WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Senior Heather Framski (Prospect, Conn.) scored 15 points and classmate Brianna Ferraro (Waterbury, Conn.) added 11 as the University of Saint Joseph basketball team defeated Wentworth Institute of Technology, 56-51 Saturday in a non-conference game at the O'Connell Center.

With the win the Blue Jays improve to 4-1 on the season while the Leopards drop their second straight to stand at 1-3.

Freshman Kara Thibodeau (Chaplin, Conn.) had a team-high 10 rebounds for St. Joseph and sophomore Carlee Putnam (Niantic, Conn.) added nine points.
 
Sophomore Kellie Messer (Hollis, N.H.) had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds for Wentworth and junior Carly Rogers (Scarborough, Me.) just missed recording a double-double as she had nine points and 10 rebounds.
 
The game was close throughout with USJ building the biggest lead of the day at six on two occasions in the second half; Wentworth's biggest lead was three points, which came in the first half. The Blue Jays took a 34-32 halftime lead, shooting 15-for-34 from the floor while Wentworth was 12-for-32.

Both teams would struggle from the floor in the second half as the Blue Jays were 5-for-30 and the Leopards were 5-for-32.

The Leopards took their final lead of the game at 47-45 with 8:24 remaining on a layup by junior Rachael Camara (Fall River, Mass.), however freshman Kayla Guest (Newington, Conn.) had a layup to tie the score and junior Stephanie DeJesus (Meriden, Conn.) had two free throws to put USJ ahead to stay at 49-47 with 7:38 to play. From there, Wentworth managed just 4-for-7 at the free throw line and missed its final 10 shots from the field.

Framski would hit three free throws down the stretch to help seal the win.

USJ next hosts Worcester State Tuesday Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. Wentworth hosts Smith Tuesday at 6 p.m.

(Portions of This Recap Courtesy of the University of St. Joseph)

ST. JOSEPH (CONN.) 56, WENTWORTH 51
WENTWORTH (1-3)
Kellie Messer 3-8 6-7 12; Carly Rogers 3-11 3-4 9; Haley Sabino 2-4 4-5 8; Rachael Camara 3-14 1-4 7; Riselly Deoleo 3-14 1-4 7; Megan McLaughlin 2-13 0-0 5; Courtney McCormick 1-2 0-0 3; Helena Kiritsy 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-66 15-24 51.
ST. JOSEPH (CONN.) (4-1)
Heather Framski 5-9 5-6 15; Brianna Ferraro 4-13 2-2 11; Carlee Putnam 3-12 2-2 9; Stephanie DeJesus 1-5 4-4 6; Kayla Guest 3-6 0-1 6; Lindsey Dionne 2-8 0-0 4; Kara Thibodeau 1-3 1-4 3; Lindsay Feducia 1-4 0-0 2; Destanee White 0-0 0-0 0; Rajeen Mayo 0-4 0-2 0. Totals 20-64 14-21 56.
Wentworth.....................   32   19  -   51
St. Joseph (Conn.)............   34   22  -   56
3-point goals--Wentworth 2-15 (Megan McLaughlin 1-8; Courtney McCormick 1-2; Rachael Camara 0-2; Riselly Deoleo 0-3), St. Joseph (Conn.) 2-9 (Brianna Ferraro 1-3; Carlee Putnam 1-2; Lindsay Feducia 0-1; Stephanie DeJesus 0-2; Heather Framski 0-1). Fouled out--Wentworth-None, St. Joseph (Conn.)-None. Rebounds--Wentworth 50 (Kellie Messer 11), St. Joseph (Conn.) 48 (Kara Thibodeau 10). Assists--Wentworth 9 (Megan McLaughlin 5), St. Joseph (Conn.) 14 (Kara Thibodeau 5). Total fouls--Wentworth 17, St. Joseph (Conn.) 16. Technical fouls--Wentworth-None, St. Joseph (Conn.)-None. A-125