BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The St. Joseph's University, N.Y. (Brooklyn) women's basketball team returned to The Hill Center floor for the first time post-holiday break on Tuesday evening. Unfortunately, the Bears suffered a 77-88 deficit to the University of Mount Saint Vincent. 

How it Happened

The Bears opened the contest on an 8-0 run, banking a pair of triples. The Dolphins used a  10-0 spurt to level the game at 10 before leading 16-10. Their advantage grew to 10 but a buzzer-beating layup from Destiny Hurt (Elmont, N.Y./Sewanhaka) saw the quarter conclude with a UMSV 25-17 advantage.

For all but nine seconds in the second quarter, the Dolphins' gap remained in single figures. Hurt, Kristen Donovan (Maspeth, N.Y./Archbishop Molly), and Mercedes Perez (San Antonio, Texas/William Howard Taft) combined to score the Bears' 17 points in the period but saw a 44-34 deficit at halftime.

Mount Saint Vincent scored on their first possession of the second half. It was followed by the Bears scoring 11 of the next 13 points, trimming the Dolphins' lead to 48-45. It was the closest St. Joseph's were to the visitors as UMSV would distance themselves; leading by as many as 15, 71-56, in the third quarter.

The Bears came to within 10 points at 2:24 in the fourth quarter but the damage was done, falling 88-77.

For the Bears

• Donovan had a game-high 29 points to go with 10 rebounds and a pair of steals.

• Hurt finished with 23 points, 10 boards, and three takeaways.

• Grace Kennedy (Maspeth, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) totaled 10 points, five rebounds, six assists, and three steals.

• Perez logged nine points and four assists.

• Shanna Bliss (Astoria, N.Y./Bryant) had seven rebounds and six assists.

Up Next

The Bears will visit sibling school St. Joseph's Long Island this Thursday, January 4. Tipoff is slated for 7 pm.