WENHAM, Mass. – Saint Joseph's College (1-0) kicked off the 2022-23 season with an 86-58 victory over Eastern Nazarene College (0-1) in the Gordon College Tip-Off Classic on Friday evening. Junior guard Hannah Talon (Windham, Maine) netted a career-high 26 points in the convincing triumph.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The Monks held the lead for all but one possession and put the game out of reach with a 24-0 run that spanned the last seven minutes of the second quarter and the opening two minutes of the third period. Junior guard Nina Howe (York, Maine) capped the surge with a jumper at the 7:41 mark of the third quarter to lift the Royal Blue to a 45-19 advantage.

The Lions went 0-for-9 from the floor and committed nine turnovers during the scoreless stretch.

Saint Joseph's went on to claim a game-high 36-point lead after junior guard Angelica Hurley (Groveland, Mass.) nailed a three-pointer to make it a 77-41 game with 6:36 left in the fourth frame.

STATS OF THE GAME:

The Monks outrebounded the Lions by a 48-18 margin and shot 51.7% (30-58) from the floor…The Lions countered by shooting a respectable 41.4% (24-58) from the field.

LEADERS – SAINT JOSEPH'S:

• Talon's career night came off a 10-for-13 shooting effort, including a 4-for-4 performance from beyond the arc; she also pulled down four rebounds and grabbed five steals
• Nina Howe also posted a career-high in points with 18 and added six rebounds, four steals, and three assists
• Junior guard Hailey Anderson (Beverly, Mass.) scored 14 points and was 4-for-5 from downtown with four caroms
• Hurley registered 11 rebounds, six points, and six assists
• Senior guard Jayne Howe (Pembroke, Mass.) chipped in with seven points, 11 boards, and three blocked shots
• Freshman Logan Brown (Brunswick, Maine) added six points and three rebounds in her collegiate debut

LEADERS – EASTERN NAZARENE:

• Alondra Jimenez led the Lions with 15 points and added six rebounds and four steals
• Delaney Walker contributed 10 points, five assists and four steals
• Anaira Ayala netted 11 points
• Te'yalla Simpson added 10 points, two boards, and a pair of steals

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:

With the win Saint Joseph's improves to 6-1 all-time versus Eastern Nazarene College and has now defeated the Lions in six-consecutive meetings dating back to the 1986-87 campaign.

NEXT!

Saint Joseph's will face tourney-host Gordon College in Wenham tomorrow at 3:00 PM.

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