February 11, 2012

STANDISH, ME – Saint Joseph's (17-6, 11-0 GNAC) remained undefeated in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play with a convincing 78-41 victory over Rivier College (16-7, 10-2 GNAC) at the Harold Alfond Center on Saturday afternoon. Senior guard Megan McDevitt (Cumberland, Maine) netted a game-high 16 points in the SJC victory.

The game had the looks of a riveting back and forth battle in the early going, but the complexion of the contest changed midway through the first half. Trailing 13-9 after Raiders guard Amandra Purcell (Hudson, N.H.) made a pair of free throws 7:48 into play, the Monks proceeded to outscore the visitors by a 27-5 margin over the next 10 minutes and carried a 39-23 cushion into intermission.

McDevitt scored eight points during the St. Joe's surge and led all first-half scorers with 13 points in the opening 20 minutes. Sophomore forward Lindsay Moore (Barrington, N.H.) went 4-4 from the FT line and notched eight points and four caroms and senior forward Allie Parent (Camden, Maine) added seven points, five rebounds and two assists in the opening period.

Rivier shot just 20% (6-30) in the first half and did not help its cause by shooting a paltry 16.7% (4-24) in the second stanza. The Raiders, who scored 17 of their 41 points from the charity stripe, made only 10 field goals overall and went 4-22 from beyond the arc in a losing effort.

Early in the second stanza, senior center Ashley Geel (St. George, Maine) scored nine points in a matter of two minutes as part of a 19-3 SJC surge that saw the hosts secure a staggering 58-26 lead with 14:57 remaining.

Saint Joseph's would own its largest lead of the afternoon when junior forward Alyssa Grigware (Biddeford, Maine) hit a jump shot with 1:37 left in the conference contest.

For the Monks, Moore registered 12 points, six boards, two assists and two steals, Geel added 12 points, five rebounds and three blocks, sophomore forward Abby Young (North Yarmouth, Maine) contributed eight points and five rebounds, and Parent capped the afternoon with seven points, five caroms and three assists.

Grigware pulled down a game-high eight rebounds and chipped in with six points and sophomore point guard Mackenzie Dufour (Augusta, Maine) posted five points and five assists in the SJC win.

With a rejection 3:32 into the contest Geel became the SJC men's and women's basketball all-time leader in blocked shots. The senior center entered today's game tied with former men's standout Tom Ollman '88 with 190 career blocks and broke the 24 year-old record when she denied an Amandra Purcell shot at the 17:28 mark of the opening stanza.

McDevitt also notched an impressive feat – one of the family variety – as the senior standout surpassed her mom's career point total in the conference triumph. Margaret (O'Brien) McDevitt '82, a 2011 SJC Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, scored 894 points during her four years and her daughter topped her total with a three-pointer at the 1:03 mark of the first half.

For the Raiders, sisters Amandra and Deanna Purcell netted 13 points apiece, Jaclyn Penniman (Dudley, Mass.) grabbed a team-high six rebounds, and Erin Sweeney (Chicopee, Mass.) came off the bench to tally five points in a losing effort.

Overall, St. Joe's shot 46.7% (28-60) from the floor, 46.2% (6-13) from three-point range, and 88.9% (16-18) from the free-throw line. Rivier shot 18.5% (10-54) from the field, 18.2% (4-22) from downtown, and 85% (17-20) from the charity stripe on the afternoon.

One of the keys for the Monks was holding the Purcell sisters to 26 combined points. Entering today's contest, the reigning GNAC Player and Rookie of the Week honorees averaged over 39 points per game combined.

With the win Saint Joseph's improves to 5-3 in the history of the series with Rivier College and, along with Emmanuel College, remains as one of two undefeated teams in GNAC play this winter. St. Joe's will play at Emmanuel on Tuesday night in a battle for the top seed in the upcoming GNAC Tournament.

For Rivier, today's point total is the fewest scored since the Raiders suffered a 65-34 defeat at the hands of Suffolk University on January 19th, 2008.

Prior to the beginning of the contest the team's three seniors – Geel, McDevitt and Parent – were recognized with a brief ceremony in honor of the trio's final regular-season home contest. The senior group has helped the Monks post a 60-40 record with a pair of GNAC Tournament appearances over the last four seasons.

Both teams adorned pink warm-up tops and sported various types of pink apparel in recognition of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Play 4Kay contest. Formerly known as the Pink Zone initiative, Play 4Kay is an opportunity for a nation of coaches to raise breast cancer awareness and funds for research on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond. All gate proceeds, as well as funds generated by the Monks' tee-shirt sales leading up to the event, will be donated to the Maine Cancer Foundation.

Saint Joseph's will play at Emmanuel College on Tuesday night at 7:00 PM, while Rivier is set to play at Framingham State in a non-conference tilt at 6:00 PM on Thursday.

 

 Senior Day Photo Slideshow:

Saint Joseph's College, founded in 1912 by the Sisters of Mercy, celebrates its Centennial year in 2012 with a theme of "Realize the Promise" – honoring our commitment to educating well-rounded graduates who combine career focus with classic liberal arts studies. A Private, Catholic, primarily residential, coeducational liberal arts institution, Saint Joseph's welcomes students of all ages and all faiths. The campus, located 18 miles northwest of Portland and just two hours from Boston, encompasses 350 acres along the shore of beautiful Sebago Lake in Standish, Maine. Enrollment ranges between 1,000 and 1,100 students annually. Saint Joseph's offers challenging academic programs in the liberal arts and sciences, education, nursing and business fields in a value-centered environment.