Yorke Double-Double Powers Women’s Basketball Past Lasell, 58-50, Wednesday Night

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. — Sophomore guard Nevaeh Yorke (Norwich, Conn.) turned in a career performance, recording an exceptional 22-point, 20-rebound double-double to lift the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) women's basketball team past Lasell University, 58-50, Wednesday night in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action inside the James A. Calhoun Gymnasium. Both totals marked career highs for Yorke, who became the first Blue Jay to post a 20-20 performance since current assistant coach Taylor Verboven accomplished the feat against Albertus Magnus College on January 31, 2023. With the win, the Blue Jays improved to 4-11 overall and 2-0 in GNAC play, while the Lasers fell to 12-3 overall and 1-1 in conference play.

HOW IT HAPPENED

USJ grabbed the early advantage, opening on a 9-3 stretch highlighted by four points from sophomore guard Sequoia Turcotte Briggs (Andover, Conn.) to take the lead with 3:31 on the clock. Lasell answered by closing the quarter on a 6-2 run to trim the deficit to two, 13-11, entering the second quarter.

The Blue Jays started hot in the second, as back-to-back triples from sophomore guard Trinity Cruz (Windsor Locks, Conn.) and Turcotte Briggs sparked an 11-2 run that extended the USJ lead to 24-13 at the 4:36 mark. Lasell again refused to go away, closing the half on a 6-0 run to send USJ into the break with a 28-23 advantage.

USJ opened the third quarter strong, using an 8-2 run fueled by four points from Yorke to reestablish a double-digit lead, 36-24, with 6:52 remaining. Lasell cut the margin back to six, but a layup by junior forward Madeline Greene (Storrs, Conn.) and a late free throw from Cruz helped the Blue Jays carry an eight-point lead, 43-35, into the fourth.

Lasell surged to start the final period, opening on an 11-0 run to take a 46-43 lead with 5:28 left in regulation. Yorke halted the run with four straight points, igniting a 10-2 USJ spurt that swung the lead back to the Blue Jays, 53-48, with 1:06 remaining. Lasell made one final push, but sophomore guard Ella Kulas (Cheshire, Conn.), Turcotte Briggs and Yorke each converted late free throws, and the Blue Jays' defense held firm to secure the 58-50 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Yorke led all scorers with a career-high 22 points while also hauling in a team- and career-high 20 rebounds.

• Yorke also dished out a game-high eight assists.

• Turcotte Briggs swiped a career-high five steals.

• Greene was a force defensively, blocking a career-high four shots.

• USJ outshot Lasell, 39.7 percent (23-of-58) to 31.8 percent (21-of-66).

• The Blue Jays also won the rebounding battle, 43-40.

• The win marked the second straight season that USJ opened GNAC play 2-0.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays round out a three-game homestand with a GNAC matchup against Regis College on Saturday, January 17. Opening tipoff against the Pride inside the James A. Calhoun Gymnasium is set for 1:00 p.m.

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