Women’s Basketball Three-Game Streak Halted by Mount Saint Mary

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — A late-game surge from the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) women's basketball team would not be enough to preserve their winning streak as the Mount Saint Mary College Knights (4-2, 2-0 Skyline) handed the Bears (4-3, 3-1 Skyline) their first Skyline loss of the season, 74-64, on Saturday afternoon at The Hill Center on Alumni and Family Day.

How It Happened

A big defensive period, as both teams barely crack double-digit scoring for the quarter, saw the Knights pull ahead, 10-5, before a scoring tear by a Kelly O'Donnell (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Edmund Prep) layup and back-to-back three-pointers from Victoria Porcasi (Franklin Square, N.Y./H. Frank Carey) ended the Bears' period on an 8-0 run to lead 13-10 at the first break.

The Knights returned the favor to start the second quarter, going on an 8-0 run of their own, and holding the Bears scoreless for the first three minutes of the frame. Mount Saint Mary would continue their defensive prowess just allowing 11 points on the quarter and moving ahead 29-24 at the intermission.

The Bears hung around in the third period, shrinking their deficit to two points following a three-pointer from Caitlyn Staab (Lynbrook, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial. However, the Knights took over for the seven minutes remaining in the third, going on a 20-3 run to close the quarter and break open the game.

St. Joseph's found themselves down 19 but found a spark, scoring 27 points in the quarter, with 18 of those points coming in the last 2 minutes of the final frame. A comeback was not out of reach as O'Donnell scored 11 points in the final 56 seconds of regulation but, the Knights would close out the game with free throws, knocking down 8-of-10 at the line to counter any hopes of a Bears comeback.

For the Bears

• O'Donnell put up a game-high 24 points, with three rebounds, and a steal.
• Porcasi just barely missed a double-double night, recording 14 points and eight rebounds on the game.
• Staab added 11 points, six boards, three steals, and two blocks to round out three in double figures.
• Lauren Quesada (Westbury, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) logged eight points, four rebounds, and four assists.

Next Up for the Bears

The Bears travel to Bronxville, N.Y. on Thursday (Dec. 6) to take on Sarah Lawrence in the second game of a doubleheader with the men. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. with links to live stats and video at SJCBears.com.