November 17, 2007
Shorewomen Stuff St. Joseph, 64-58
O'Donnell Named Most Outstanding Player of Tournament

WEST HARTFORD, CT – Visiting Washington College overcame a second-half rally by host St. Joseph (CT) College to post a 64-58 non-conference women's basketball win in the championship game of the St. Joseph Tip-Off Tournament. Sophomore guard Jane O'Donnell (Cape May Court House, NJ/Wildwood Catholic) scored 18 points for the Shorewomen and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

The Shorewomen held a 34-28 lead and increased the margin to 13 points with an 11-4 run to start the second half, capped off by a pair of made free throws by senior forward Brenda Lucas (New London, PA/Avon Grove) with 14:14 to play to make it 45-32. The Blue Jays then reeled off a 15-2 run, tying the score at 47-47 on a three-pointer by Illaria Schiano with 7:55 remaining in the game. Washington answered by scoring the next seven points on jumpers by senior guard Elise Conway (Silver Spring, MD/Paint Branch) and O'Donnell and three-pointer by junior guard Brianne Slizofski (Collegeville, PA/Pius X) which gave the Shorewomen a 54-47 advantage with 5:27 remaining. Washington led by at least four points the rest of the way.

O'Donnell's 18 points included four three-pointers. Sophomore guard Jessica Jamrogowicz (Marlton, NJ/Bishop Eustace) was the only other Shorewoman in double figures, scoring a career-high 13 points. Slizofski and freshman forward Jessycka Wilson (Severna Park, MD/Severn School) each added nine points. Lucas finished with seven points and a team-best seven rebounds. Conway, who totaled seven points, six rebounds, four assists, and a game-best four steals, joined O'Donnell on the All-Tournament team.

Charlotte Kayij led all scorers with 19 points for the Blue Jays. Kayij also hauled down a game-high 14 rebounds. Schiano added 15 points and six boards, while Amanda Ciarcia contributed 11 points and a game-high five assists.

St. Joseph shot 43% from the field and 77% from the free-throw line to Washington's 31% and 50%. The Blue Jays also held a 47-39 advantage in rebounds. The difference in the game came on turnovers, where the Shorewomen committed just 12 while forcing 29.

The Shorewomen have won their first two games of the season for the first time in 12 years. The 1995-96 Shorewomen won their first four games of the season en route to a 15-8 record.

The Shorewomen return to action November 27th with their Centennial Conference opener, a 7:00 p.m. home game against Ursinus.

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