Women's Hoops Holds Off Rivier, 79-74, on the Road Saturday Afternoon

NASHUA, N.H. – The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) women's basketball team increased its winning streak to three games, taking down Rivier University (Rivier), 79-74, on the road Saturday afternoon during Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) inside Muldoon Gymnasium in Nashua, N.H. With the result, the Blue Jays move to 13-3 overall on the year and 4-1 in GNAC play, while the Raiders drop to 5-10 overall and 3-2 in the conference. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Blue Jays got off to a quick start, establishing an 8-4 edge, fueled by four points from senior guard Amanda Fudge (Middletown, Conn.), at the 6:58 mark.
• Rivier would answer back though, utilizing a 7-2 run to take an 11-10 edge with 3:57 on the clock.
• The Raiders lead would not last long though, as 6-0 USJ run, capped off by a Fudge triple and a transition layup from senior forward Jordan Ouellette (Bristol, Conn.) swung the lead back in the Blue Jays favor, 16-13, with 1:55 left in the first.
• Rivier cut the lead to one, knocking down a buzzer beating three-pointer to close the gap to 17-16 entering the second quarter.
• After Rivier took the lead to begin the second, junior guard Maya Slisz (New Britain, Conn.) responded with four straight points, establishing a 21-18 USJ advantage at the 8:39 mark.
• The Blue Jays and Raiders continued to trade the lead, until a 10-2 USJ run, featuring six points from Ouellette, established a 31-25 lead for the Blue Jays at the 2:39 mark.
• Rivier would cut the gap to four though, 33-29, as the Blue Jays entered the halftime break with the slim advantage.
• The Blue Jays and Raiders traded buckets to open the second half, as senior forward Olivia Heslin (Plainville, Conn.) increased the USJ edge to seven points, 39-32, with 6:51 on the clock.
• Rivier would close the gap to one, but a quick 4-0 USJ stretch, capped off by a layup from junior forward Janai Oliver (Hartford, Conn.) increased the USJ edge back to five, 48-43, with 2:28 left in the third.
• However, a 6-0 Rivier stretch saw the hosts take the lead, 49-48, and force USJ to call a timeout with 1:18 on the clock.
• USJ quickly answered back, as senior guard Taylor Verboven (Columbia, Conn.) fired off four quick points to send the Blue Jays into the fourth with a 52-49 advantage.
• After Rivier closed the gap to one, 52-51, to open the quarter, USJ responded with a 7-2 run, capped off by a Fudge triple, extending the lead to six, 59-53, with 7:44 on the clock.
• Fudge again would come up with a clutch three-pointer, increasing the lead to eight, but the Raiders matched the triple, closing the deficit to five, 65-60, and calling a timeout with 4:40 left to play.
• Rivier would continue to keep it a close game, knocking down three-pointer after three-pointer, closing the USJ lead to two, 72-70, with 2:26 remaining.
• The Raiders would keep the game within two, but stellar defense enabled Ouellette to ice the game out at the free throw line, allowing USJ to take home a 79-74 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE 

• Ouellette notched her fifth double-double of the year after leading the team with 20 points and 13 rebounds.
• Fudge and Slisz joined her in double figures, dropping 19 and 14 points, respectively.
• Heslin matched her season-high of six points, while grabbing a season-high eight rebounds.
• The duo also dished out a team-high four assists each and swiped two steals.
• The Blue Jays outshot the Raiders from the field, 51.7 percent to 41.5 percent.
• Rivier found success from beyond the arc, shooting 10-of-28 for a 35.7 percent clip.
• USJ scored 42 of its points inside the paint.
• USJ won the battle on the glass, outrebounding Rivier, 40-23.
• Head coach Wendy Davis is now one victory away from 300 career wins.

UP NEXT
The Blue Jays return to James A. Calhoun Gymnasium to begin a two-game homestand, starting with a visit from Emmanuel College on Tuesday, January 16. Tipoff against the Saints in West Hartford is set for 5:00 p.m.

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