Basketball Trimmed by Suffolk, 68-65 in GNAC Opener

BOSTON, Mass. – Devon Diliberto (Waterbury, Conn.) scored 22 points and Mary Hyde (Derby, Conn.) had 16 points and 14 rebounds, but the University of Saint Joseph basketball team dropped a 68-65 GNAC game Saturday to Suffolk University at the Regan Gymnasium.

Suffolk improved to 9-4 overall; St. Joseph is 7-3. It was the opening game in conference play for both teams.

St. Joseph led 41-36 at halftime, in part due to shooting 7-for-10 on three pointers. The Blue Jays, however, would go 0-for-8 in the second half from long range.

Suffolk quickly erased its halftime deficit and used a 14-2 run to start the second half to take a 50-43 lead. The Blue Jays fought back to tie the score twice – at 50-50 with 8:27 to play on two free throws by Hyde and 52-all with 7:39 left on a Diliberto layup – but were never able to take the lead down the stretch.

Scrapping to stay in the game late, Hyde made two free throws with 12 seconds left to pull USJ within 66-63 with 12 seconds remaining. But Jacqueline Vienneau (Salem, N.H.) made two free throws with 8 seconds left to secure the win and Diliberto made a layup at the end for the final margin.

Lindsay Feducia (Beacon Falls, Conn.) scored 14 points in 15 minutes of action for USJ and Heather Framski (Prospect, Conn.) added eight points and seven rebounds. Jennifer Ruys (Wallingford, Conn.) scored 22 points for Suffolk and Iliana Quadri (Sudbury, Mass.) had 12 of her 18 for the Rams in the second half.

Saint Joseph created more shots on the strength of 20 offensive rebounds, but shot just 21-for-73 (28.8 percent), compared to Suffolk's 28-for-59 (47.5 percent). The Blue Jays also got to the line more, hitting 16 of 20 free throws to Suffolk's 8-for-11.

St. Joseph hosts Lasell Tuesday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m.