Lady Bears Ground Falcons, Notch First Win of Season in Home Opener

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Eleven different Lady Bears recorded a field goal and three finished in double-figures led by junior Megan Moran (Syosset, NY/St. Dominic's) who tallied a game-high 14 points as the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) women's basketball team cruised to a 82-50 victory over Cedar Crest College on Thursday evening at Brooklyn Technical High School.

St. Joseph's (1-3) snaps a three-game skid returning to Brooklyn for their 2012-13 home opener. Cedar Crest (1-5) extends their winless streak to three, with all their losses this season by a double-digit margin.

Moran scored 10 of her points in the first half and finished with eight rebounds for a near double-double.

Also tallying double-digit scoring were reserves Taylor Raccuglia (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Kearney) and Kelly McNamee (Glendale, NY/Mary Louis).  Raccuglia dropped in 12 points and fell one rebound shy of her first double-double. McNamee returned to the lineup after missing a game due to injury, and had an efficient 5-for-8 shooting night, including 2-of-2 from behind the arc, to net 12 points in 11 minutes of action.

Senior Teresa Mangan (Cleveland, OH/St. Joseph's) dished out a game-high seven assists, to go along with nine points and six boards.  Sophomore Samantha Retas (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Kearney) added eight points, nine rebounds and three steals.

Cedar Crest was paced by Denyell Spingola's 12 points, finishing 8-for-10 from the charity stripe. Amber Wehry and Megan DeMutis chipped in nine points each for the Falcons who shot only 27 percent (16-for-60).

The opening half saw a see-saw battle and a pair of DeMutis free throws with 6:25 left in the frame brought about the ninth lead change and gave the Falcons a 20-19 lead.  But the Lady Bears ran off 11 points unanswered in two minutes highlighted by a Danielle Marino (Maspeth, NY/Mary Louis) three-point play to build a 10 point advantage and never looked back.

After leading 37-29 at the break, it was all Lady Bears in the second half, extending their lead until the final buzzer. The bench saw significant playing time contributing 28 of the Lady Bears' 45 second-half points.

St. Joseph's committed a season-low 10 miscues in the contest and forced 18 turnovers, which they parlayed into a 23-2 advantage in points off turnovers.  The Lady Bears also maintained a 60-39 edge in the rebounding battle.

The Lady Bears return to action on Saturday, December 1st hosting York College in the lead game of a home doubleheader with the men at Brooklyn Technical High School. The women tip-off at 5 p.m and the men follow in the nightcap at 7:30 p.m.