FRAMINGHAM, MA – Framingham State University (6-3) edged Saint Joseph's College (5-3), 64-60, in non-conference women's basketball action on Saturday afternoon. Junior forward Lindsay Moore (Barrington, N.H.) paced the Monks with 17 points and added eight rebounds in the losing effort.
With the game tied at 60 apiece, Rams sophomore Nicole Bostic (Raynham, Mass.) sank a layup with 12.1 seconds remaining and senior Kia Minor (Edgartown, Mass.) nailed a pair of free throws with 0.7 on the clock as to help the hosts clinch the four-point triumph.
The Rams opened up an early 18-9 lead, capitalizing on the Monks' sluggish start as the visitors shot just 3-11 with ten turnovers over the first 9:45 of play.
St. Joe's responded with a run of their own over the next three minutes to tie the game and take their first lead. The Monks received five points from senior Danyelle Shufelt (Sutton, Vt.) as they used their defensive pressure to force Rams turnovers and converted easy buckets during an 11-0 run.
The Rams took the lead back on a Madeleine Park (Blue Hill, Maine) three (24-23) with 4:23 left and went into the locker room with a five point advantage (32-27) after Minor turned a St. Joe's turnover into an easy bucket.
The second half looked much like the first with the two teams trading the lead four times including twice in the final three minutes.
St. Joe's took the lead, 56-55, when junior Mackenzie Dufour (Augusta, Maine) grabbed a steal near midcourt and found a streaking Shufelt in transition for the go ahead layup. A Morgan Cahill (Yarmouth, Maine) put-back put the Monks up by three with 2:24 on the clock.
Minor scored the Rams' next five points to put the hosts back on top. She cut the deficit back to one for the Rams with a put back with 1:23 left in the game and put them in front (60-58) after converting a three-point play with 38 seconds left.
Saint Joseph's quickly inbounded and moved the ball up to midcourt before calling a timeout. Out of the timeout, Shufelt fed Moore, who was coming off a back screen, with a pass under the hoop and the junior converted the easy bucket tying the game, 60-60, with 31 seconds remaining.
The Rams worked the clock down on the ensuing trip down the court with Bostic having possession on the right wing. She drove baseline and sank what proved to be the game-winning bucket in traffic with 12.2 left.
St. Joe's had one last chance, but Shufelt's attempt at three rattled out and Minor grabbed the rebound. Minor was fouled and sank the both free throws to reach the final margin.
Minor led all scorers with a game-high 23 points on 8-12 shooting from the field to go along with nine rebounds, three assists and three steals. Park finished the game with 12 points and eight boards, while Bostic chipped in 10 points and five assists. Junior Kristen Hoffman (Foxboro, Mass.) had a solid game with nine points, six rebounds, four steals and two blocks.
Moore led a trio of Monks in double figures with 17 of an 8-13 effort from the field to go along with eight rebounds, two steals, a pair of blocked shots and two assists. Shufelt finished with 15 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals, while Cahill finished with the game's only double-double as she scored 10 points and hauled in 10 boards, including six on the offensive glass.
The Monks return to action in late-December with a pair of contests in the Holiday Inn Express Invitational, beginning with a 5:00 PM tilt at Warner University in Lake Wales, Florida on December 28th. Saint Joseph's plays at Webber International University, just down the road from Warner in Babson Park, the following day at 3:00 PM.
The Rams return to action after the New Year when they host Wellesley College on January 2nd at 6:00 PM.
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COURTESY OF FRAMINGHAM STATE SPORTS INFORMATION
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.
