McNamara Nets 37, Monks Claim Fourth-Consecutive Costello Cup

McNamara Nets 37, Monks Claim Fourth-Consecutive Costello Cup

Game Leaders

Saint Joseph's (Me.)
Pts: Kelsi McNamara - 37
Reb: Emily Benway - 13
Ast: Kelsi McNamara - 3
Southern Me.
Pts: Jackie Luckhardt - 14
Reb: Kimberly Howrigan - 8
Ast: Chantel Eells - 4

Team Stats

Saint Joseph's (Me.)
Southern Me.

Field Goals

(22-52)
(18-48)

Field Goal %

42.3%
37.5%

Rebounds

34
35

Assists

8
13

Turnovers

14
17

Pts off Turnovers

15
4

2nd Chance Pts

10
8

Pts in the Paint

10
18

Fastbreak Pts

0
0

Bench Pts

10
8
full stats
Posted: Nov 25, 2018

The Official Energy Provider of Saint Joseph's College, Dead River Company is a leading energy provider in New England with over 80 years of experience in the propane and heating oil business. Trusted by home and business owners for reliable and timely deliveries and energy saving solutions, Dead River Company is committed to always being there when their customers need them. Dead River Company manages local offices throughout their service footprint in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts. For more information, visit www.deadriver.com

GORHAM, Maine – Senior guard Kelsi McNamara (West Newbury, Mass.) scored a career-high 37 points to help launch #17/22 Saint Joseph's College (4-0) past University of Southern Maine (3-1) in a non-conference women's basketball contest at the Hill Gymnasium on Sunday evening.

COSTELLO CUP:

With the victory, Saint Joseph's – ranked 17th and 22nd nationally in the most recent D3hoops.com and WBCA polls, respectively - retains possession of the Costello Cup, which is presented annually to the winner of the contest between the rivals and honors the late Dr. Richard "Doc" Costello, former USM Athletic Director and long-time basketball coach.

For the first time in the history of the series, the Monks have captured the Costello Cup for the fourth-consecutive season. The Huskies retain a 19-8 record in Costello Cup play, which began in 1990.

McNamara's 37-point output is the most scored by any player in the 27-game history of the Cup series, surpassing the 36 scored by USM's Lauren Pate in a 78-75 Huskies win on February 13th, 1991.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Saint Joseph's held the lead for all but the first possession of the evening, as the Monks netted eight unanswered points – including five from McNamara – to claim an 8-2 lead with 7:45 left in the first quarter.

McNamara scored 13 points in the first quarter alone as the Royal Blue held a 20-9 cushion after the first frame.

Southern Maine cut the deficit down to 23-18 with 5:52 before the break when junior guard Kristina Blais (Lewiston, Maine) scored five straight as part of a 9-3 USM run, but St. Joe's managed to outscore the hosts by a 9-3 margin for the remainder of the half.

The Monks proceeded to hold a game-high 22-point (71-49) after freshman Alyson Fillion (Bedford, N.H.) drilled a three-pointer with 44 seconds left.

STATS OF THE GAME:

Saint Joseph's scored 15 points off 17 USM turnovers; conversely, Southern Maine netted just four points off 14 SJC turnovers…the Monks shot 41.4% (12-29) from beyond the arc – the Huskies made just three of 16 bids from downtown for an 18.8% clip in the setback.

LEADERS – SAINT JOSEPH'S:

  • McNamara was 7-11 from three-point distance and added three assists and two rebounds – her point total is the second-highest in SJC women's basketball history behind Linda Freeman's 49 versus Maine-Machias on February 25th, 1978
  • Senior Emily Benway (Rochester, N.H.) added 13 rebounds and nine points
  • Senior Julia Champagne (Brunswick, Maine) chipped in with eight points, two steals, and two rebounds
  • Junior Julia Quinn (Fryeburg, Maine) came off the bench to score five points and pull down four rebounds

LEADERS – SOUTHERN MAINE:

  • Junior guard Jackie Luckhardt (Londonderry, N.H.) scored 14 points off a 6-7 shooting performance and added four boards, three assists, and two steals
  • Blais netted 11 points with three caroms and three assists
  • Senior guard Kimberly Howrigan (Fairfield, Vt.) contributed 11 points and eight rebounds

NEXT!

Saint Joseph's returns to action Wednesday when the Monks travel to Biddeford to take on University of New England in a 5:30 PM start.

 

#GOMONKS

 

Follow Saint Joseph's Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram!

SIGN UP to receive email alerts about your favorite SJC teams!

Founded in 1912 by the Sisters of Mercy in Portland, Maine, Saint Joseph’s College is Maine’s Catholic liberal arts college in the Mercy tradition. We are inclusive of all faiths, including no faith. The 474-acre campus, located on the shore of Sebago Lake in Standish, Maine offers more than 40 undergraduate programs and a Division III athletic program to a population of approximately 1,000 on-campus students. A pioneer of distance education since the 1970s, the College also provides online certificates and undergraduate and graduate degrees for thousands more working adults who reside in more than 20 other countries. In 2015 the College was selected by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching to receive its Community Engagement Classification, highlighting the College’s focus on community service throughout its mission and daily interactions within local, regional, and global communities. In 2018, Princeton Review recognized SJC as one of its “Green Colleges” for its sustainability initiatives. Learn more at www.sjcme.edu.