Buzzer-Beater Lifts Regis Over Women's Hoops Saturday Afternoon

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. — The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) women's basketball team dropped a heartbreaker to Regis College (Regis), 51-49, Saturday afternoon during Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action inside the James A. Calhoun Gymnasium. With the loss, the Blue Jays dropped to 4-12 overall and 2-1 in GNAC play, while the Pride improved to 6-10 on the year and 3-0 in conference games.

HOW IT HAPPENED

USJ jumped out to a quick 8-2 lead behind back-to-back buckets from junior forward Kiatyanna Denmark (New Britain, Conn.). The teams traded baskets down the stretch of the opening quarter, with the Blue Jays holding a 12-8 advantage entering the second.

USJ again started strong in the second quarter, as sophomore guard Trinity Cruz (New Britain, Conn.) knocked down a three to cap an 8-2 opening run and extend the lead to 21-10 at the 3:12 mark. Regis answered with a 9-2 spurt, but sophomore guard Nevaeh Yorke (Norwich, Conn.) halted the run with a late layup to send USJ into the halftime break leading 25-19.

The Pride responded to open the third quarter, taking a 29-28 lead midway through the period. Yorke tied the game with a layup to complete a 5-0 spurt for the Blue Jays, but Regis hit a late jumper to reclaim the lead, 36-34, entering the fourth.

USJ quickly swung the momentum back in its favor to start the final period, as sophomore guard Sequoia Turcotte Briggs (Andover, Conn.) buried a three-pointer at the 8:54 mark to give the Blue Jays a 39-36 edge. Cruz extended the margin with another triple, pushing the lead to six, 44-38, with 6:04 remaining. Regis answered with an 8-0 run, but Turcotte Briggs delivered a clutch three to keep USJ in front, 47-46, with 2:15 left. The Pride later tied the game at 49-49, setting up a final possession for the Blue Jays. USJ was unable to convert, and Regis connected on a buzzer-beater off the backboard to secure a 51-49 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Turcotte Briggs paced the team with 14 points.

• Yorke hauled in a team-high 14 rebounds, while swiping a team-best five steals.

• Junior forward Madeline Greene (Storrs, Conn.) continued to be a force defensively inside the paint, tallying four blocks.

• USJ outshot Regis, 36.5 percent (19-of-52) to 30.5 percent (18-of-59).

• The Pride outrebounded the Blue Jays, 45-37.

• The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for USJ against Regis.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays head to intrastate foe Mitchell College for a GNAC game on Wednesday, January 21. Opening tipoff against the Mariners inside the Yarnell Athletic Center in New London, Conn., is set for 7:00 p.m.

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