Basketball Nipped at Conn College 74-69

NEW LONDON, Conn. – University of Saint Joseph senior Mary Hyde (Derby, Conn.) had 24 points, six rebounds and three steals, but the Blue Jays dropped a 74-69 non-conference basketball game Saturday at Connecticut College.

Conn. College improved to 2-2; St. Joseph is 3-2.

Heather Framski (Prospect, Conn.) had 11 points, five rebounds and three steals for the Blue Jays and Brianna Ferraro (Waterbury, Conn.) and Devon Diliberto (Waterbury, Conn.) also scored 11 points apiece.

USJ trailed by three after two free throws from St. Joseph's Lindsey Dionne (Portland, Conn.) with 1:21 to play brought the Blue Jays within 72-69. USJ forced a turnover and was the beneficiary of a missed free throw giving the Blue Jays two late chances to pull even. But USJ missed shots on both possessions and Conn tacked on two free throws with seven seconds left.

The entire game was a back-and-forth affair as Conn scored the first seven points and led 15-5 with 12:18 to play in the half. But Hyde had 10 points, including two three-pointers, in a 14-2 run that enabled USJ to lead 19-17 with 7:44 remaining in the half.

Hyde scored 17 points and USJ shot 13-for-27 from the floor (48.1 percent) to lead 37-32 at halftime.

There were five lead changes in a 4:54 stretch on the second half and the Camels took the lead for good on a free throw from Aly Boyle (Westford, Mass.), which made it 61-60 with 5:03 left. Liz Malman (Mendham, N.J.) scored 18 points for Conn and Tara Gabelman (Irvington, N.Y.) had 10 points and 16 rebounds. 

USJ next plays Tue. Nov. 26 when it plays Worcester State at 7:30 p.m. at WPI.