Posted: Jan 20, 2015
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The Lasell College women's basketball team fell short to the University of Saint Joseph 67-65 in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference overtime thriller Tuesday evening at the O'Connell Center. Lasell drops to 5-10 overall (1-2 GNAC) while USJ improves to 6-9 (1-1 GNAC).
Deanna Barrett (Berlin, Conn.) had given Lasell the lead 65-63 on a fastbreak layup with 1:55 remaining in overtime. Neither team scored over the next six possessions, putting USJ in a position to foul. Lindsay Feducia (Beacon Falls, Conn.) had a key rebound off a missed Lasell free throw with 5.5 seconds left and, after a timeout, a Blue Jay play didn't materialize as planned. But Framski was fouled taking a desperation half-court shot with 3.4 seconds left and was awarded three free throws. She made the first two to tie the score and left the third one short off the front rim. But she stepped in to grab the rebound in the air and softly drained a 10-footer in the lane for the winning shot. Lasell missed a 40-footer at the overtime buzzer.
Heather Framski (Prospect, Conn.) had 18 points and nine rebounds, scoring with 2.4 seconds left in overtime to break the 65-all tie. Her first-half block shot gave her 100 in her career and allowed her to become USJs all-time leader, passing Kristen King, who had 99 from 1995-99. Brianna Ferraro (Waterbury, Conn.) had 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Blue Jays. Carlee Putnam (Niantic, Conn.) and Rajeen Mayo (Middletown, Conn.) had eight points each for St. Joseph anf Feducia had eight rebounds.
Barrett, who had a three-pointer with 34 seconds left in regulation to force overtime, had a game-high 20 points for Lasell. Sherilyn Small (Sptingfield, Mass.) scored 10 for the Lasers and Katie Stopera (Hollis, N.H.) had 15 rebounds, six assists and seven points.
USJ is at Trinity, Thur. Jan. 22 in a non-league game at 7 p.m. Lasell hosts Suffolk Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in a GNAC match up.