Verboven Nets 1,000th Career Point, Blue Jays Fall to JWU Wednesday Night, 69-64

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Graduate student guard Taylor Verboven became the 12th member in University of Saint Joseph (USJ) women's basketball history to eclipse the 1,000 career point milestone, as the Blue Jays fell at home to Johnson & Wales University (JWU), 69-64, during Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play Wednesday night inside the James A. Calhoun Gymnasium in West Hartford, Conn. With the result, the Blue Jays moved to 13-9 on the season and 8-3 in conference play, while the Wildcats moved to 19-2 overall and 10-1 in the GNAC.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Wildcats jumped out to an early lead, holding a 9-2 edge at the 7:11 mark.
• USJ would cut the gap to three, 9-6, with 5:24 on the clock after a 4-0 run that featured a pair of free throws from graduate student forward Olivia Heslin (Plainville, Conn.) and senior guard Maya Slisz (New Britain, Conn.).
• However, JWU fired back with an 8-0 stretch, extending the gap to double-digits, 17-6, with 3:12 left in the first. The Wildcats maintained a double-figure edge entering the second quarter, leading 21-11 at the end of the first quarter.
• USJ gained momentum after the break, opening on a 6-0 stretch, capped off by a put-back layup from Verboven, closing the deficit to four, 21-17, at the 7:56 mark.
• The Blue Jays continued to battle back, utilizing a timely 8-2 run, featuring buckets from Slisz, Verboven and graduate student forward Jordan Ouellette (Bristol, Conn.), to pull within two, 27-25, with 3:46 on the clock.
• USJ would gain the lead for the first time late in the second half, as Verboven scored four straight points, establishing a 34-30 lead. JWU would sink a late triple to cut the gap to one, as USJ entered the halftime break with a 34-33 advantage.
• JWU exploded offensively to start the second half, breaking open an eight-point edge, 42-34, with 6:58 on the clock, after starting the third quarter on an 8-0 run.
• The Wildcats continued to pull away, breaking open a 13-point lead, 49-36, with 3:39 left in the third.
• Verboven would make history to close out the third quarter, draining a tough running jumpshot at the 1:05 mark to score her 1,000th career point, and close the gap to 52-44 entering the fourth quarter.
• JWU though, used another quick 7-0 stretch to start the fourth, extending the lead to 59-44 and forcing a USJ timeout at the 8:27 mark.
• The Blue Jays would not go away though, as a 9-0 run, capped off by a Slisz triple, began to spark a comeback as the team pulled within seven, 66-59, with 1:12 left to play.
• USJ increased the run to 14-0, as Slisz sunk another clutch three-pointer, closing the gap to two, 66-64, with 22 seconds on the clock.
• However, JWU would sink their free throws, and prevent USJ from scoring again, as the visitors escaped with a 69-64 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE 

• Slisz finished with a team-high 24 points.
• Verboven joined her in double-figures, scoring 21 points.
• Heslin hauled in a career-high 13 rebounds to pace the team.
• Senior guard Jelly Frigo (West Hartford, Conn.) dished out a team-high three assists.
• Slisz swiped a team-high three steals.
• JWU held a 55-41 advantage in rebounding.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays play their final regular season home game of the 2024-25 campaign on Saturday, February 15 against Elms College. The matchup against Elms will serve as Senior Day for USJ. Tipoff against the Blazers inside James A. Calhoun Gymnasium in West Hartford, Conn., is set for 1:00 p.m.

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