Women's Hoops Falls to Rivier in GNAC Play Saturday, 66-48

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) women's basketball team suffered its first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) loss of the season, falling to Rivier University, 66-48, on Saturday afternoon inside the James A. Calhoun Gymnasium in West Hartford.

GAME INFORMATION 
Score: USJ 48, Rivier 66
Records: USJ (6-2, 2-1 GNAC), Rivier (6-5, 3-0 GNAC)
Location: James A. Calhoun Gymnasium (West Hartford, Conn.)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Blue Jays took an early lead as Jordan Ouellette (Bristol, Conn.) banked in a turnaround jump shot, but a Rivier 10-2 run forced USJ to take a time out trailing, 10-4, at the 6:09 mark. The Blue Jays wasted little time cutting the Raiders momentum, as Jelly Frigo (Canton, Conn.) knocked down a triple right out of the break, cutting the gap to 10-7. Rivier would extend its lead back to five, but an Ouellette jumper brought USJ back within three, 12-9, with 4:25 left in the first quarter. However, Rivier closed the quarter on a 3-0 stretch, taking a 15-9 edge into the second quarter.

Olivia Heslin (Plainville, Conn.) got the second quarter started with a bang, making a tough driving layup through contact to get USJ back within four, 15-11. The Blue Jays continued to fight back as a 6-0 stretch, featuring buckets from Heslin and Ouellette leveled the score, 17-17, at the 6:27 mark. Rivier would break open a four-point edge, but a Frigo layup after a nice pass from Ouellette brought the Blue Jays back within two, 21-19, heading into the media timeout. The Raiders extended its lead back to five, but Heslin finished again through contact, converting the old-fashioned three-point play to bring USJ back within two, 26-24, 1:17 left in the half. USJ would complete its comeback, as Taylor Verboven (Columbia, Conn.) sunk a floating jump shot to tie the game at 26-26. However, Rivier would sink a triple to beat the buzzer, taking a 29-26 lead into the half. 

USJ started the third quarter strong, utilizing a 4-2 stretch to get within one, 31-30 at the 8:20 mark. However, Rivier would dominate the remainder of the quarter using a 21-2 stretch to break open a 20-point gap, 52-32, with 2:24 remaining in the quarter. The Raiders went on to take a 54-32 edge into the fourth quarter. 

The Blue Jays continued to fight in the fourth quarter, using an 8-3 run to force a Rivier timeout at the 6:08 mark. Ouellete scored six of USJ's eight points during the stretch. However, the deficit would prove too much to overcome, as Rivier took home a 66-48 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Ouellette paced the USJ offense with 16 points.
• Frigo joined Ouellette in double figures, tallying 12 points.
• Heslin and Khalise Harris (South Windsor, Conn.) lead the Blue Jays in rebounding, bringing down nine each.
• Verboven was the primary playmaker, dishing out five assists.
• USJ outshot Rivier, 32.2 percent to 30.3 percent.
• The Raiders had the edge beyond the arc, shooting 37.9 percent to the Blue Jays 14.3 percent.
• Rivier won its second straight game against USJ, increasing its lead in the all-time series to 18-12. 

UP NEXT

Women's basketball takes a 20-day hiatus during the holiday break, returning to action on Friday December 30^th against DeSales University in the opening day of the Steel Club Classic, hosted by Moravian University. Tipoff between the Blue Jays and Bulldogs is set for noon inside Johnston Hall in Bethlehem, Pa.

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