USJ Defeats Regis in GNAC Women's Basketball Quarterfinal

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The Regis College women's basketball team fell to the University of Saint Joseph, 80-68, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) quarterfinal game on Feb. 20, at the James A. Calhoun Gymnasium.

 The Blue Jays started off with a layup from Taylor Verboven just before a free throw from Madi Zancan (Cumberland, R.I.) closed the one-point deficit. The Blue Jays then went on a 4-2 scoring run featuring consecutive layups from Jordan Ouellette, a layup from Verboven, and a three-point jump-shot from Amanda Fudge.

The Pride saw action from Jordyn Striggles (Raynham, Mass.) with a three-pointer, while Zancan earned a free throw to credit the Pride with a point. The Pride closed the first quarter with a three-point jump shot from Striggles to trail one point behind, at 16-15.

Jelly Frigo started off the second quarter with a three-pointer followed by two more three-point jump shots from Fudge, to lead the Blue Jays by 10. Both teams battled before the Pride went on a close 3-2 scoring run to close out the first half, just six points behind the home team.

Just after a layup from the Pride brought the two teams within four points of each other, the Blue Jays responded with a 7-1 scoring run to add some offensive insurance to lead by 14. Despite the Pride's efforts after a free throw from Emma Pollini (Derry, N.H.) brought the Pride within ten points, they could not hold on as the Blue Jays finished the third quarter with a 8-0 scoring run, extending the lead by 19. The home team outscored the Pride 23-16 in the final quarter, despite the Pride's 9-5 scoring run.

Zancan led the Pride with 27 points, after needing 14 points to become the third player in Regis basketball history to score 500 points in one season. Doherty earned 24 points, with four rebounds and one assist. Striggles earned nine points after shooting three, three-pointers.

Ouellette and Slisz finished with 16 points each, while Fudge and Verboven earned 14 points for the Blue Jays.

Regis sees its 2023-24 season conclude with an 11-16 overall record. USJ (23-3) will compete in the semifinals of the GNAC Tournament on Thursday, Feb. 22, with the winner to be posted on the conference website at a later date.