BRONXVILLE, N.Y. — The St. Joseph's University, New York (Brooklyn) women's basketball team closed out play before the holiday break on Saturday afternoon, falling 68-87 to Sarah Lawrence College in Skyline Conference action at the Campbell Sports Center.
The Gryphons set the tone of the game early, jumping out to a double-digit lead behind efficient shooting in the opening quarter. Kristen Donovan (Maspeth, N.Y.) produced much of the SJBK scoring, but the Gryphons carried a 22–9 advantage into the second.
Domenika Sanchez (Guayaquil, Ecuador) and Mercedes Perez (San Antonio, Texas) provided a spark on the perimeter in the second quarter, while Emma Centrella (Varese, Italy) helped stabilize the Bears with her work on the glass. Despite the improved play, Sarah Lawrence continued to score efficiently and gradually stretched its lead, taking a 44–23 advantage into halftime.
Perez knocked down multiple three-pointers during a strong offensive run in the third quarter, and Aaniya Telford (Brooklyn, N.Y.) contributed on both ends of the floor as St. Joseph's trimmed the deficit heading into the final period. The Bears outscored the Gryphons in the fourth, 24-20, while shooting 50 percent in the closing frame. Perez added to her scoring en route to a team-best 22 points. Centrella chipped in with finishes from inside and Telford and Jasmine Chan-Clayton (Melbourne, Australia) connected from deep. Sarah Lawrence, however, answered each push to keep the Bears from closing the gap and sealed the win at the foul line late.
Perez added six steals and three assists. Centrella finished with eight points and four rebounds, while Sanchez chipped in nine points off the bench. Donovan added five points, five rebounds, and a block, and Telford contributed seven points and five rebounds. Nikki Grech (Northville, Mich.) hauled in a team-high seven rebounds.
The Bears will take a 16-day break for the holidays before taking on Division I UMass Lowell and Dartmouth College in exhibition contests on Monday, December 29 and Tuesday, December 30 at 6 pm and 1 pm, respectively. SJBK resumes competitive action on Friday, January 2 at 4 pm against Stevens Institute of Technology from The Hill Center.
