Balanced Attack Fuels Women's Basketball Past Valley Forge For Fourth Straight Win

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) women's basketball team got double-figure scoring from five different players in a balanced attack as they turned back the University of Valley Forge, 86-38, Saturday night at the Hill Center.

The Lady Bears (11-7) have now used their home court to their advantage, winning a season-high four straight games on Frank P. Carbone Court.

Freshman Destiny Marino (Middle Village, N.Y./Christ the King) led all scorers with 15 points on six of nine shooting to go along with six assists and four rebounds. She extends her streak to 16 consecutive games scoring in double digits. Senior Taylor Raccuglia (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) finished with 14 points and six rebounds in the win.

Sophomore Kristen Candelaria (Jamaica, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) tallied a career-high 13 points and grabbed five rebounds, while Samantha Retas (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) netted 13 points along with eight boards. Brittany Cervino (College Park, N.Y./St. Agnes) also chipped in with 11 points.

 Mikala Brinson led the Patriots (3-14) with 12 points and three steals in a losing cause, while Ariene Ohimor scored eight points and corralled seven boards. Amanda McGinness totaled seven points to go along with eight rebounds.

After trading the lead four times following a slow first five minutes of play, the Lady Bears ramped up the on offense. Trailing by a point, they erupted for a 19-5 run over the next 5:23 of play to build a double-digit advantage that they would take into intermission. They would storm out of the gate in the second stanza, going on an 22-3 run over the first 10 minutes of the half which would prove to be enough for the victory.

The Lady Bears shot a tremendous 52.5% (31 for 59), while their defense held Valley Forge to just 25.0% from the floor. They got contributions from all active players, netting 38 bench points and worked the ball inside efficiently, tallying 38 points in the paint.

St. Joseph's will have a day off before returning to action on Monday when they will be facing HVIAC leading Berkeley (N.Y.) in search of their fifth straight win. The women's game will tip off at 7:00 p.m. Live stats and video coverage will be available at SJCBears.com