BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The St. Joseph's University, New York (Brooklyn) women's basketball team continued its undefeated start to the season with a commanding 87–40 win over Clinton Hill rivals Pratt Institute in the Defend the Den Invitational opener on Friday afternoon.
The Bears set the tone immediately with a dominant first quarter, racing out to a 32–13 advantage behind disruptive defense and transition scoring, forcing 10 Cannoneer turnovers. Kristen Donovan (Maspeth, N.Y.) and Mercedes Perez (San Antonio, Texas) sparked the early surge with multiple steals leading to runouts, while Jasmine Chan-Clayton (Melbourne, Australia) knocked down a trio of triples in the stanza.
St. Joseph's kept its foot down in the second quarter. Aaniya Telford (Brooklyn, N.Y.) delivered a stretch off the bench early in the period that included offensive rebounds and trips to the line, while Perez and Donovan continued generating points off turnovers as the lead stretched to 49–27 by halftime.
Telford continued her contributions from inside the paint and the charity stripe, while Nikki Grech (Northville, Mich.) kept the glass under control and Donovan's and Chan-Clayton's sharp-shooting from deep persisted. St. Joseph's extended the advantage to 65–35 heading into the fourth.
The Bears closed out the afternoon with a 22-point final quarter thanks to a balanced and energetic fourth quarter, as multiple Bears contributed to extending the margin. Judith Vila (Vilassar de Mar, Spain) propelled SJBK with eight points in the frame, dishing out three assists and forcing as many steals while Jizelle Velazquez (New York, N.Y.) also had as many takeaways. The duo joined three others to chip into the scoring as the Bears closed out the 87-40 result.
Behind a balanced offensive effort, St. Joseph's placed five players in double figures, paced by Chan-Clayton (14 points on four three-pointers), Donovan (12 points, six steals), Perez (12 points, five rebounds, four steals), Vila (10 points, four steals), and Centrella (11 points, six rebounds). Grech anchored the frontcourt with 13 rebounds and six points, while the Bears piled up 21 steals and 32 points off turnovers in an effective defensive showing.
The Bears return to action on Saturday, November 15, continuing the Invitational when they host City College of New York at 3 p.m.
