By: Michael L. Damon
mdamon@jjay.cuny.edu
(212) 237-8322
Box Score Box Score
New York, N.Y.— The John Jay women's basketball team outrebounded its opponent 62-39, including a 36-11 edge on the offensive end, and showed resilience in the end as the Bloodhounds snapped a three game losing streak with a 74-70 win over St. Joseph's-Long Island at the Doghouse on Thursday afternoon.
With the win, the Bloodhounds enter the 2011 portion of their schedule 3-6 overall, while St. Joseph's-Long Island falls to 3-7 on the season.
John Jay's resilience was led by freshman forward
Jamecia Forsythe who had game-highs 29 points and 21 (14 offensive) rebounds helping the Bloodhounds to more than double-up St. Joseph's-Long Island in second chance points, outscoring the Golden Eagles 23-11 in that department, including a 16-2 edge in the second half.
John Jay also dominated the inside by outscoring St. Joseph's-Long Island 48-26 on points in the paint.
In a game that was close throughout with neither team leading in double figures, the contest saw thirteen lead changes, including nine in the second half, and five ties overall.
St. Joseph's-Long Island though got first run in the contest by scoring the first five points of the game. They maintained the lead during the early stages and led by its biggest margin with 14:32 holding a 15-6 lead at that point.
The Bloodhounds though stayed within striking range, and down 20-16, used an 8-0 run to take its first lead of the game. A three point field goal by
Jessica Lirio (17 points) gave the Bloodhounds a 21-20 advantage with 8:16 to play before eventually leading by four.
The two teams stayed within one possession of at least a tie over next six minutes of the first half.
The Golden Eagles though closed out the first half on a 7-0 run to take a 39-35 lead at halftime. Amanda Bender, who paced St. Joseph's-Long Island with 21 points and 17 rebounds, connected on a lay-up at the buzzer to extend the lead to five points.
St. Joseph's-Long Island clung to the lead through the first eleven plus minutes of the second half, before the Bloodhounds managed to reclaim the lead. A lay-up by
Chantelle Smith (4 points, 12 rebounds), gave John Jay 55-54 lead with 8:10 to go.
Both teams traded the lead on ensuing possessions for several minutes. But the Bloodhounds, down 62-61 with 4:35 to play, used a 7-2 run to take a 68-63 lead with 3:14 to go.
St. Joseph's-Long Island roared right back and countered with a 6-0 run to go back on top and lead 69-68 with seventy seconds to go.
The Bloodhounds then took a lead it would not relinquish in the final minute. A put back by Forsythe with fifty-four seconds to go put John Jay up 70-69 at that moment.
Then a key defensive stop and clutch free throw shooting down the stretch by the Bloodhounds secured the win for John Jay.
Dominique Grice, along with Forsythe, registered a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds to go along with six assists and four steals.
The Bloodhounds forced St. Joseph's-Long Island into thirty-three turnovers in the game.
John Jay is back in action on Wed. Jan. 5, 2011 for a home contest against Baruch College at 5 p.m.
