Basketball Gets Big Win Over Albertus, 68-61

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Mary Hyde (Derby, Conn.) scored 20 points to lead four players in double-figures at the University of Saint Joseph basketball team defeated Albertus Magnus 68-61 Wednesday in a key GNAC showdown at the O'Connell Center.

Saint Joseph improved to 11-6 overall and 4-3 in the GNAC; Albertus is 15-4 and 5-3.

The game culminated a busy night at the O'Connell Center. The Blue Jays participated in "Alzheimer's Week: Play for the Memories" and honored former standout Stacy Manfredi for being inducted into the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Hall of Fame.

Heather Framski (Prospect, Conn.) and Devon Diliberto (Waterbury, Conn.) scored 12 points apiece for Saint Joseph. Lindsay Feducia (Beacon Falls, Conn.) scored 11 and Shauna Sullivan had 10 rebounds.

Kendrea Walker (New Haven, Conn.) led Albertus with 22 points and 19 rebounds. Nicole Acerra (East Haven, Conn.) and Annie Sutila (Bridgeport, Conn.) scored 10 apiece for the Falcons.

Albertus led just once after Walker scored the opening basket as Saint Joseph stuck some early shots from distance against the Falcons' zone defense. Hyde and Diliberto hit two three-pointers apiece as the Blue Jays went 5-for-9 from behind the arc early to build a 25-10 lead after 9:09.

Behind seven points from Sutila, Albertus went on a run of its own and closed to within 30-28 on a three-pointer by Olivia Sutherland (Wallingford, Conn.) with 4:09 in the half. But Hyde had five points late in the half and Saint Joseph opened up a 37-30 halftime edge.

The Blue Jays maintained a small comfort zone throughout the second half, leading by as much as 10, but never less than three. Albertus used a 48-38 rebounding advantage to score more second-chance points, 18-5 and dominated scoring in the paint, 44-20. But the Blue Jays brought home the win with mid-range jump shooting and a 15-for-19 performance at the free throw line to 4 of 10 for Albertus.

 Saint Joseph plays at Emerson Saturday, Feb. 2 at 1 p.m. and next plays home, Tuesday Feb. 5, hosting Anna Maria at 7 p.m.