Emmanuel Ends USJ Streak, 77-62

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – University of Saint Joseph junior Brianna Ferraro (Waterbury, Conn.) scored a career-high 23 points, but the Blue Jays dropped a 77-62 game to visiting Emmanuel College Saturday in Great Northeast Athletic Conference basketball game Saturday at the O'Connell Center.

Emmanuel improved to 15-6 overall and 7-0 in the GNAC. St. Joseph is 11-11 overall and 4-4 in the conference. Emmanuel won its fifth consecutive game while St. Joseph had a four-game winning streak snapped.

Sarah Higgins (Groveland, Mass.) and Lena Negri (Arlington, Va.) each had 21 points and eight rebounds for Emmanuel and Jennifer Bujnowski (Salem, N.H.) had a double-double for Emmanuel with 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench.

Mary Hyde (Derby,  Conn.) had 15 points, six rebounds and five steals for the Blue Jays and Heather Framski (Prospect, Conn.) added 14 points and eight rebounds.

USJ had two early leads and were 8-5 after a lay-up from Framski, 3:22 into the game, but the Saints took the lead for good about two minutes later at 10-8 on a three-pointer from Liz Daley (Sharon, Mass.) While Emmanuel would not relinquish the lead, the game was competitive and the Blue Jays stayed within striking distance throughout.

Emmanuel led 28-23 and closed the half with an 8-1 run to lead 36-24 at halftime. The Saints extended their lead to 42-27 early in the second half, but USJ whittled its deficit to four at 46-42 with 12:00 left after a free throw from Hyde. Negri then had nine points in an 11-0 run as Emmanuel built some breathing room to lead 57-42 with 7:48 remaining. Again USJ battle back, but only got as close as 64-55 after two free throws from Ferraro with 2:41 left.

Emmanuel shot 46.6 percent (27-for-58) from the floor while St. Joseph shot 31.3 percent (20-64). USJ forced more turnovers, 23-14, but Emmanuel had a 51-38 rebounding edge.

The game was played as part of the Play 4 Kay initiative to benefit the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and as part of National Girls and women in Sports Day. Eva Peart (St. Joseph '11) was honored with the Woman in Sport Award, annually given to a past USJ student-athlete who has continued be a role model for young girls and women through sport. Peart teaches and coaches at Bloomfield High School.

USJ next plays at Simmons, Sat. Feb. 15 in a GNAC game at 1 p.m.