NEWTON, MA- St. Joseph's College(CT) visited the Lasell College women's basketball team Saturday afternoon for a Great Northeast Athletic Conference matchup. The visiting Blue Jays took the 71-61 win to improve to 13-7 and boost their GNAC record to 5-5, while the Lasers record fell to 3-17 overall and 3-7 in GNAC play.
Heather Framski(Prospect, CT) and Mary Hyde (Derby, CT) of SJC led all scorers with a total of 18 points apiece. Framski shot 9-13 from the field. Devon Diliberto(Waterbury, CT) contributed sixteen points for the victors as well. Lasell was lead by Alexis Chappell(Springfield, MA) who totaled sixteen points and five rebounds. Danielle Autencio(Montville, CT) grabbed down ten boards for the home team as well as adding six points.
The Blue Jays took an early 17-8 lead at the 13 minute mark, capitalizing on second chance baskets. The Lasers kept the same margin for most of the first half, never trailing by more than nine. Lasell trailed at the half 32-23, a result of St. Joseph's shooting 48.3% from the field in the first half while Lasell only shot 41.7%. The Blue Jays' Heather Framski scored ten first half points, on five for five shooting from the field. Shauna Sullivan(Rocky Hill, CT) contributed eight first half points and five rebounds. Lasell was lead by Kim Archibald(Lewiston, ME) who had six points in the first half.
The Blue Jays kept up their momentum after halftime and maintained their eleven point lead on the Lasers at the 13:00 mark, 45-34. With ten minutes remaining Lasell trailed by nine, 47-38, before going on a run to cut the visitors' lead to three at 57-54, the smallest margin of the second half with less than four minutes remaining.
An Alexis Chappell bucket brought the Lasers within one, 60-59. Devon Diliberto answered by knocking down four foul shots, and ending the comeback bid. The Blue Jays closed the game out at the line to pull out the 71-61 GNAC victory.
St. Joseph's will return to action on Saturday February 7th at 5:30pm when they travel to Anna Maria College. Lasell will travel to Rivier College on Tuesday, February 7th for another GNAC contest at 7:00 pm.
