McQuillan Nets 34 as Lady Bears Overcome 16-Point Deficit to Upend Southern Vermont

(BROOKLYN, NY) Freshman point guard Ashley McQuillan(Brooklyn, NY / St. Francis Prep) had another career game scoring a game-high 34 points in an 81-73 win over Southern Vermont in the marquee match of the "Holiday Hoops Doubleheader" at Brooklyn Technical High School on Saturday night.  McQuillan's 34 points stands as the second highest individual total by a Lady Bear in a regulation game, only bested by Mary Barry ('03) who scored 44 against Staten Island in 2001.  The win improves St. Joseph's record to 5-4 and Southern Vermont falls to 2-5.

The Moutaineers jumped out to an early 6-0 lead, but the Lady Bears responded with a 9-0 run to take a slight lead.  The teams exchanged the lead several times, until Southern Vermont began to pull away slowly building a double-digit lead with 6 minutes remaining in the period.  A scary moment occurred with 4 minutes left when Southern Vermont reserve Markeisha Mullen dove for a loose ball and collided with Allison Kavanagh (Queens, NY / Mary Louis) and lay motionless on the ground.  The game was stopped for approximately 30 minutes until paramedics arrived and safely transported the injured freshman with an apparent head/neck injury.  Both teams were allowed to warm up again and a stunned Mountaineer team only managed to score two points before half taking a 37-30 lead into the lockers.

Southern Vermont started the second half on a 9-0 run sparked by two 3-pointers from Kristen Cummings which gave them the largest lead of the game at 46-30, only 4 minutes into the half.  McQuillan scored 10 of her 16 second-half points to respond with a 22-9 run that took the lead back at 58-57 with 8 minutes left to play.  Southern Vermont played a physical game and their lack of bench only dressing 8 players impacted their ability to hold their lead.  Two starters ended up fouling out and three Mountaineers finished with four fouls, including leading scorer Joa Claircius who played with four fouls the final 14 minutes.  The final 11 minutes had the Lady Bears in the bonus situation and St. Joseph's shot 82.6% (19 for 23) in the half to slowly pull away from the Mountaineers gaining a 9-point advantage with under two minutes remaining before ultimately closing out the game 81-73.

The Lady Bears won the turnover battle committing only 12 for the game, the lowest this season, compared to 29 for Southern Vermont.  The Mountaineers also committed 27 fouls, which sent SJC to the charity stripe 41 times compared to 15.  The Lady Bears converted on 73.2% of their free throw chances, which is also the best mark this season.

McQuillan shot nearly 50% from the field (12 for 25), notched a game-high five steals, grabbed three rebounds and dished out three in the fifth win of the season.  Sophomore Allison Kavanagh notched her third career double-double with a 12 point, 12 rebound performance.  Senior Melissa Velez (Queens, NY / Mary Louis) netted 12 points, shooting 7 for 8 from the line, with three steals and two rebounds.  Southern Vermont had three players in double figures led by Joa Claircius who had 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists.  Alyssa Davis added 15 points on 3 for 7 shooting from long range.

St. Joseph's is off for a full week as they complete finals and will return to action on the road on Sunday, December 21st to open Hudson Valley conference play against Yeshiva.  Game time is scheduled for 1:00 PM.