Women's Basketball Comeback Bid to Southern Virginia Falls Short in Overtime

BUENA VISTA, Va. – After rallying from an 18-point deficit in the final seconds of regulation, the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) women's basketball team couldn't overcome Southern Virginia University, falling 67-61, in overtime at the Knight Sports Arena on Saturday afternoon.

The loss snaps the Lady Bears (3-3) three-game win streak in their first United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) matchup this season while the Knights (2-4) notch their second win of the season.

A poor shooting first half where the Lady Bears connected on 21.5 percent (7-for-33) placed St. Joseph's into a 15-point halftime deficit, 34-19, but Kelly McNamee (Glendale, N.Y./Mary Louis) – who went scoreless in the opening half – helped power the Lady Bears comeback scoring nine of the team's first 11 points over the first five minutes of the half.

After cutting the deficit to as little as five, the Lady Bears fell behind by 12 with 3:34 to play, 56-44. Back-to-back three pointers from McNamee and Samantha Retas (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) sparked a 12-0 run to close regulation, capped by a jumper by Taylor Raccuglia (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) in the paint with 23 seconds left that forced an extra session.

But in the overtime, a two-and-a-half minute scoring drought allowed the Knights to pull away, later sealing the game from the line in the bonus.

McNamee led the Lady Bears with 18 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Raccuglia finished with a 12-point, 16-rebound double-double. Megan Moran (Syosset, N.Y./St. Dominic's) added 16 points and six rebounds.

Tatiana Monsen and Morgan Hartvigsen led Southern Virginia with 15 points each.

TURNING POINT

With the game tied 58-58 in overtime, the Lady Bears committed back-to-back turnovers and later missed back-to-back close range shots that brought a two-and-a-half minute scoring drought that ended with a Retas trifecta with 29 seconds left.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Despite 21 percent first-half shooting, the St. Joseph's outshot the Knights 30.7 percent to 27.1 percent.
• The Lady Bears' bigs struggled with foul trouble for most of the contest and 20 fouls called against St. Joseph's sent the Knights to the line 30 times, which they converted on 80 percent of their attempts, after entering the game a 52.6 percent shooting squad.
• Southern Virginia displayed a balanced offense with only two in double figures and six Knights contributing at least five points each.

THE BEAR FACTS

• Raccuglia's double-double was the first of the season and third of her career
• Raccuglia and McNamee both set career highs for rebounds with 16 and 8, respectively
• Southern Virginia moves to 3-0 in the all-time series and this was the first meeting between the two squads in nine seasons.

UP NEXT FOR THE LADY BEARS

St. Joseph's will face long-time USCAA rivals The Apprentice School tomorrow at noon to conclude their Virginia trip.