Written by Julia Ruocchio

When and Where:

December 4, 2024 - Patchogue, NY

Records:

St. Joseph's (L.I.), 7-0, 4-0 Skyline; Mt. St. Mary College, 2-3, 2-1 Skyline

Results:

The St. Joseph's University (L.I.) women's basketball team earned a thrilling 66-63 win over Mt. St. Mary College in a conference match-up at the Danzi Center on Wednesday evening, as the Golden Eagles remain undefeated.

Top performers:

• The Golden Eagles had four players score double-digit points, with senior Isabella Sierra and junior Megan Spina each scoring 13 points and grabbing four rebounds. Sierra collected a team-high three steals

• Sophomore Rebecca Vitale contributed 12 points on 2-for-4 shooting from beyond the arc and went 6-for-9 on free throws with two steals

• Graduate student Charlotte Twohig scored 10 points with a game-high nine rebounds

• Mt. St. Mary was led by a 15-point performance for Sara Cashin on 7-for-11 shooting from the field

• Erin Lofaro contributed 13 points and six rebounds, while Casey Love grabbed eight rebounds and collected a game-high four steals for the visitors

How it happened:

• The Golden Eagles began the game with a 10-0 run, highlighted by Spina's three-point play and a three for Sierra in the first five minutes of play

• The hosts led by at least eight points for the entire first quarter, as they led by 10 (18-8) on a jumper for Twohig with less than a minute remaining before SJLI finished the quarter with an 18-10 advantage

• As St. Joseph's did in the first quarter, Mt. St. Mary scored the first 10 points of the second quarter to turn their 18-10 deficit into a 20-18 lead, with Lauren Petrie's basket at the 4:25 mark giving them that lead

• Vitale gave the hosts back the lead right away with a three-point basket to put SJLI back ahead 21-20

• With the game tied at 24 with about three minutes remaining, Petrie put MSMC in front 26-24 before Twohig responded with a three to put the hosts ahead 27-26 with 2:35 on the clock

• Petrie responded with a three of her own shortly after, then the Knights finished the second quarter with a lead of two (31-29)

• Two minutes into the third, the Golden Eagles took a 34-33 lead on a basket for Sierra

• The hosts led by one again at the 7:24 mark on a basket for Spina (36-35)

• The Knights proceeded to go on a 13-3 run over the final seven minutes of the quarter, which gave MSMC a nine-point lead for their largest of the game up until that point (48-39). Cashin scored five points during the run

• Mount St. Mary scored the first basket of the fourth quarter to increase their lead to 11 (50-39) for their largest of the game before the hosts went on a 7-0 run to cut that deficit to four (50-46). Freshman Madelyn Barone scored five of those seven points

• Junior Emma Kelly hit a big three at the 6:37 mark, then a pair of free throws for Vitale trimmed the deficit to four again (55-51)

• Moments later, Vitale connected with a three-point basket to trim the deficit to one (55-54)

• A pair of free throws for Sierra tied the game at 57 apiece with 3:06 on the clock, then after a free throw made by Love, Twohig delivered a three to put SJLI ahead 60-58 with 2:38 remaining

• With the Golden Eagles in the lead 62-60, a three-point play for MSMC's Erin Lofaro gave the visitors a slim advantage (63-62) with 32 seconds on the clock

• Sierra responded with a clutch layup with just 17 seconds remaining to give the Golden Eagles a 64-63 lead before a final basket for Spina secured the win just before the buzzer

Notes: 

• St. Joseph's shot 33.9% from the field and 38.5% from three-point range

• The Knights posted a 40.3% shooting percentage overall and shot just 13.3% from beyond the arc

• The Golden Eagles shot 63.6% (14-for-22) on free throws compared to the Knights' 91.7% (11-for-12)

• MSMC held the advantage in rebounds (43-37), points in the paint (40-20), and bench points (28-18)

• SJLI led the Knights in assists, 18-16

• There were 14 lead changes and five ties in the contest

Next up:

The Golden Eagles resume action when they play Albertus Magnus College on the road for a non-conference match-up on Friday, December 6 at 5:30 pm.