NEWTON, MA - The Saint Joseph's College Women's Basketball team defeated GNAC opponent Lasell College on Thursday evening, 71-63, to improve to 13-5 overall, 6-1 in conference play. SR Megan Farrell (Abington, MA) and SO Carolyn Freeman (Scarborough, ME) each scored 13 points in the victory. The win puts St. Joe's in second place in the conference with six GNAC games remaining, four of which to be played on their home court. The Lasers of Lasell College fall to 2-5 in GNAC contests and 4-14 overall.

St. Joe's used an impressive 58% (14-24) shooting performance in the first half to take a 34-23 lead into the  break. Farrell came off the bench to collect 9 points and 4 rebounds in 8 minutes of play to pace all SJC players in the opening period. JR Alysn Ludwig (Waldoboro, ME) added 6 points off a 3-4 shooting performance before the break.

Saint Joseph's extended their lead to 15 points four minutes into the latter half when FY Casey Drake (Lebanon, NH) hit a jumper to put her team up 45-30. The Lasers refused to go down without a fight, however, as they converted 64% of their field goal attempts after recess.

Lasell made a late rally bid and diminished the SJC lead to just 2 points, 63-61. Lasers guard Carla Zinno (Middlebury, CT) hit a jumper to cap a Lasell 12-3 run to bring her team within a bucket with under a minute remaining. The tenacious St. Joe's defense kept the Lasers offense at bay by forcing turnovers on their next two possessions. Casey Drake made 5 of 6 free throw attempts and FY Erin Cartwright (Acton, MA) drained a 3-pointer in the final 30 seconds to give Saint Joseph's the victory.

Freeman chipped in with 6 rebounds, all defensive, and drained 3 of shots from beyond the arc. Alysn Ludwig tallied 9 points and 5 rebounds for St. Joe's and Casey Drake added 10 points and converted 6 of 8 free throw attempts in the contest. Erin Cartwright made 4 of 6 shots from the floor and scored 9 points and teammate SO Allison Miner (Pembroke, NH) grabbed 3 steals in the conference victory.

Junior guard Shauna Kelly (Quincy, MA) led Lasell with 16 points.

St. Joe's will travel to Boston on Saturday, 2/2, to take on GNAC counterpart Emerson College for a 2:00 PM tip-off.