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Women's Basketball Set For Moravian Steel Club Classic
Posted: Dec 29, 2022

Women's Basketball Set For Moravian Steel Club Classic

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) women's basketball team rounds out the 2022 calendar year with a visit to the Keystone State to compete in the 19th Annual Steel Club Classic, hosted by Moravian University, on Friday and Saturday inside Johnston Hall in Bethlehem, Pa. The Blue Jays tip-off the tournament with a matchup against No. 12 DeSales on Friday, before squaring off with the host Greyhounds on Saturday. Tipoff on Friday against the Bulldogs is slated for 12:00 p.m., while Saturday's New Year's Eve matchup against Moravian is set for 1:00 p.m.

USJ QUICK HITTERS 

  • The Blue Jays are off to a 6-2 start to the season, including a 2-1 mark in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play.
  • USJ has won three of its last four games, falling to GNAC foe Rivier in its last contest, 66-48, on December 10.
  • The Blue Jays have made life difficult for opposing offenses, ranking inside the Top-25 nationally in a pair of defensive categories. USJ sits 11th in field-goal percentage defense, limiting opponents to 29.8 percent shooting, while holding opponents to a 21.4 percent clip from long range, to rank 23rd in the country.
  • USJ has also gotten it done on the glass, hauling in 31.9 defensive rebounds per game to sit 23rd in the nation.
  • Four players average double figures paced by junior forward Jordan Ouellette (Bristol Conn.) at 16.4 ppg.
  • Ouellette has been a force inside for the Blue Jays shooting 45.8 percent from the field to lead the team.
  • She also has been a presence on the glass, topping the team in rebounds with 8.4 rpg.
  • Junior guard Taylor Verboven (Columbia, Conn.) is the primary playmaker, leading the Blue Jays with 3.1 apg.
  • Senior guard Amanda Fudge (Middletown, Conn.) makes her return to the lineup after missing the previous five games due to injury. Fudge was red-hot to start the season, averaging 14.3 ppg, 4.7 apg and 2.3 spg.
  • USJ faces DeSales and Moravian for the first-time in program history this weekend.
  • The Blue Jays are 12-9 all-time against schools from the Keystone State. The program has never played a team from the Landmark Conference and holds an 0-1 record against schools from the MAC Freedom Conference.
  • The Blue Jays are 4-6 all-time in neutral site games.

SCOUTING DESALES

  • DeSales was ranked No. 11 in the nation in the most recent Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Top-25 Poll, and No. 12 in the country in the latest D3hoops.com Top-25 Poll.
  • The Bulldogs are a perfect 10-0 to start the season, including a 4-0 mark in MAC Freedom play.
  • DeSales most recently took down Cabrini University, 68-50, on December 20.
  • The Bulldogs boast one of the nation's top defenses, ranking inside the top-five in numerous defensive categories. The team currently leads the country in scoring defense, limiting opponents to 39.6 points per game. The Bulldogs are also fourth in field goal percentage defense (28.8%), fourth in scoring margin (33.2 points), sixth in steals per game (18) and sixth in turnovers forced per game (28.2).
  • DeSales also boast an excellent passing offense, ranking sixth in the nation in assists per game, dishing out 18.8 helpers per contest.
  • Senior wing Megan Bealer (Harleysville, Pa.) paces the Bulldogs with 13.6 ppg and 2.9 apg. Bealer is also a force on the glass, sitting second on the team with 6.5 rpg.
  • Juniors Abigail Rafferty (Dungannon, Ireland) and Mikaela Reese (Souderton, Pa.) form a formidable front court duo for DeSales. Reese paces the team with 29 blocks, while Rafferty is the team's leading rebounder, averaging 6.6 boards per game.
  • DeSales are the four-time reigning MAC Freedom Conference Champions, advancing to the NCAA Tournament in each of the past four seasons. The Bulldogs have made eight NCAA Division III Tournament appearances.

SCOUTING MORAVIAN 

  • Hosts Moravian have gotten off to a 5-5 start to the 2022-23 season, posting a 0-1 mark in Landmark Conference play.
  • The Greyhounds are currently riding a two-game winning streak, defeating local rivals Muhlenberg College 80-52, before taking down Lebanon Valley College, 77-60, on December 17.
  • Prior to meeting USJ on the hardwood, Moravian opens up the Steel Club Classic against the City College of New York (CCNY) on Friday.
  • Graduate student forward Tessa Zamolyi (Bethlehem, Pa.) averages a double-double, leading the Greyhounds with 14.8 ppg and 11.0 rpg.
  • Classmate Kayla Yoegel (West Chester, Pa.) joins Zamolyi in double figures, dropping 14.5 ppg, while leading the Greyhounds with 14 steals.
  • Senior guard Amy Morgan (Nazareth, Pa.) is the team's primary playmaker, dishing out 45 total assists on the season.
  • Moravian has made 10 NCAA Division III Tournament appearances, including a trip to the Final Four in 1992.

UP NEXT

Women's basketball returns to James A. Calhoun Gymnasium, hosting GNAC foe Johnson & Wales University on Tuesday, January 3. Tipoff against the Wildcats is set for 5:00 p.m. in West Hartford. Tickets to attend Tuesday's game can be purchased by visiting www.usjbluejays.com/tickets. Fans who cannot make it to the game in person can watch all of the action live by visiting https://portal.stretchinternet.com/usj/.

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