PATCHOGUE, N.Y. – Following a 20-day layoff for exams and the holidays, the Connecticut College women's basketball team emerged victorious against St. Joseph's University (Long Island) by a final score of 62-50 on Friday afternoon at John A. Danzi Athletic Court.
The Camels (5-7 overall) overcame 21 turnovers with a strong effort on the defensive end, finishing with 11 steals and five blocks while holding the Golden Eagles to just under 30-percent shooting. Addi Hunter (Saint George, N.Y.) paced Conn with a season-high 20 points on 7-for-9 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds to record her first collegiate double-double. Rebecca Oberman-Levine (Hamden, Conn.) chipped in her own double-double of 13 points and 10 boards while Catie Donadio (Clinton, Conn.) came off the bench to contribute 10 points.
St. Joseph's led briefly in the early stages of the contest, until a three-pointer by Mia Xerras (Charlotte, N.C.) tied the game at 11-11 with 4:02 left in the opening quarter. The Camels never trailed again, closing the period with a 6-0 run that was capped by Hunter's three-point play that made it 19-13.
Conn continued to build the lead in the second quarter as Hunter and Catie Hurley (Walpole, Mass.) provided points in the paint. In the final minutes of the half, the Camels pushed the margin to double digits on free throws by Avery Burns (Orleans, Mass.) and Arliana Torres (Toms River, N.J.) to lead 31-21 at intermission.
Hunter netted eight points in the third quarter as Conn's lead expanded to as many as 14. The Golden Eagles cut the deficit to nine by the end of the third, but the Camels played with a comfortable lead for most of the fourth. St. Joseph's pulled within five with 2:04 remaining in the contest, but Conn responded with seven unanswered points to seal the victory.
The Camels outrebounded the Golden Eagles by a 51-35 margin and outscored them 18-6 at the free throw line. Conn shot just under 40 percent for the game, with all but two field goals coming from within the arc.
Conn College will next host Tufts University on Friday, January 5 at 7:00 p.m.