BROOKLYN, N.Y. —  Led by senior Kelly O'Donnell's (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Edmund Prep) 27 points, the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) women's basketball team tried a second-half rally, but couldn't overcome their early deficit falling 74-64 on Tuesday evening in Skyline Conference play at The Hill Center.

Prior to the game, the team honored their six seniors — O'Donnell, Jamie Provino (Harrison, N.Y./Harrison), Briana Gomez (West Hempstead, N.Y./Kellenberg), Lauren Duggan (Breezy Point, N.Y./St. Saviour), Fatima Monsour (Brooklyn, N.Y./New Utrecht), and Reem Shaban (Brooklyn, N.Y./New Utrecht) — as well as several members of the Class of 2021 — Deserae Sequeira, Lisa LoSchiavo, and Rachel Rocha.

How it Happened

Both teams got off to a slow start but the Rams (11-9, 9-8) closed out the opening first period on a 7-0 run to build a double-digit lead, 20-9, at the first break and they continued to expand their lead to 41-23 at the intermission.

The Bears found their rhythm in the second half and clawed back into the game. A 13-2 run over three minutes powered by three Provino trifectas pulled SJC within eight, 47-39, midway through the third.

But the deficit would grow back to 16 early in the fourth before a late Bears rally led by O'Donnell's 11 points in the period.  A 14-5 spurt pulled the Bears back within single digits with under four minutes to play but they couldn't get any closer than seven.

For the Bears

• O'Donnell's 12th 20-point game of the season increased her career total to 1,985 points. She now sits 20 points from surpassing Rosanne Wahl '00 at 2,004 points atop the all-time scoring list. She also grabbed six rebounds to pad her program lead to 971.
• Provino drained 4-of-9 three-pointers for 12 points, to go along with four rebounds and three assists. She is the fifth player to reach 150 three-pointers and did so in three seasons.
• Alexis Breen (Union Beach, N.J./Keyport) and Emma Kiley (Whitestone, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) both added eight points. Kiley pulled down seven boards with three blocks and Breen dished out six assists with two steals.
• Gomez and Monsour chipped in three points each to round out the senior scoring, with Gomez grabbing a team-high eight rebounds and Monsour pulling down six.

Next Up

The Bears conclude their 2021-22 campaign traveling to Manhattanville on Saturday, February 19 for a Skyline contest starting at 2 p.m.