McNamee Named MVP as Women's Basketball Captures Cedar Crest Tournament Title

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) women's basketball team captured the Cedar Crest College Tournament championship defeating NYU-Poly, 55-43, on Sunday afternoon.

The Lady Bears (3-2) move above .500 for the first time this season and have now won three straight. Three Lady Bears finished in double-figures, led by Tournament MVP Kelly McNamee (Glendale, N.Y./Mary Louis) who finished by 11 points along with grabbing four rebounds. Fellow senior Megan Moran (Syosset, N.Y./St. Dominic's) scored a game-high 17 points and grabbed seven caroms. Taylor Raccuglia (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) chipped in 10 points.

The St. Joseph's defense held NYU-Poly (1-2) to just 25.4 percent shooting (16-63) with Alyssa D'apice the only Blue Jay in double figures with 13 points.

The Lady Bears advanced to the championship defeating Lehman College, 85-78, in the opening round behind a career-high-tying 21 points from McNamee, leading four players in double-figures with Samantha Retas (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) and Kristin D'Chiutiis (Brooklyn, N.Y./Scholars Academy) scoring 16 points each.

TURNING POINT

In a low-scoring first half, the Lady Bears held on to a 12-11 lead just past the midway point of the frame. The defense clamped down and allowed just three more points over the final 9:27 and never trailed again, taking a 27-14 lead at the break.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Other key contributors: Samantha Retas (4 pts, 9 reb, 6 ast), Kristin D'Chiutiis (5 pts, 6 ast, 5 reb), Jennifer Miller (3 pts, 8 reb, 2 blk)

The Lady Bears finished shooting 35.5% (22-62) for the contest.

The Lady Bears backcourt combined for five blocks (Raccuglia and Miller 2, Moran 1) and the also won the battle of the boards, 47-37.

THE BEAR FACTS

This was the first meeting between the two Brooklyn squads since 2003 with St. Joseph's improving to 4-0 in the all-time series.

NEXT UP FOR THE LADY BEARS

The Lady Bears will return to action after the Thanksgiving holiday, hitting the road again in a combined road trip with the men, facing Southern Virginia on Saturday, November 30 followed by long-time USCAA rivals Apprentice School on Sunday, December 1.