St. Joseph's (Me.) Tops Blue Basketball in Season Opener, 53-47

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.-- Saint Joseph's College of Maine outscored Wellesley College basketball 17-8 in the fourth quarter to take a 53-47 non-conference victory in the 2015-16 season opener for both teams on Friday evening at the Skidmore Invitational Tournament.

Sophomore Norma Waggett (Saugus, Mass.) scored a team-high 16 points and grabbed a team-best nine rebounds to lead the Monks to their first victory of the season. First year Kelsi McNamara (West Newbury, Mass.) recorded nine points and four assists for St. Joe's. Sophomore Emily Quirion (Augusta, Maine) also contributed eight points, while senior Morgan Cahill (Yarmouth, Maine) added six points and eight rebounds. 

Wellesley senior Chelsi Scott (Portland, Mich.) recorded a double-double, scoring a game-high 17 points and collecting 10 rebounds. First year Brenna Butler (Smithtown, N.Y.) was the only other Wellesley player to finish in double-figures, adding 10 points off the bench in her collegiate debut. Sophomore Kayla Jang (South Pasadena, Calif.) chipped in with seven points, eight rebounds and four assists, while junior Ailis Hanley (Cranston, R.I.) added six points and six boards. 

Wellesley started the game on a 6-2 run, eventually taking an 8-4 lead following a layup from Hanley. The Blue opened up a six point advantage with 3:43 left in the opening quarter thanks to a triple by Butler. MacNamara then knocked down four-straight free throws for the Monks, before another bucket from Hanley helped the Blue end the first quarter with a 13-8 lead.

St. Joe's held a 14-9 advantage in the second quarter, rallying to tie the game at the half, 22-22. The Monks scored seven of the first nine points in the frame to tie the score, at 15-all, when Quirion hit a layup at 4:34. Butler countered on the Blue's next possession but little separated the sides for the remainder of the half, as they entered the break in a 22-22 deadlock.

The trend continued in the second half, with the Blue able to grab a three-point edge going into the fourth quarter thanks to a pair of late free throws and a basket by Scott at the end of the third.

MacNamara opened the final quarter with a pair of free-throws, before Waggett used a layup to give the Monks a 40-39 edge. Cahill added another layup, as St. Joe's went up by a 42-39 margin with 7:55 left. The Monks added two more on free throws by Quirion, before Butler scored five-straight Wellesley points to tie the score at 44-all. A free throw from Scott put the Blue ahead, 45-44, with 4:35 left. However, St. Joe's outscored the Blue 9-2 over the game's final 4:35 to take the 53-47 victory. 

Wellesley will play at 4:00 PM tomorrow, November 14, versus Skidmore on day two of the Skidmore Invitational. Saint Joseph's will play New Paltz in the early game at 2:00 PM. New Paltz took a 62-45 victory over the host Thoroughbreds in game one on Friday.