Women's Basketball Takes Runner-Up at Roadrunner Tip-Off Falling to Host Ramapo

MAHWAH, N.J. — Despite a late comeback bid and four Bears finishing in double figures, the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) women's basketball team (1-2) lost in the championship game of the Roadrunner Tip-Off Tournament, 72-65, to undefeated host Ramapo College (4-0) on Saturday afternoon.

Victoria Porcasi (Franklin Square, N.Y./H. Frank Carey) and Kelly O'Donnell (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Edmund Prep) were both named to the All-Tournament Team, averaging a combined 39.0 points over the weekend.

How It Happened

A back-and-forth first quarter saw the Bears stay within four. Freshman Jamie Provino (Harrison, N.Y./Harrison) led the Bears with nine points in the quarter, draining 3-of-5 from behind-the-arc but Ramapo used a Tia Salomon three-point play to lead 24-20 at the first break.

Sophomore Samantha Wilber (Island Heights, N.J./Central Regional) opened the Bears scoring with a three-pointer but the offense faltered in the second and went without a field goal for over eight minutes and the Roadrunners took advantage winning the period 17-5 to extend their cushion to 41-25 at halftime.

The Bears started the third quarter on a 12-3 run to cut the lead to just seven points just halfway through the frame but the hosts pushed the lead back to double figures and clung to a 54-43 lead headed into the final period.

Still trailing by 10 with five minutes to play, SJC staged a late surge. Back-to-back jumpers from Porcasi and a late three-pointer from junior Lauren Quesada (Westbury, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) powered an 8-2 spurt over two minutes that made it just a one-possession game with 1:42 left. But the Bears couldn't get any closer as the Roadrunners thwarted the comeback bid from the charity stripe, nailing all nine of their free throw attempts to seal the 72-65 win.

For the Bears

• Porcasi led four Bears in double figures with 16 points, also dishing out four assists.
• Quesada finished with 14 points, shooting 55 percent (6-11) from the field, with six rebounds.
• Provino drained four three-pointers (4-7 3FG) to complete her first game in double figures with 12 points and six rebounds.
• O'Donnell finished just two rebounds shy of a double-double, finishing with 10 points and eight boards.

Next Up for the Bears

The Bears return to Brooklyn for their home and Skyline opener, welcoming Farmingdale State College (0-1) the first game of a doubleheader at the Hill Center on Tuesday (Nov. 20). Live stats and video are available at SJCBears.com.