Lady Bears Succumb to St. Mary-of-the-Woods in USCAA Showdown

LOUISVILLE, KY – Making the first appearance in program history in Kentucky, the St. Joseph's College women's basketball team managed to bring a 19 point deficit to four points, but ultimately fell 93-79 to St. Mary-of-the-Woods College in a key matchup that pitted two top 10 USCAA squads.

When the teams last met, St. Mary-of-the-Woods took a 55-40 victory in the ninth place game of last year's USCAA National Tournament.

Both teams raced out of the gate at the start trading baskets and scoring a combined 28 points in the first five minutes. St. Mary-of-the-Woods, who was ranked seventh in the latest USCAA coaches poll last week, utilized an 11-0 run to take an early 25-14 lead. The Pomeroys extended their lead to 19, the largest of the game, with 7:56 remaining in the period. The tenth ranked Lady Bears clawed back into the game clipping the deficit to four before walking into the lockers down 55-49. Both squads finished the fast and furious first half shooting over a 60 percent connect rate.

In the second half, St. Joseph's held St. Mary-of-the-Woods' lead to single digits through the midway point of the stanza. The Lady Bears pulled again within four points at the 11 minute mark, but a 9-2 Pomeroy run over the next 2:20 pushed the advantage back to double digits. St. Joseph's would shoot only 32 percent in the frame and would never make another serious threat to the Pomeroy's lead.

St. Mary-of-the-Woods shot 80 percent (20-for-25) while the Lady Bears had their worst effort of the season at the stripe, shooting only 42 percent (10-for-24). The Pomeroys finished the game shooting 57 percent from the field while the Lady Bears connected on 47 percent of their attempts, their second game this season above 45 percent.

Junior Ashley McQuillan (Brooklyn, NY/St. Francis Prep) led St. Joseph's (4-7) with 18 points on 7-for-14 shooting and three steals. Junior Joanna Marciniec (Glendale, NY/Baruch) turned in a strong performance, tallying 15 points for the second straight game, on an efficient 7-for-9 shooting and four rebounds. Sophomore Janine Doran (South Ozone Park, NY/Archbishop Molloy) contributed 11 points to round out the Lady Bears in double figures. Junior Joanne Crimeni (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Ford) matched her career-high adding eight points.

Chelsea Barron led St. Mary-of-the-Woods (8-4) with 23 points with six assists and five rebounds. Five Pomeroys finished with double figures with Brittney Shaner and Abby McKee adding 14 points apiece.

The Lady Bears will conclude their Kentucky road trip facing Spalding University on Wednesday, December 29, 2010. Fans can watch the live broadcast on sjcbears.com with tip-off at 7 p.m.