CHESTNUT HILL, MA – St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) picked-up its eighth win in a row (11-11, 5-0 HVWAC), defeating Pine Manor College (7-14, 1-10 GNAC), 76-60, on Friday evening at Brunelli Court in Chestnut Hill, MA. The visiting Lady Bears were led by a game-high 22 points from senior Ashley McQuillan (Brooklyn, NY/St. Francis Prep) as well as a career-high 21 points off-the-bench from sophomore Kelly McNamee (Glendale, NY/Mary Louis).

After a dismal 1-7 start to the season, the Lady Bears have gone 10-4 since the new year and reach the .500 mark for the first time this season.  The last Lady Bears loss was on January 19th, a slim 58-54 defeat to Purchase College.

McNamee & McQuillan combined to shoot 52 percent from the floor (15-of-29).  Junior Janine Doran (South Ozone Park, NY/Archbishop Molloy) also finished in double figures with 13 points.  Doran and McNamee made the most of their time at the charity stripe, connecting on 16-of-20 (75 percent) with McNamee going a perfect in seven attempts.

Pine Manor junior Tia Nelson finished with a 20 points for the Gators while shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc in the game. Senior Therline Dumeran also finished in double-figures for PMC with 13 points. Senior Paulette Wright finished with a game high 12 rebounds for the Gators, who held a 47-40 advantage on the boards in the contest.

The game started out close, as the teams played to a 10-all tie with 14:15 remaining in the first-half. However, St. Joseph's then went on a 9-0 run, capped by jumper from McNamee at the midpoint of the half, to break the game open. In the later stages of the first-half, the Lady Bears continued to grow their lead.

A lay-up by Dumeran with 4:48 remaining pulled the Gators back to within eight at 28-20 but the Lady Bears would follow with another 9-0 run, as McQuillan hit three-consecutive three-pointers to put the Lady Bears up, 37-20, with 2:41 to go in the first.  A lay-up by McNamee just before the half gave the Lady Bears a 44-26 advantage at the break, with McQuillan and McNamee scoring 14 and 13 points respectively.

In the second, St. Joseph's would increase its lead to as many as 23 points, while maintaining a double-digit lead throughout the half. Pine Manor continued to chip away but was unable to get any closer than 14 points, following a lay-up by Nelson with 10:31 remaining to make the score 59-45. Nelson would then draw the Gators to within 14, 74-60, with a three-pointer with 1:43 left in the second but the Lady Bears held the Gators scoreless for the final minutes.

Friday night's game was part of the national 'Play 4 Kay' initiative to support the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). 

St. Joseph's returns to New York for their final game before the HVWAC Tournament next weekend.  The Lady Bears travel to John Jay on Monday, February 13th for a non-conference tilt starting at 5 p.m.

Contributed by Pine Manor Sports Information