Women's Basketball Falls at Emmanuel in Overtime During GNAC Quarterfinals

BOSTON – The South Division three seed University of Saint Joseph (USJ) women's basketball team battled until the end, but saw its season come to a close on the road at the North Division two seed Emmanuel College (Emmanuel), falling 70-67 in overtime, during the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Quarterfinals at Andy Yosinoff Court in Boston on Tuesday night. With the result, the Blue Jays finish the year with a 16-10 record overall, while the Saints improve to 21-5 overall.

The Saints and Blue Jays played great defense to open the game, not allowing a made bucket for the opening minute and a half. Emmanuel would break the scoring drought, knocking down a jumper to take the early edge at the 8:22 mark. The Saints would extend the lead to three, but Taylor Verboven (Columbia, Conn.) put USJ on the board, making a tough driving layup through contact to bring the Blue Jays within one, 3-2, with 6:10 left in the first. Jordan Ouellette (Bristol, Conn.) kept the USJ momentum going, draining a tough turnaround jumper from just outside the restricted area, giving the visitors the lead, 4-3, with 5:29 on the clock. Olivia Heslin (Plainville, Conn.) increased the stretch to 7-0, completing an old-fashioned three-point play, forcing Emmanuel to call a timeout, trailing 7-3, at the 4:29 mark. 

Khalise Harris (South Windsor, Conn.) furthered the run to 9-0 after sinking a pair of free throws, but Emmanuel cut USJ's momentum, making a layup to get back within four, 9-5. Amanda Fudge (Middletown, Conn.) quickly fired back, connecting from the top of the three-point line to reestablish a seven point lead, 12-5, at the 3:56 mark. The two offenses would go on to trade baskets back-and-forth until the Saints closed the first on a a 7-2 stretch, getting back within two, 16-14, heading into the second quarter.

USJ and Emmanuel continued to battle in the second quarter, as the Saints fought back to tie the score at 18-18, with 8:34 on the clock. Ouellette wasted little time swinging the lead back in USJ's favor, corralling a loose offensive rebound before finishing with the layup to give the Blue Jays a 20-18 edge. Fudge extended the gap to four after a long baseline jumper, followed by another second-chance layup by Ouellette saw the Blue Jays take a six-point edge, 26-20 at the 5:45 mark. Verboven increased the run to 6-0, increasing the edge to 28-20 seconds later after an easy layup. The Saints put an end to the USJ stretch, sinking a corner triple to cut the deficit to six, 29-23, at the 4:24 mark. USJ increased the gap to nine, but a 10-0 Emmanuel run saw the hosts take its first lead of the game since the opening moments, 30-29, and forcing USJ to call a timeout with 1:54 left in the half.

The two sides traded buckets in the opening minutes of the third quarter, as Emmanuel maintained a three-point edge, 40-37, at the 8:03 mark. Ouellette cut the score to one, 40-39, after knocking down a tough pull up jumper at the free throw line with 6:51 left in the quarter. USJ continued to keep within one, as Ouellette made another tough jumper to put the score at 42-41 with 4:23 on the clock. The Blue Jays would be rewarded for their efforts as an Ouellette bucket followed by a Verboven jumpshot saw USJ reclaim the lead, 45-42 at the 3:14 mark. The Blue Jays offense continued to roll as Verboven capped off a 10-0 stretch to give the visitors a six-point lead, 48-42, at the 1:39 mark. The Saints put a stop the run, getting back within four with 1:18 left in the third. The Saints would get even closer, knocking down a late bucket to get within two, 48-46, heading into the fourth quarter. 

Emmanuel would tie the game early in the fourth quarter, but Ouellette responded with a jumper at the elbow to swing the lead back in USJ's favor, 50-48, at the 8:19 mark. Emmanuel would get back within two, but Verboven came up clutch with a midrange jumper, reestablishing a four-point lead, 54-50 with 6:29 left to play. However, a 4-0 run saw Emmanuel retake the lead, 56-55 at the 4:38 mark. The Saints would increase the gap to 58-55 moments later, forcing USJ to call a timeout with 3:40 left to play. USJ continued to fight back as Fudge sunk a crucial three-pointer, tying the game at 62-62 with 41 seconds left to play. The Blue Jays would get the ball back in the closing seconds, but Verboven's shot at the buzzer fell short, sending the game into overtime tied at 62 a piece.

Emmanuel would take the early edge in OT, while playing great defense, forcing USJ into calling a timeout trailing, 64-62, with 1:48 left in the overtime period. The Saints continued to hold the Blue Jays scoreless until 57 seconds remained in the game, when Fudge drained another triple to cut the deficit to four, 69-65. Ouellette would pull USJ even closer, knocking down a layup with five seconds left, but the Saints would ice the game out at the free throw line, holding on a for a 70-67 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Ouellette finished with a game-high 27 points.
• The forward recorded double digits in all but two of the Blue Jays 26 games, including seven outings of 20 or more points.
• Verboven and Fudge joined her in double figures with 19 and 11 points, respectively.
• Ouellette also led the team in rebounding, recording her ninth double-double of the year after hauling in 11 boards.
• Harris dished out a team-high four assists.
• Emmanuel's bench outscored USJ's, 21-2.
• The Saints narrowly outshot the Blue Jays, 39.7 percent (29 of 73) to 38.0 percent (27 of 71).
• USJ limited Emmanuel from beyond the arc, forcing the hosts to shoot 11.8 percent (2 of 17) from long range.
• The Saints won the rebounding battle, 53-41.
• Emmanuel extended its dominating advantage in the all-time series to 35-1 with the victory.
• The Saints increased their winning streak to 31 games over the Blue Jays.
• Emmanuel is now 3-0 all-time in the postseason against 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