Strong Second Quarter Lifts Women's Hoops Past Norwich, 72-56

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) women's basketball team used something defense to take down the visiting Cadets of Norwich University (Norwich), 72-56, during Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play Saturday afternoon inside James A. Calhoun Gymnasium. The Blue Jays forced 29 Norwich turnovers, scoring 30 points off the miscues. With the victory, USJ improves to 11-7 overall and 7-4 in GNAC play, while Norwich drops to 8-8 on the season with a 4-5 mark in conference play.

GAME INFORMATION 
Score: USJ 72, Norwich 56
Records: USJ (11-7, 7-4 GNAC), Norwich (8-8, 4-5 GNAC)
Location: James A. Calhoun Gymnasium (West Hartford, Conn.)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Norwich jumped out to an early 2-0 lead to start the game, but a quick 4-0 USJ stretch, featuring a pair of free throws from Jordan Ouellette (Bristol, Conn.) and a long midrange jumper by Jordan Farrell (West Hartford, Conn.), saw the Blue Jays hold a 4-2 edge after the opening 2:22 of play. The Cadets and Blue Jays went on to trade buckets, but another timely 4-0 USJ stretch, featuring more midrange jumpers from Farrell and Amanda Fudge (Middletown, Conn.) established an 11-9 Blue Jays edge heading into the first media timeout of the game with 3:42 left on the clock. USJ extended the stretch to 6-0 after another Fudge jump shot and a pair of free throws by Maya Slisz (New Britain, Conn.) to take a 15-9 lead at the 1:53 mark. However, the Cadets responded with a 4-0 stretch of their own, cutting the deficit to two, 15-13, with 1:01 left in the quarter. The score would remain entering the second quarter.

The Blue Jays started the second quarter on fire, knocking down their first three shots, extending the gap to eight, 21-13, inside the opening minute. Norwich would put an end to the USK run, but the Blue Jays continued to put their foot on the gas, increasing the gap to 10, 25-15, after Ouellette knocked down a pair of freebies at the 7:15 mark. The Cadets battled back though, decreasing the deficit to six, 25-19, and forcing a USJ timeout with 6:07 left in the first half. USJ came out of the break on fire, turning defense into offense on three straight possessions to increase the lead to 12, 31-19, making Norwich call for time at the 5:05 mark. Slisz and Taylor Verboven (Columbia, Conn.) came up with timely steals, leading to USJ buckets during the 6-0 stretch.

USJ continued to roll, increasing its advantage to as much as 16, 39-15, after a pair of buckets from Farrell and Slisz at the 3:11 mark. The Blue Jays continued to play smothering defense for the remainder of the half, ending on a 4-2 stretch to take a 41-25 edge into the locker room. 

Norwich gained momentum early in the second half, utilizing a 7-2 opening stretch to cut the gap to 11, 43-32, with 8:07 remaining. Farrell continued her strong offensive performance, cutting the momentum with a tough driving layup, reestablishing a 13-point edge, 47-34 with 7:30 on the clock.  However, the Cadets would attempt to swing the momentum back in their favor, knocking down a triple before calling a timeout, trailing 49-37 with 5:50 left in the third. The Blue Jays quickly answered back out of the timeout, going on a 6-0 run, featuring buckets from Verboven, Slisz and Farrell, increasing the lead to 18, 55-37.  Both teams would play good defense in the closing moments as the Blue Jays took a 57-41 edge into the final quarter of play.

The Cadets opened the scoring to start the fourth, but a 4-0 stretch and smothering defense by USJ, forced the visitors to call a timeout trailing, 61-43, at the 8:49 mark. The Blue Jays continued to dominate, increasing the gap to 21 after a Slisz midrange jumper, holding a 68-47 edge with 5:56 left to play. The Cadets tried to mount a late comeback, pulling within 18, 70-52 at the 2:43 mark, but USJ would not let the visitors get any closer, pulling away for the 72-56 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Fudge led all scorers with 20 points.
• Farrell and Slisz joined her in double-figures, dropping 18 and 15 points, respectively.
• The point total was a new career-high for Farrell
• Ouellette paced the team in rebounding, hauling in a game-high seven boards.
• Verboven was the primary playmaker, dishing out a team-high five assists.
• USJ outshot Norwich, 53.6 percent (30 of 56) to 46.9 percent (23 of 49).
• The Cadets allowed no three pointers by the Blue Jays from five attempts.
• The Blue Jays shot an incredible 56.7 percent (17 of 30) from the floor in the first half.
• Norwich won the battle on the glass, outrebounding USJ, 26-22.
• Turnovers were the name of the game for USJ, scoring 30 points off 29 Norwich miscues.
• Both teams were even at 30 points inside the paint each.
• USJ increased its winning streak over Norwich to two games.
• The Blue Jays cut the gap in the all-time series to 24-6 with the victory.
• The win was the first home victory for USJ over Norwich since 2013, when the Blue Jays took down the Cadets, 76-63.

UP NEXT

Women's basketball heads on the road for a two-game road swing, starting with a stop at Lasell University on Wednesday, January 25. Tipoff against the Lasers inside the Athletic Center in Newton, Mass. is set for 5:30 p.m.

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