Thursday, February 14, 2013 (Newton, Massachusetts) - Mount Ida women's basketball senior guard and Captain Evebonee Acosta (Hartford, CT/Bulkeley) poured in a game-high 20 points in her final appearance at home on senior day Thursday evening in a 79-56 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) loss to visiting University of St. Joseph (CT). Acosta was honored as the lone senior prior to tip-off for her contributions and dedication to the program through the past two seasons after transferring in from Division II Goldey-Beacom College the beginning of last year.
Although the hosts shot a consistent 40 percent from the floor, the Blue Jays dominated under the basket pulling down a whopping 50 total rebounds, 25 on the offensive side, with the Mustangs only snatching 31 caroms for the contest.
Mount Ida drops their 11th straight league bid (6-18, 0-11 GNAC) with their final chance to capture a GNAC win this Saturday against hosting Anna Maria College starting a 1:00 p.m. with the loser taking the bottom spot in the conference standings. St. Joseph improves to an overall record of 14-9 with a 6-5 league slate solidifying a post-season appearance in the eighth spot. The Blue Jays will have their senior day this Saturday with Rivier University visiting West Hartford, Connecticut tipping at 1:00 p.m. as well.
Following Acosta's stellar offensive performance, Mount Ida saw a double-double from sophomore Jenn Rafuse (Brockton, MA/Brockton) with 11 points and a game-high 11 caroms. Rafuse has been a force under the basket leading the GNAC this year with 9.2 rebounds per game. Junior forward Abbey Fedigan (New Fairfield, CT/New Fairfield) recorded 10 points while sophomore Sierra Legge (Schodack Landing, NY/Maple Hill) chipped in nine points on 4-7 shooting respectively.
The Blue Jays saw four players in double figures led by junior forward Mary Hyde (Derby, CT/Derby) adding 13 points with five boards. Junior guard Devon Diliberto (Waterbury, CT/Holy Cross) and sophomore forward Heather Framski (Prospect, CT/Woodland Regional) both tallied 12 points apiece while sophomore guard Brianna Ferraro (Waterbury, CT/Holy Cross) netted 11 points.
Paired with senior day, Mount Ida women's basketball hosted their 5th annual "Play 4 Kay" breast cancer awareness event, formerly known as "Pink Zone", that is being held through the GNAC this entire week of action.
The Mount Ida Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (S.A.A.C.) distributed raffle tickets to incoming fans wearing anything pink for a chance to win a basket of goodies that was drawn at halftime. The prize was handed off by SAAC President and women's lacrosse player Kayla Bravo (East Providence, RI/East Providence) and Vice President and women's volleyball Captain Jennifer Ferreira (Shirley, MA/Ayer). S.A.A.C. held the same event during the men's basketball game Tuesday evening.
The visitors quickly built a 12 point (15-3) advantage through the opening five minutes (14:53) of the contest capped on a good Ferrero jumper.
St. Joseph continued to hover around the double digit margin leading 24-11 with 9:18 to go before the midway point after a good lay-in by sophomore guard Lindsay Feducia (Beacon Falls, CT/Woodland Regional).
With two minutes remaining before the break, the visitors managed to pull away by 15 (34-19) following a successful jumper by Diliberto. USJ would eventually head into the locker room leading by a half-high 17 points (38-21) on buzzer beating lay-up by Diliberto.
Mount Ida struggled to recover falling behind by 21 points early in the second stanza down 46-25 after a good jump shot from Framski.
The visiting advantage eventually grew to a game-high 29 (73-44) with 4:21 left in the contest capped on a lay-up by sophomore guard Lindsay Dionne (Portland, CT/Portland).
The Blue Jays would ultimately breeze through the final four ticks of the game solidifying the 79-56 league victory good for their sixth in GNAC action this season.
