAPPENED

After Elms took an early 3-0 lead, USJ responded with a 4-0 run to gain a slight 4-3 edge. Verboven capped off the run with an easy layup after receiving a picture perfect from Harris. The Blazers and Blue Jays would go on to trade buckets back-and-forth, until a 6-0 USJ stretch, featuring four points from Ouellette, gave the Blue Jays a 12-7 lead with 4:05 remaining in the first. Elms would pull back within three, keeping the Blue Jays scoreless for the final four minutes of the quarter as the Blue Jays held a 12-9 edge entering the second quarter. 

Jordan Farrell (West Hartford, Conn.) got the Blue Jays offense rolling to start the second quarter, as a quick 4-2 run, capped off by a tip-in layup from Verboven forced an Elms timeout, as the Blazers fell behind, 16-11 at the 8:06 mark. The Blazers fought back, cutting the gap to one, 16-15, but an 8-0 Blue Jays run, fueled by five points from Harris, including a tough and-one layup, reopened the gap to 10, 25-15 with three minutes remaining. USJ continued to dominate on both ends of the floor, finishing the half on a 6-2 stretch to head into the halftime break up, 31-18.

Elms stared the second half strong, using a 5-2 stretch to get back within single digits, 33-25, at the 6:37 mark. However, USJ responded in kind, utilizing a 6-0 stretch to take back a double-digit edge, 39-25, with 4:49 left in the third quarter. During the run, Farrell, Harris, and Ouellette all got on the board for the Blue Jays. The Blazers though would end the half on a 6-2 run as the Blue Jays held a 41-31 edge entering the fourth quarter. 

After the Blazers got back within single digits to start the fourth, 43-34, a 6-0 USJ stretch, featuring three points from Olivia Heslin (Plainville, Conn.) gave a double-digit edge back to USJ, 49-34, with 6:21 remaining in the game. USJ continued to roll, not allowing Elms anyway back into the game as they the Blue Jays took home a commanding 59-45 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Harris, Ouellette, and Verboven all finished with double-doubles.
• Ouellette paced the offense with 14 points and hauled in 11 rebounds.
• Harris, who made her season debut Wednesday night, grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds, while also scoring a career-best 13 points.
• Harris was also the primary playmaker, dishing out a team-high four assists.
• Verboven tallied 10 points and 10 rebounds on the night.
• Farrell joined the trio in double-digits, dropping 13 points after earning her first career start.
• Heslin was a defensive force, notching three steals and four blocks.
• USJ held Elms to 24.6 percent shooting from the floor, including a 28.6 percent mark from beyond the arc.
• The Blue Jays won the rebounding battle, 48-35.
• With the win, the Blue Jays move to 3-0 this season on the road.
• USJ increased its advantage in the all-time series against Elms to 13-5 with the victory. 

UP NEXT

Women's basketball returns to James A. Calhoun Gymnasium, hosting GNAC foe Rivier University on Saturday, December 10. Tipoff against the Raiders is set for 1:00 p.m. in West Hartford. Tickets to attend Saturday's game can be purchased by visiting www.usjbluejays.com/tickets. Fans who cannot make it to the game in person can watch all of the action live by visiting https://portal.stretchinternet.com/usj/.

FOLLOW
For the latest on University of Saint Joseph athletics, follow the Blue Jays on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. 

Fans can also download the USJ Front Row Mobile App and subscribe to our Newsletter and Text Alerts. #FearTheFlock #GoBlueJays