Jan. 24, 2009

Box Score

BOSTON, Mass. - The Emmanuel Women's Basketball Team cruised to a 79-35 win over the visiting Blue Jays of Saint Joseph College (CT) on Saturday afternoon in the Jean Yawkey Center. This was the Saints' sixth-straight win, as they improved to 11-6 on the season and 5-0 in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC). With the loss, Saint Joseph College fell to 3-14 overall and 1-4 in conference play. The Emmanuel / SJC match-up was part of the GNAC's "Passionate Purple" week.

The GNAC partnered with the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) to sponsor the first-ever "Passionate Purple" week. "Passionate Purple" took place during designated women's basketball games throughout the week of January 17th-24th. The event was initiated to raise awareness about lupus and raise funds for the Lupus Foundation of America, Inc and their efforts to provide research, education, and support for all people affected by lupus.

In this afternoon's contest, the Saints scored the game's first bucket on their initial possession and never relinquished the lead. Emmanuel's defense forced 19 Blue Jay turnovers and caused SJC to shoot just 7 for 25 (28%) in the first half. The Saints out-rebounded SJC, 29-21, in the opening stanza. After shooting just 34% (16-47) in the first half, Emmanuel carried a 38-21 lead into the locker room.

The second half featured much of the same, as the Saints capitalized on Blue Jay turnovers and stretched their lead to as many as 47 points with just a minute to play. Emmanuel's shooting improved in the second half, as the Saints hit 18 of 39 shots from the floor (46.2%). The Saints' second half scoring primarily came from their inside game. Senior captain Abby Brenkach, along with freshmen forwards Jenna Ross (Centerburg, Ohio), Jasmine Jean-Jacques (Jamaica, N.Y.), and Erin Stilphen (South Portland, Maine) combined for 22 second half points to lead the Saints' charge.

Ross and freshman guard Karin Bird (Lee, Mass.) finished with 12 points and were the game's high-scorers. Ross was just one board shy of her first collegiate double-double, as she hauled in 9 rebounds. Brenkach and Jean-Jacques each added 10 points in the win, while Stilphen grabbed a game-high 11 boards for Emmanuel.

Sophomore guard Ilaria Schiano (Wallingford, Conn.) led the Blue Jays with 10 points. Teammate Leanna Pratt (Watertown, Conn.) gathered 11 rebounds in the effort.

Emmanuel will play again on Tuesday night, when the Saints travel to Providence, R.I. to take on the Wildcats of Johnson & Wales University in a 7pm start. SJC is back in action next Thursday, when they host the Falcons of Albertus Magnus College in a 7pm tip.

"With the continued support and partnership of organizations like the GNAC and its coaches, players, and fans, together we will raise awareness of this unpredictable and potentially fatal disease and provide services, support, and hope all individuals affected by lupus," said Sandra C. Raymond, Lupus Foundation of America , President and CEO. The LFA is the foremost national nonprofit voluntary health organization dedicated to finding the causes of and cure for lupus and for providing support, services, and hope to all people affected by lupus. The LFA operates programs of research, education, and advocacy, and has a nationwide network of nearly 300 chapters, branches, and support groups. To learn more about the LFA, visit www.lupus.org. To find out more information on the "Passionate Purple" week and how you can get involved go to: www.thegnac.com/passsionatepurple/09.