PATCHOGUE, N.Y. — The St. Joseph's University, N.Y. (Brooklyn) women's basketball team were dealt an 81-68 loss to sibling school St. Joseph's Long Island on Thursday night.

How it Happened

Neither side led by more than one possession for much of the opening quarter. Grace Kennedy (Maspeth, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) and Kristen Donovan (Maspeth, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) helmed the Bears in the period, scoring a combined 11 points. At 18-17, the Golden Eagles netted six consecutive points in the final two minutes to hold a 24-17 advantage.

A pair of layups to start the second stanza saw their margin grow to 11. A Destiny Hurt (Elmont, N.Y./Sewanhaka) was followed by an 11-0 stretch that saw Long Island possess a 39-19 lead. The Bears reduced the gap to 46-33 at the half behind efforts from Donovan and Domenika Sanchez (Guayaquil, Ecuador/Santo Domingo de Guzman).

A three-point play from Hurt inside the first minute of the third period further chipped the Bears' deficit to 10, 46-16. However, the hosts restored their 20-point advantage by the end of the period. They saw their largest lead of the game in the fourth, 68-46, but the Bears ultimately came within 13 points to conclude the contest, 81-68.

For the Bears

• Mercedes Perez (San Antonio, Texas/William Howard Taft) had a team-leading 18 points to go with six rebounds and five assists.

• Hurt logged a double-double of 13 points and 11 boards.

• Donovan also finished with 13 points, adding four rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

• Kennedy netted 12 points and came within a rebound of a double-double.

• Sanchez notched a season-best 11 points and collected six caroms. She also had three steals.

Up Next

The Bears return to The Hill Center to host Skyline Championship finalists Manhattanville College at 1 pm on Saturday, January 6.