Franciscan 63, Waynesburg 84
Franciscan Starters
Abbigail Jannuzi, Ilena Gonzales, Jazzlyn Melnyk, Caroline Reedy, & Maria McCallen
How It Happened
The Barons traveled to Waynesburg, Pa to face the Waynseburg University Yellow Jackets. Each team seemed to have a focus on fast break and easy chance opportunities. There were seven possessions in the first two minutes. This pace challenged the Barons in transition and at the rim. The Yellow Jackets got some free points and the line and drew two early fouls from Reedy. At the end of the 1st quarter, the Barons were down nine. The difference in the game at this point came down to the Waynesburg free throws. The Barons success came from forcing turnovers on the perimeter and offensive rebounds. Their offense created many high-quality chances at the rim and free throw line, but they failed to convert those chances at a meaningful level with their best shooter stuck on the bench in foul trouble.
The second quarter slump often plaguing the Barons showed up today. Six minutes into the quarter they had only added three more points to the board off a McCallen and-one. Late in the quarter they found their pace on offense again, but by that time they had allowed another twenty points on the defensive end. The Barons headed into halftime down 42-23.
For the second half good adjustments were made. The Barons had significantly less fouls at the rim, but the Yellow Jackets got hot from the 3pt line. They hit seven three's in the second half to subsidize their decline in paint and free throw production and keep their 20 points a quarter scoring pace. The Barons offense picked up late. Reedy got ignited off a left wing three and she found the bottom of the bucket a few more times late to finish with a team-high 15 points. With McCallen in foul trouble and eventually fouling out, Gemma Biasutto saw increased floor time. She made the most of her opportunity going 7-10 from the floor for 14 points and adding 7 rebounds in just 16 minutes. Her performance is by far the most efficient the Barons have season this season. In the fourth quarter, the Barons outscored the Jackets 27-22, but the positive scoring margin couldn't make up for the first three quarters.
The women are now 1-7 in the conference with just Westminster and Geneva remaining in the first round of conference play. The Titans are up next and are at the bottom of the league in scoring. These two teams only have a difference of 6 points in their scoring margins. Being home on a Saturday is a great opportunity to grab a win against another league opponent and set the Barons up to improve on their two conference wins last season.
Inside the Numbers
-The Barons shot a season-worst 6% from 3pt
-McCallen seceded her title as team scoring leader to Reedy for the first time this season
-Gemma Biasutto's 14 is a career-high
Up Next
Franciscan will host Westminster on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. The Barons are in search of their first win against the Titans in program history. Westminster is off to a slow start to this season with just one win, which came against Thiel. Freshman Katie Maryo leads the Titans at a little over 11.0 points per game this season.
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