Basketball
Balanced Effort Gets Blue Jays to Tourney Final
WEST HARTFORD, Conn., Nov. 20, 2009 -- Five players scored in double figures and Saint Joseph College withstood a late rally as the Blue Jays defeated Anna Maria 70-68 Friday night at the Saint Joseph Tip-Off Tournament at the O’Connell Center.
Junior Ilaria Schiano (Wallingford, Conn.) scored a game-high 19 points and Michelle Fillion (Killingworth, Conn.) 14 for Saint Joseph.
The Blue Jays took a 62-49 lead with 4:20 to play in a jumper by Nathalie Mastarreno (Glastonbury, Conn.) before the Amcats made a late run. Saint Joseph never relinquished the lead, but Anna Maria pulled within 69-68 on a conventional three-point play by Chelsea Blair (Holland, Mass.) with 15.4 seconds left. Schiano made a free throw with nine seconds left and Anna Maria missed a last-second three-pointer.
Mastarreno scored 12 points for Saint Joseph, sophomore Samantha Royce (Portland, Conn.) had 11 and freshman Hayley Torres (Hamden, Conn.) had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Freshman Alison McCarthy (Lynn, Mass.) scored 17 points for Anna Maria and sophomore Samantha Ashton (Worcester, Mass.) had 13. Blair had 11 points and 12 rebounds and sophomore Amanda Hevy (North Brookfield, Mass.) scored 10.
Saint Joseph improved to 2-1 and plays USMMA in Saturday’s 3 p.m. final. USMMA defeated Bard, 64-39 in Friday’s other game. Anna Maria (0-2) plays Bard (0-1) Saturday at 1 p.m.
Late comeback falls short in 63-61 loss
WEST HARTFORD, Conn., Nov. 17, 2009 – Jen Wehner’s jump shot with 21 seconds left broke a 61-all tie as Mass. College of Liberal Arts defeated Saint Joseph College 63-61 Tuesday in a non-league game at the O’Connell Center.
It was the season-opener for MCLA; Saint Joseph is 1-1.
Wehner (Cooperstown, NY), a sophomore forward, had a team-high 13 points and 11 rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench and sophomore forward Olivia McMullen (Broadalbin, NY) scored 10 for the Trailblazers.
Saint Joseph sophomore forward/guard Samantha Royce (Portland, CT) scored a game-high 14 points and had eight rebounds. Junior guard Ilaria Schiano (Wallingford, CT) scored 13 for the Blue Jays and Nathalie Masterreno (Glastonbury, CT) had 12.
Both team built sizable leads. Saint Joseph went ahead 16-7 to start the game and led throughout most of the first half on the way to a 40-34 halftime lead. Royce scored 13 in the first half and Saint Joseph made six of 13 three-point attempts.
MCLA started the second half on a 20-3 run to take its biggest lead at 54-43 with 9:11 to play. Saint Joseph then chipped at its deficit and took two, one-point leads, the last coming at 61-60 on a Terese Cerins (Manchester, CT) basket with 2:09 to play.
Nine players scored for MCLA, which had a 28-7 advantage in bench scoring and a 15-5 edge in second-chance points.
Saint Joseph hosts its Annual Tip-Off Tournament Friday and Saturday, Nov. 20-21. Bard plays USMMA Friday at 6 p.m. and the Blue Jays face Anna Maria at 8 p.m. Saturday’s consolation game is at 1 p.m. and the final at 3 p.m.
Schiano scores 36; Blue Jays start with win
WEST HARTFORD, Conn., Nov. 15 -- Junior guard Ilaria Schiano (Wallingford, CT) scored 36 points as Saint Joseph College defeated New England College 74-69 in the season opener at the O'Connell Center.
Schaino shot 11-for-21 from the floor, including 5-for-10 on three-pointers and 9-for-14 at the free throw line.
Freshman Terese Cerins (Manchester, CT) scored 12 points for the Blue Jays and sophomore Samantha Royce (Portland, CT) had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Both teams made 24 baskets and 19 free throws, so the Blue Jays 7-for-22 shotting from three-point range while holding NEC to 2-for-11 was one key as was the Blue Jays low number (12) of turnovers.
Sophomore forward Rachel Williams (Chapel Hill, NC) led NEC with 26 points. It was also the season-opener for the Pilgrims.
Team Volunteers At Cancer Fundraiser
The St. Joseph College women’s basketball team volunteered at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk Oct. 18 at Bushnell Park in Hartford.
Over 1,500 participants braved the rainy weather to walk that day in support of a worthy cause that raised over $300,000. The walk was one of 21 such events held in New England during the month of October.
"Making Strides" is the American Cancer Society’s premier event to raise awareness and money to fight breast cancer. According to its website: More than just the name of a walk, it describes the amazing progress we’re making together to defeat this disease. This is your opportunity to join your community to celebrate breast cancer survivors, educate women about early detection and prevention, and raise money to fund lifesaving research and to support programs to help us reach a day when no one will have to hear the words “You have breast cancer"
St. Joseph basketball players volunteered at the registration table, where they helped check-in walkers, including cancer survivors.
“I think participating in events like this is great for the kids, having them give something back to the community and it also affords us a chance to do some team bonding,” St. Joseph basketball coach Kim Martin said. “They served a useful purpose and it’s a great cause to support.”
Since 1993, nearly five million walkers across the country have raised more than $340 million through Making Strides events to help fight breast cancer. Last year alone, dedicated supporters raised more than $60 million nationwide to help the American Cancer Society continue fighting breast cancer and offer hope to people facing the disease.
Blue Jays Announce 2009-10 Schedule
St. Joseph coach Kim Martin has announced her team's schedule for the 2009-2010 season.
The Blue Jays begin their 24-game regular season with a Sat. Nov. 15 home game against New England College and have seven consecutive home games to start the campaign. The schedule features 13 home games including the annual St. Joseph College Tip Off Nov. 20-21 when the Blue Jays will host Bard, Anna Maria and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
