Lady Golden Eagles Fall to SJC-Brooklyn in "East vs. West" Game

Brooklyn, N.Y. – The St. Joseph's-Long Island Golden Eagles (2-7) fell to their sister school St. Joseph's-Brooklyn (4-3) in the grand opening of the new Hill Center in Brooklyn, 69-58, on Thursday evening as part of the annual "East vs. West" matchup.

Jackie Zizzo led St. Joseph's-Long Island with 13 points in defeat.  Jennifer Gubell was the only other Golden Eagle scorer in double figures with 10.  Andrea Iavarone and Teddi Petre (four steals, five assists) each had nine points.  Iavarone and Rynese Smith tied for the team-high in rebounds with eight.

Brooklyn was led by Samantha Retas with 14 points and a game-high 17 boards and eight blocks.  Destiny Marino (13) and Jamilynn McGowan (10) were also in double figures for the Bears.

The Golden Eagles struggled in the first half as they shot 19.4% from the field.  Long Island was stuck at 19 points with 4:30 left in the first as Brooklyn went on a 12-0 run to close out the period, 36-19.

Brooklyn continued to stretch the lead in the opening minutes of the second with a 12-4 run.  At 13:15, L.I. mounted a small comeback started by two free throws by Michelle Lupoli, a Zizzo layup, a Petre layup and then a Zizzo three to pull to 48-32.  Lupoli hit a jumper following a Brooklyn turnover to cut it to 48-34.  The Golden Eagles got within 11 points with 4:27 remaining and then ten with 1:57 left after two Iavarone free throws. 

Long Island shot 24% from the field for the game compared to Brooklyn's 39.3%.  Brooklyn out-rebounded Long Island 57-46.

The Golden Eagles will have one more game before the holiday break this Saturday at Rutgers-Camden.