WOMEN’S HOOPS OUTLASTS SAINT JOSEPH (CT), 87-72

BOSTON, Mass. – Three players posted double figures to lead the Emmanuel College women's basketball team past University of Saint Joseph (CT), 87-72. With the victory, the Saints improve to 12-9 overall and 7-0 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference play while the loss drops the Blue Jays to 7-13 and 2-4.

Emmanuel junior guard Sarah Higgins (Groveland, Mass.) led all scorers with 18 points while senior forward Vanessa Bramante (Stoneham, Mass.) finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Senior forward Jennifer Bujnowski (Salem, N.H.) also posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

The Blue Jays had four players in double figures as senior forward Heather Framski (Prospect, Conn.) and sophomore guard Carlee Putnam (Niantic, Conn.) each finished with 15 points while freshman forward Kayla Guest (Newington, Conn.) added 13 complimented by 10 points from sophomore forward Elisha Pertillar (Windsor, Conn.).

After trading hoops to start the contest, the Saints took the lead for good on a layup by Bujnowski to make it 4-2 with 18:25 left in the first half.

A layup by Framski pulled the visitors to within a basket at 6-4 at the 17:05 marker but the Saints responded with a 7-0 run capped by a layup from freshman guard Karlee Alves (Ellington, Conn.) to bump the lead to 13-4.

Two free throws by Bramante bumped the home lead to double-digits at 21-10 midway through the first half and minutes later, freshman guard Sasha Puglisi (Cross River, N.Y.) converted a fast break basket to increase the lead to 14 at 34-20 for the largest lead of the stanza.

The Blue Jays battled back to make it a six point game at 38-32 following a steal and layup from Guest but Higgins drained a deep three at the buzzer to give the hosts a 41-32 cushion heading into the halftime intermission.

Emmanuel held a 33-17 rebounding margin at the break and Higgins led the way with 13 points.

In the second half, an old fashion three point play by Bramante bumped the Saints lead back to double figures at 46-36 and on the very next possession, Bujnowski registered a put-back layup to increase the lead to 48-36.

The Blue Jays responded with back-to-back hoops in transition to cut the deficit to 48-40 with just over 16 minutes to play before a power move to the rim by Bramante returned the lead to 10 at 50-40.

A jumper from the wing by USJ junior guard Stephanie DeJesus (Meriden, Conn.) made it 54-47 but the Saints rattled off two quick hoops to extend the lead to 58-47.

EC freshman guard Ryan Maynard (Bowie, Md.) buried a spot up three from the corner to pull EC ahead 63-51 just before the midway point of the half, assisted by Alves. Two possessions later, Alves converted an old-fashion three point play to make it a 66-53 game. The Blue Jays would get it right back as freshman guard Rajeen Mayo (Middletown, Conn.) finished a three point play of her own to pull USJ back to within 10 at 66-56 with 9:10 on the clock.

Guest made it 66-58 with a pair of free throws in the bonus before forcing a turnover that led to a Bujnowski hoop in transition, bumping the lead back to 10 at 68-58.

USJ refused to go away as Putnam connected on a trey from the top of the arc for a 68-61 score.

Following an Emmanuel technical foul, a free throw by Framkski made it a two-possession game at 70-64 but a steal and fast break hoop by Bramante pulled the lead back to eight at 72-64 with just over five minutes left in the action.

With 4:35 to play, Higgins drained her second three of the night to make it 75-66 but a put back hoop by Pertillar made it 75-68 on the next possession.

After two minutes of scoreless play, Bramante converted a pair of free throws to extend the lead to 77-68 and following a defensive stop, Higgins hit a runner in the lane to put the lead back to double figures at 79-68. The 11 point lead was too much for the Blue Jays to overcome at the Saints held on for a gutsy 87-72 win.

Each squad is back in action this Saturday when the Saints host Mount Ida College at 3:00 PM for their Senior Day contest. Saint Joseph hosts Simmons in another GNAC tilt scheduled for 1:00 PM.