Bears Use Five-Headed Monster to Down Mount Saint Vincent, 90-66, at Home

Jerry Del Priore 

St. Joseph’s Brooklyn Women’s basketball shared the wealth in its 90-66 Skyline Conference win against Mount Saint Vincent Wednesday night at the Hill Center, with five players posting double digits in scoring: Kelly O’Donnell, Victoria Porcasi, Lauren Quesada, Caitlyn Staab and Samantha Wilber. 

O’Donnell led the charge for the Bears with 22 points and 10 steals, while Porcasi contributed 19.

Quesada and Staab chipped in with 14 and 13 points, respectively, and Wilber added 11 in the lopsided victory. Quesda also had a team-high 11 rebounds. 

Head Coach Tom Flahive said the victory puts St. Joe’s in excellent position for the third spot in the Skyline Conference and has the good chance of hosting its first ever postseason game at the Hill Center. Plus, the possibility of earning a higher seed if it keeps up its winning ways against tough divisional competition.

“We’re in excellent position. I think today’s win could solidify third place for us,” Flahive speculated. “That could give us our first ever home game in the playoffs. So, that would be tremendous.” 

Moreover, “Now, if we’re fortunate enough — although we have the number one team in the conference; we have Mount St. Mary on Saturday. If we come away with a W there, that would leave us in contention to get that second place seed, which means a bye in that first round. But we would have to beat Mount St. Mary on Saturday, and then we have to beat Merchant Marine Academy next Thursday (Feburary 6 on the road). And that’s a pretty hefty undertaking.” 

Asked if that’s possible, Flavhive replied: “I still think we can do it. But we’re going to have to play really good team basketball, and we’re going to have to box out. We gave up 22 offensive rebounds tonight, and that’s ridiculous.” 

Porcasi dropped in eight points, as the Bears (12-6) dribbled out to a 24-18 advantage in the first period. 

St. Joe’s increased its lead to 43-28 in the second quarter, behind O’Donnell’s nine points, highlighted by a dazzling move to the basket with 2:08 left in the half. 

The Bears continued to pulverize the  Dolphins (4-13), building a 56-34 advantage with 6:11 to go in the third quarter. St. Joe’s didn’t stop there, ending the period ahead by 25 points. 

With the game in hand in the fourth quarter, Flahive inserted a few of his backups, who played well in relief. In fact, the Bears’ bench scored 17 points in the contest. 

Sophomore Aria Rheams drained a squad-high 20 points for the Dolphins, while forward Dez Browne had 17. 

St. Joe’s travels to Newburgh, New York, to face said Mount St. Mary for a 1:00 p.m. Skyline Conference affair. 

Watch Kelly O’Donnell steal ball and lay it in on the other end of the floor.