WBB Falls Short at USJ

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The Mitchell College women's basketball team dropped a 71-69 decision at the University of Saint Joseph on Tuesday night in non-conference action at the O'Connell Center.

Amanda Fudge was clutch down the stretch for the Blue Jays, who improved to 4-3 on the year. She netted a career-high 27 points on 8-for-13 shooting that included four three-pointers.

Amina Wiley paced the Mariners with 22 points and 15 rebounds. Le'Sandra Turner and Dede Stevenson chipped in 14 points apiece.

Mitchell did well to hang close in the first half, especially as Turner sat out the entire second quarter due to foul trouble. Alexia Watson picked up the slack, scoring all eight of her points in the opening half as the Mariners trailed 38-32 at the break.

Saint Joseph took its biggest lead of the game at 45-36 on a three-pointer by Fudge midway through the third period. Mitchell responded with nine straight points to tie the game, getting buckets from Tianna Sweeney, Turner, Stevenson and Wiley during the stretch.

The Mariners tied the game three times in the final five minutes of the third, but in each instance the Blue Jays had an answer. Saint Joseph stayed in front as Jelly Frigo (14 points) and Jordan Ouellette (16 points) provided key baskets.

Mitchell trailed by four heading into the fourth quarter but finally pulled ahead, 56-55, on a layup by Wiley at the 6:35 mark. The lead was short-lived, however, as Oullette cashed in a layup on the next possession to put USJ back in front.

The Mariners trailed 68-61 with 1:29 to play following Fudge's final three of the night. Wiley kept Mitchell in the game with scores on consecutive trips down the floor, cutting the margin to a single possession with under a minute to go.  

The game's last 30 seconds were a whirlwind. Mitchell trailed 69-66 and cut the deficit to two when Wiley made one of two at the line. Fudge was then fouled with nine seconds left and made both to seemingly seal the win, but Turner raced down the court to connect on a layup with three seconds to go. On the ensuing inbounds play, the Mariners forced a turnover on a five-second call, giving them one last shot at the win or tie. However, Wiley's jumper at the buzzer was off the mark.

Mitchell finished with a 44-34 edge on the glass but shot only 2-for-18 from three-point range and 11-for-23 at the charity stripe.

Mitchell (4-4 overall) will next play at Lesley University on Thursday, December 9 at 8 p.m.