Quesada’s Big Double-Double Powers Women’s Basketball Past Purchase

PURCHASE, N.Y. — The St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) women's basketball team broke free from Purchase College with a big 34-point fourth quarter to secure a 91-77 Skyline Conference victory on Saturday afternoon, snapping a four-game skid. Freshman Lauren Quesada (Westbury, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) set new career highs with 24 points and 19 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season and sophomore Victoria Porcasi (Franklin Square, N.Y./H. Frank Carey) led the Bears with 25 points, 14 coming in the deciding final period.

The Basics

• Final Score: St. Joseph's 91, Purchase 77
• Records:  St. Joseph's (5-10, 3-6 Skyline), Purchase (2-13, 1-9 Skyline)
• Location: Purchase, N.Y.
• Arena: Purchase College Gym
• SJC Starters: Marino (G), O'Neill (G), Porcasi (G), Quesada (F), Drago (C)

Turning Point

• With the Bears leading by just two entering the final period, St. Joseph's opened on a 10-1 run in two-and-a-half minutes to build a double-digit advantage and controlled the game until the final buzzer.

How it Happened

• The Panthers took the lead early in the contest but the Bears closed the first quarter on a 10-2 spurt to lead 19-9 at the first break. St. Joseph's pushed the lead to as many as 13 in the second stanza and maintained a 39-29 lead headed into the lockers. Lauren Quesada led the early charge clearing her double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds in just 20 minutes.
• After a Kellie O'Neill increased the Bears lead to 14 early in the third, the Panthers staged a furious 17-2 run to take back the lead momentarily, but St. Joseph's went back on top and hung on to just a 57-55 edge heading into the final stanza.
• Nina DiCioccio's trifecta to open the quarter sparked a 10-1 outburst that was capped by an O'Neill conventional three-point play that pushed the Bears lead back to double digits and they kept the game out of reach from the Panthers. Victoria Porcasi powered the fourth quarter with 14 points, shooting 9-for-10 from the charity stripe and Quesada added seven as the Bears outscored the hosts 34-22 in the period.

For the Bears

• Freshman Lauren Quesada posted career highs of 24 points and 19 rebounds, with nine on the offensive glass, for her team-leading fourth double-double of the season.
• Sophomore Victoria Porcasi logged her fifth 20-point game of the season with a team-best 25 points with four boards and three assists. She shot 10-of-12 from the charity stripe.
• Sophomore Kellie O'Neill rounded out three in double figures with 16 points and four assists.
• Sophomore Nina DiCioccio also posted new career highs with seven points and nine rebounds to flirt with a double-double.
• Freshman Gina Hopkins came off the bench to score eight points and grab four boards.
• Junior Destiny Marino was held to seven points, four rebounds, and four assists before fouling out in the fourth quarter.

Inside the Box Score

• The Bears dominated the rebounding battle, 59-32, and used a commanding 26 offensive rebounds to outscore the Panthers 24-1 in second-chance scoring. 
• Purchase shot 42 percent (27-64) for the contest while St. Joseph's connected on 34 percent (27-79). The Bears were more opportunistic from the charity stripe connecting on a season-best 87 percent (27-31).
• Kayla Ortiz led all scorers and three Panthers in double figures with 30 points and five boards. Frances Minaya added 17 points and Lisa Kentris chipped in 12.

The Bear Facts

• St. Joseph's sweeps the season series and has won the last five meetings against Purchase, improving to a commanding 14-2 lead in the all-time series.
• The 91 points matches a team season best set in a 91-78 victory over CCNY in December. The Bears 34 points in the fourth quarter was the most in a single period this season.
• The victory was the first for the Bears in 2017 and snaps a four-game losing streak.
• Quesada's 19 rebounds is the fifth highest in Bears history and the most since assistant coach Samantha Retas set the program record securing 25 caroms against Vaughn in January 2015 
• Marino is held to under 10 points for the first time this season, snapping a 15-game streak dating back to last season. She held a 19-game streak last season scoring in double figures.

Next up for St. Joseph's

The Bears continue a four-game road stand facing the College of Mount Saint Vincent on Wednesday, January 25. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m. in Riverdale with live stats and video available on SJCBears.com