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Carthage College Athletics

The Official Website of The Carthage College Firebirds
WBB Team and Families in PR
Carthage College
71
Winner Carthage CARTH 8-2,1-1 CCIW
65
Saint Joseph (CT) USJ 4-4,1-0 Great Northeast
Winner
Carthage CARTH
8-2,1-1 CCIW
71
Final
65
Saint Joseph (CT) USJ
4-4,1-0 Great Northeast
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Carthage CARTH 15 18 21 17 71
Saint Joseph (CT) USJ 13 21 16 15 65

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Firebirds End Puerto Rico Trip with 71-65 Win Over Saint Joseph

Carthage 71, Saint Joseph 65
CAGUAS - The Carthage women's basketball team closed out the Puerto Rico Clasico tournament with a game against the University of Saint Joseph Bluejays on Thursday afternoon. It was a tight battle between the two teams, who were both coming off victories the day before after Carthage defeated John Carroll 69-54 and Saint Joseph earned a win over Bridgewater 61-56. The Firebirds found a way to surge late in the fourth quarter and come away with the team's third consecutive victory.



Malia Green wasted no time getting the Firebirds on the scoreboard, sinking a fastbreak layup just eight seconds into the game. A three-point play lifted the Bluejays ahead 3-2, but four consecutive scores from Marianna Morrissey pushed the Firebirds out to a 10-3 lead with seven minutes to play in the first quarter. With 4:02 left in the period the Bluejays ended a five minute scoring drought to cut the deficit to 10-5. Two more unanswered baskets brought the score to 10-9, before Grace Cord scored and ended a 5:24 run without a basket for the Firebirds. Back-to-back scores for the Bluejays brought them ahead of the Firebirds 13-12 late in the quarter, before Alyssa Orozco drained a three on a fastbreak after receiving a pass from Emma Thistle to end the quarter 15-13. Morrissey led the team in scoring with eight points in the period.

The Bluejays started the second quarter with a basket, tying the game at 15-15. A basket and a pair of free throws from Green put the Firebirds back up by four points and the Carthage offense was able to hold the distance for nearly four minutes. The Bluejays cut the lead to two points, before a three-pointer from Jessie Pakaski extended the Carthage lead to five points at 28-23 with 5:00 to play in the first half. Three free throws and a made three swung the momentum in the Bluejays favor, putting the Firebirds down 29-28. Nora Ahram made a jump shot to answer right back and put the Firebirds back up 30-29. A free throw and a fastbreak layup for Emma Carlson extended the lead once again, with Carthage up 33-29 with 1:47 to play. The Bluejays rallied in the final minute of the first half with a 6-0 run to lead 34-33 heading into the break. Ahram led the Firebirds offense with six points in the second quarter. Morrissey finished the half with a team-high eight points in the half.

The Bluejays used a pair of free throws to extend the lead to 36-33 on the opening possession of the second half, but a score in the paint from Carlson kept it a one-point game for the Firebirds. Saint Joseph extended the lead to four points and looked to pull away, but a three from Orozco cut the deficit back to one point at 39-38 with 8:15 to play in the third quarter. A layup from Green gave the Firebirds their first lead of the second half and a made free throw from Carlson extended the score to 41-39 with 6:17 on the clock. The Bluejays looked to tie the game with a jump shot from Maya Slisz, but Morrissey answered back with a jump shot of her own to hold the two-point lead at 43-41. A free throw from Morrissey and a layup from Carlson extended the lead to 46-41, but it was Saint Joseph's turn to answer back with a three from Slisz. Carlson traded points with the Bluejays offense for the next three possessions, scoring four points on two made jump shots. Grace Wamser and Green added to the scoring in the third quarter to extend the Carthage lead to 54-58 with 1:07 to play. A layup in the final minute for Taylor Verboven cut the Firebirds lead to 54-50 heading into the final 10 minute period of the game. Carlson led the team with nine points in the quarter.

Carlson kept the strong second half going with an offensive rebound and a tip-in basket on the opening possession of the fourth quarter, while also drawing a foul and successfully making the free throw. Verboven responded with a basket and a foul on the next possession to cut the Carthage lead back down to four. Another Bluejays free throw cut the lead to three before Morrissey drained a three to bring the Firebirds to a 60-54 lead. A 6-2 run for the Bluejays cut the lead to 62-60 with 5:02 to play in the game. Back-to-back baskets from Green and Morrissey extended the lead to six points with 3:02 to go and a pair of free throws for Morrissey pushed the lead to 68-60. The Bluejays made a push to shorten the deficit but the clock expired with the Firebirds controlling the scoreboard 71-65. Morrissey led the team with seven points in the final period.


 
  • Morrissey led the Firebirds in scoring with 18 points on 7-11 (.637) shooting, while also finishing with four rebounds, an assist, and a steal.
  • Carlson finished with her second consecutive double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds, which included a team-high seven offensive rebounds.
  • Green finished with 14 points, five rebounds, and a team-leading five steals.
  • Orozco finished with 11 points and five rebounds.



"Playing two games back to back is always challenging," said Head Coach Megan Jones. "But that's what you see in the postseason so it was great to simulate that for our team. We were really proud of how our team responded again in the second half today, winning both quarters. We've talked a lot about consistency and stacking days throughout the season so far and I thought we certainly did that today. It wasn't always pretty but we had multiple players make some huge plays down the stretch that sealed the win for us. Really proud of our effort the last two days. Our team is excited for a little relaxation in the sun before we head into our Christmas break!"



The Firebirds (8-2, 1-1 CCIW) return to Tarble Arena on Monday, Dec. 30 as the Firebirds close out the calendar year with a game against Luther at 2 p.m. For more information, visit athletics.carthage.edu.

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