WEST HARTFORD, Conn., Nov. 20, 2009 -- Five players scored in double figures and Saint Joseph College withstood a late rally as the Blue Jays defeated Anna Maria 70-68 Friday night at the Saint Joseph Tip-Off Tournament at the O’Connell Center.

 

Junior Ilaria Schiano (Wallingford, Conn.) scored a game-high 19 points and Michelle Fillion (Killingworth, Conn.) 14 for Saint Joseph.

 

The Blue Jays took a 62-49 lead with 4:20 to play in a jumper by Nathalie Mastarreno (Glastonbury, Conn.) before the Amcats made a late run. Saint Joseph never relinquished the lead, but Anna Maria pulled within 69-68 on a conventional three-point play by Chelsea Blair (Holland, Mass.) with 15.4 seconds left. Schiano made a free throw with nine seconds left and Anna Maria missed a last-second three-pointer.

 

Mastarreno scored 12 points for Saint Joseph, sophomore Samantha Royce (Portland, Conn.) had 11 and freshman Hayley Torres (Hamden, Conn.) had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

 

Freshman Alison McCarthy (Lynn, Mass.) scored 17 points for Anna Maria and sophomore Samantha Ashton (Worcester, Mass.) had 13. Blair had 11 points and 12 rebounds and sophomore Amanda Hevy (North Brookfield, Mass.) scored 10.

 

Saint Joseph improved to 2-1 and plays USMMA in Saturday’s 3 p.m. final. USMMA defeated Bard, 64-39 in Friday’s other game. Anna Maria (0-2) plays Bard (0-1) Saturday at 1 p.m.