Gators Drop Home Opener to USJ

January 3, 2025

Gators Drop Home Opener to USJ

ALBANY, N.Y. – Russell Sage College dropped this afternoon's home opener vs. the University of Saint Joseph 74-55.

Saint Joseph (Conn.)

6-5

Russell Sage College

1-5

Final

Saint Joseph (Conn.) 6-5

Russell Sage College 1-5

ALBANY, N.Y. – Russell Sage College dropped this afternoon's home opener vs. the University of Saint Joseph 74-55.

The visiting Blue Jays started the non-conference matinee 11-of-19 from the field to get out to a 23-8 first period lead. After the Gators answered with a 16-6 run spanning the quarter break to get within five, USJ (6-5), which shot 51.4 percent in the first half and 44.4 percent overall, regained control with a 15-4 jaunt of its own.

RSC received four or more points from seven different players in the setback.

Junior guard Layla Acosta (Haines City, FL/Haines City) and senior guard Malena Gereau (Schroon Lake, NY/Schroon Lake Central) led the Gators with nine points apiece, while junior forward Emily Zeh (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta) added a career-high eight points on 4-of-5 shooting and five rebounds.

USJ senior forward Jordan Ouellette and senior guard Taylor Verboven topped all participants with 19 points each.

RSC (1-5) has a quick turnaround, heading up to SUNY Potsdam tomorrow afternoon.

Gator Bites with Papa John's: The season marks the first with Michael Branche as the Head Coach of RSC Women's Basketball…He had been an assistant women's basketball coach since July 2020…12 players, making up just shy of 94 percent of the team scoring return for the Gators…The dozen combine with five newcomers on this year's squad…Acosta, and junior forward Aniyah Kelley (New Castle, DE/William Penn), and senior guard Lauren Sanderson (Ravena, NY/Ravena-Coyemans-Selkirk) headline the returning Gators…Senior guard Olivia Huneau (Cohoes, NY/Cohoes), Sanderson, and Gereau were voted captains of the team.