Trinity Edges USJ, 68-65

HARTFORD, Conn. – Junior guard Devon Diliberto (Waterbury, Conn.) scored 18 points and sophomore guard Claire Consonni (Bristol, Conn.) had a season-high 16, but the University of Saint Joseph basketball team dropped a 68-65 non-conference game Monday afternoon at Trinity College.

Trinity improved to 13-5 with its sixth consecutive win, while the Blue Jays dropped to 9-5. 

Trinity took the lead for good on a layup by Taylor Murtaugh (New York, N.Y) at 38-36, 3:25 into the second half, but the game remained close as the Blue Jays' biggest second-half deficit was six points. Consonni had a put-back to pull USJ within 56-54 with 3:30 left and a three-pointer to make it 63-61 with 57 seconds remaining, but Trinity went 4-for-4 at the free throw line in the final 30 seconds to seal it for the Bantams.

Trinity had scored the game's first eight points and led, 10-2, 4:24 into the contest thanks largely to six early points by junior center Emily Dixon (Norwood, Mass.).  St. Joseph came right back and took its only lead of the game, 11-10, after a three-pointer by  junior guard Devon Diliberto (Waterbury, Conn.) less than two minutes later. The Bantams then went on a 17-6 run over the next eight minutes to lead 27-16 before USJ rallied with its own 15-4 run to pull within 34-31 at halftime.

Mary Hyde had 10 points and seven rebounds for St. Joseph. Murtaugh led Trinity with 16 points and Dixon had 12. The Blue Jays forced 16 turnovers to their 11, but Trinity had a 41-32 rebounding advantage.

St. Joseph plays at Norwich Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. and next plays home Saturday, Jan. 26, hosting St. Joseph's of Maine, at 1 p.m.