HARTFORD, CONN. – Junior guard Jessalynn Sweeney (Standfordville, N.Y.) and her knack for being around the basket paid off big dividends for Norwich University Feb. 1.
Sweeney, getting a hard-fought rebound after a missed jumper from sophomore guard Kristin Brown (Williamstown, Vt.), stuck the ball back up and in during the waning moments to lead the Maroon and Gold to a key 65-64 Great Northeast Athletic Conference win over St. Joseph's College of Connecticut. The game-winning lay-up was part of a big night for the Sweeney.
The junior popped in a game-high 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds including 12 in the first half on a four-for-four shooting effort. Norwich (9-12 overall, 4-5 GNAC) came up big down the stretch, as Sweeney delivered buckets in two clutch situations. With the game tied at 61-61 with just over a minute remaining, freshman guard Kelsey Lotti (South Yarmouth, Mass.) fed her on a strong cut to the hoop to give the Maroon and Gold a 63-61 lead. The second time was the game winner after St. Joseph (12-7, 4-5) reeled off three successive points on a free throw and made lay-up to lead 64-63 with 23 seconds left.
Norwich used a balanced scoring attack and strong defense in the opening half to build a 37-26 halftime edge. NU held the lead from the opening tip-off, jumping out 16-7. St. Joseph's rallied to within two late in the stanza, but a 7-0 run to close the frame gave the Cadets their double-digit lead. SJC managed to overtake their guests twice during the contest at 5-3 in the opening minutes and 64-63 in the final minute, but, in each case, NU had an answer.
Freshman guard Aliah Curry (Windsor, Mass.) and Lotti joined Sweeney in double-figure scoring. Curry, recording her 16th straight such game, ended with 15 points and hit three treys to mark the 12th time in the last 13 games she's hit multiple three-pointers in a game. Lotti added 12 points. Sophomore guard Kristin Brown (Williamstown, Vt.) missed a rare triple-double by one point, as she ended the game with nine points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds.
SJC was paced by the inside play of sophomore forward Heather Framski. She contributed 19 points and seven rebounds and was a key factor in the Bluejays' second half rally. Fellow sophomore Devon Diliberto, the reigning GNAC Rookie of the Year, added 11 points.
Norwich takes a three-game win streak into another critical league road test at Johnson and Wales University in Providence, R.I. Saturday, Feb. 4. The Cadets and Wildcats are among a four-way tie for seventh as the conference season winds down. Tip-off inside Harborside Recreation and Athletic Center is 1 p.m. Fans, friends and alumni of the Cadets can follow live statistics from the game at www.norwichathletics.com, the Internet home of Norwich University athletics.