Women's Basketball Topples King's With Balanced Attack in HVIAC Opener

BROOKLYN, N.Y. –  Led by field goals from all 11 Lady Bears and a dazzling 58.5 percent shooting night from the floor, the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) women's basketball team opened up Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (HVIAC) play with a 65-33 triumph over The King's College in their home opener at Brooklyn Technical High School on Tuesday night.

The Lady Bears (5-3, 1-0 HVIAC) secure their second win in a row and move a season-high two games over .500 while the Lady Lions (0-4, 0-3 HVIAC) remain winless in their inaugural season as members of the HVIAC.

St. Joseph's led from nearly start to finish, surrendering the first bucket of the contest 24 seconds in, before settling in and dominating the rest of the action as they connected on 65.5 (19-of-29) percent of their attempts in the first half en route to a commanding 41-11 edge at the intermission.

Pacing the balanced attack for the Lady Bears was freshman Kristen Candelaria (Jamaica, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) who came off the bench to play a career-high 26 minutes posting career highs in points and rebounds with eight and 11 respectively. USCAA Player of the Week senior Megan Moran (Syosset, N.Y./St. Dominic's) nearly picked up her second double-double in a row netting eight points and nine caroms.  Sophomores Deirdre Lavelle (Brooklyn, N.Y./Fontbonne Hall) and Erica Eddy (Glendale, N.Y./Christ the King) each contributed to the cause adding eight points each with Lavelle bringing down a career-high-tying seven boards.

King's was led by Sophie Simunek who recorded a double-double scoring a game-high 22 points to go along with a game-high 10 rebounds.

TURNING POINT

After surrendering the first points of the game on a Simunek jumper, St. Joseph's responded by going on a 19-0 run to take a 19-2 lead with 14:45 left in the half and would not look back as they opened the floodgates building their largest lead of the night, 57-19, with 9:18 left to play on a jump shot by sophomore Brittany Cervino (College Point, N.Y./St. Agnes).  

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Other key contributors: Dalixy Solis (6 pts, 5 ast) Cervino (7 pts, 1 reb) Jennifer Miller (7 pts, 3 reb, 3 ast)
• St. Joseph's had a season-high-tying 22 assists on 31 field goals with 10 different Lady Bears recording a helper.
• St. Joseph's, currently ranked No. 15 in Division in FG percentage defense, held the Lady Lions to 23.4 (15-of-64) percent shooting from the floor.
• The Lady Bears won the battle on the glass holding a 39-34 edge.
• St. Joseph's dominated the paint outscoring the Lady Lions 40-6.

THE BEAR FACTS

• The 58.5 percent shooting by the Lady Bears was the highest since February 14, 2006 when they shot 54.9 percent against Yeshiva.
• St. Joseph's has now won eight out of their last nine home openers dating back to the 2005-06 season.
• The 11 points allowed at the half by the Lady Bears is the fewest allowed since giving up 10 points to St. Elizabeth on February 15, 2009.

NEXT UP FOR THE LADY BEARS

St. Joseph's returns to the hardwood on Saturday, December 7th travelling to Skyline foe Old Westbury for a 12 p.m. tip-off.