EMMANUEL DOWNS SAINT JOSEPH, 71-40, IN PLAY4KAY CONTEST
BOSTON, Mass. – Emmanuel College eased past the University of Saint Joseph, 71-40, in women’s basketball action played in Emmanuel’s Jean Yawkey Center on Tuesday night. The win stretched the Saints’ four-year conference unbeaten streak to 40 games, as they now hold a 19-5 overall record and an 11-0 mark in GNAC play this season. Saint Joseph dropped to 13-9 on the season and 5-5 in the league with the loss.
BOSTON, Mass. – Emmanuel College eased past the University of Saint Joseph, 71-40, in women's basketball action played in Emmanuel's Jean Yawkey Center on Tuesday night. The win stretched the Saints' four-year conference unbeaten streak to 40 games, as they now hold a 19-5 overall record and an 11-0 mark in GNAC play this season. Saint Joseph dropped to 13-9 on the season and 5-5 in the league with the loss.
Tonight's contest was one of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference's "Play 4 Kay" games, in honor of breast cancer awareness. Players, coaches and event staff wore pink, while the referees officiated the game with pink whistles, as part of the nationwide initiative. Proceeds from the game will be donated to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's (WBCA) cancer fund in honor of the late Kay Yow, former North Carolina State Women's Basketball Coach.
Just prior to tip-off, the Emmanuel College Athletic Department took a moment to honor Saints Head Coach Andy Yosinoff, who captured his 700th career win back on January 26th. Coach Yosinoff was presented with a basketball commemorating his 700th win and Boston City Councillor Tito Jackson read a proclamation from Mayor Thomas M. Menino, declaring that February 12, 2013 is Andy Yosinoff Day in the City of Boston. Emmanuel alumnae from each of Yosinoff's milestone win teams were in attendance and participated in the celebration at mid-court, recognizing their former coach.
Following the celebration, Emmanuel wasted no time jumping out to an early double-figure lead after a jumper from senior forward Fiona O'Dwyer (Stamford, Conn.) and the Saints led, 15-5 at the twelve-minute mark. O'Dwyer dropped 10 points in the opening eight minutes of play to power the host Saints.
Emmanuel stretched the lead to 21-5, following two more O'Dwyer buckets, as the Saints held the visiting Blue Jays to just two field goals in the opening ten minutes of action. The Saints cruised out to a 31-12 lead at the five-minute mark, backed by a combined 49% shooting from the field.
The Saints would take a 33-18 lead into the locker room at halftime. O'Dwyer led all scorers at the break with 18 points off of impressive 8 for 10 shooting in 16 minutes of action. Sophomore guard Lindsey Feducia (Beacon Falls, Conn.) led the Blue Jays with 7 first-half points. Emmanuel held Saint Joseph to just 25.8% (8-31) shooting in the first half.
The Blue Jays chipped away at the Saints' lead out of the break, scoring 11 points in the first five minutes of the second half, and trailed 43-29 at 14:30. The visitors would then cap a 6-3 run with a backdoor cut and a lay-up from Feducia, cutting their deficit to 46-35 with under ten to go. The Saints then went on a 10-0 run of their own with six-straight points from Laura Benvenuto (Wyckoff, N.J.) to go back out in front, 56-35.
Emmanuel closed out the night on a 25-5 run and pulled away with the 71-40 win. O'Dwyer led the Saints with her game-high 24 points off of an 11 for 15 performance from the floor, while hauling in 5 rebounds and dishing out 3 assists in 26 minutes. Sophomore forward Jennifer Bujnowski (Salem, N.H.) pulled down a game-high 12 boards, while Britni Mikulanecz (Portland, Me.) tallied game-highs in both the assists and steals columns with 7 and 6, respectively.
Saint Joseph was led by Feducia's 9 points and 6 boards. Sophomore guard Claire Consonni (Bristol, Conn.) added 7 points, while a trio of Blue Jays chipped in with 6 points in the effort.
Emmanuel shot 50.8% (31-61) from the floor on the night and won the battle of the boards, 42-33. The Saints forced 21 Blue Jay turnovers in the win.
The Saints will return to action this Saturday (2/16) in Emmanuel's final regular season contest. The Saints will host the Rams of Suffolk University in a 3:00 PM start. The three seniors on the Emmanuel squad will be honored prior to the start of the game. USJ will play this Thursday (2/14) at Mount Ida College in a 7:00 PM tip.
View a clip below from the pre-game ceremony honoring Coach Yosinoff
