CHICOPEE, Mass. – Saint Joseph's College (2-8, 1-2 GNAC) overcame a difficult first half to defeat Elms College (0-9, 0-4 GNAC), 78-72, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) men's basketball action on Saturday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

After shooting just 24.3% (9-37) with a 1-for-19 clip from three-point range in the first half, the Monks trailed the Blazers by a 42-23 margin heading into intermission. Saint Joseph's flipped the script in the second stanza however, shooting a blistering 65.5% (19-29) from the field, including a 12-for-19 three-point shooting effort, en route to outscoring the hosts by a 55-30 margin in the closing 20 minutes.

The Monks cut their deficit down to single digits when sophomore Camryn Yorke (Auburn, Maine) capped a 19-5 run with a layup at the 13:25 mark of the second period. St. Joe's connected for five three-pointers during the run, including three off the fingertips of senior guard Griffin Foley (Portland, Maine).

Saint Joseph's maintained a two-possession deficit for the better part of the following 10 minutes but did not claim the lead until senior guard Nicholas Curtis (Windham, Maine) closed out an 11-2 run with a three-pointer and the Monks on top, 72-70, with 3:22 remaining.

Saint Joseph's, which held Elms without a field goal for the closing six minutes, clung to the lead for the rest of the contest to snap a seven-game losing streak and claim the team's first conference win of the year.

LEADERS – SAINT JOSEPH'S:

• Curtis led all players with 27 points; the senior guard scored 23 off a 7-for-10 three-point shooting performance in the second half
• Freshman guard Julian Llopiz (Boston, Mass.) came off the bench to score 16 points
• Foley added 11 points and four rebounds
• Junior forward Ashtyn Abbott (Farmingdale, Maine) scored 11 points with three rebounds
• Junior forward Drew Shea (Mount Desert Island, Maine) pulled down 10 rebounds
• Freshman Teagan Hynes (York, Maine) chipped in with seven points, five rebounds, seven assists, and six steals

LEADERS - ELMS:

• Senior guard Justin Feliciano (Springfield, Mass.) led the Blazers with 15 points, eight assists, and three steals
• Senior forward Klaytin Silva (Worcester, Mass.) posted a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds
• Senior guard Tahquell Cadle (Bridgeport, Conn.) tallied 12 points and eight rebounds
• Freshman guard Roy McKeithen came off the bench to score nine points

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:

With the win, Saint Joseph's improves to 2-0 all-time versus Elms College. The Blazers are in their first year as a member of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference.

NEXT!

Saint Joseph's is off until Monday, January 3rd when the Monks host Bowdoin College in a 1:00 PM start.

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