Patchogue, NY – Kristina Walz (Monona, IA) posted 19 points and 10 rebounds as the USMMA women's basketball team ended a six game losing streak Wednesday night with a 60-37 triumph at St. Joseph's (LI). Rebecca Resor (Bay St. Louis, MS) also notched a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds.  USMMA recorded a season high 46.4 shooting percentage from the floor and outrebounded the Golden Eagles by a huge margin of 62-29.

Merchant Marine (2-6) opened up an 11-4 edge midway through the opening half as Kelsey Hofmann (Adel, IA) and Walz struck for back-to-back baskets.  Hofmann finished the game with 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting and six rebounds.  Freshmen Julie Mall (Littlestown, PA) and Allie Drake (Centereach, NY) contributed nine and eight rebounds, respectively.  The home side rallied to take a 12-11 advantage but a jumper from Mall and an Alexandra Winfree (Millstone, NJ) trifecta put USMMA back on top.

St. Joseph's (LI) faced a 26-21 deficit at halftime and Walz extended the USMMA cushion with a jump shot on the opening possession of the second period.  The Golden Eagles would endure a scoring draught of 11:23 as Merchant Marine engineered an 18-0 run.  During that stretch, six different Mariners registered points as USMMA built a 58-31 lead with just 2:04 remaining in regulation.  Merchant Marine held St. Joseph's (LI) to just 23.6 percent (17-72) shooting and 15 percent (3-20) from three-point range.

The USMMA women's basketball team will play its final game of the calendar year at home Friday against Rutgers-Camden.  Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 pm.