Middletown, Conn.-  The Wesleyan Women's Basketball Team defeated the University of St. Joseph 85-61 behind Junior Brenna Diggins' team high 25 points. 

Wesleyan got off to a quick 7-0 start to begin the game thanks to a quick five points by Junior Danielle Gervacio. Sophomore Maeve Vitale hit back-to-back 3-point shots which helped bring the lead to 12-8. Vitale went 3-5 from beyond the arch in the game. The Cardinals would work their lead up 16 and ended the first quarter leading 26-10.

The second quarter was much like the first with the Cardinals continuing to build upon their lead. Wesleyan got the lead up to 19 at 32-12, but then the Blue Jays started to come alive. Junior Carlee Putnam hit a three which cut the lead down to 16. That shot seemed to be the one to kick-start the Blue Jay offense as they chipped away at the Cardinals lead and eventually got the lead down to single digezts. Senior Stephanie DeJesus hit a three to get the Wesleyan lead down to 10, and after free throws by Sophomore Kayla Guest, the lead was down nine. Guest, who finished with 15 points on the day, made a layup which got the lead down to seven at 33-26. The Blue Jays kept the pressure on and eventually got the lead down to just two points on a jumper by Sophomore Rajeen Mayo, who finished with 13 points. The Cardinals did not give up their lead, as Senior Kaylie Williams scored five consecutive points and brought the lead back up to seven. The Cardinals would go into halftime up six at 43-37.

The Cardinals, like earlier, began building on their lead, but this time they did not let it get away. They continued to build on their double-digit lead, thanks to Diggins and Vitale, who finished the game with 17 points, and excellent defense by Gervacio, who had three steals on the day, and Freshman Tara Berger who contributed four blocks to go along with her 10 points. The Cardinals would end the quarter up 65-49.

The teams went into the final quarter, with Wesleyan continuing to score. Their lead got to as high as 27 at one point. Putnam would finish with 14 points and DeJesus with 15 points for the Blue Jays. Williams finished with a double-double for the Cardinals as she picked up 12 rebounds and 14 points. 

The Cardinals return to action Friday December 4th at 7PM against Anna Maria as part of the Courtyard by Marriott Tournament. The Blue Jays next play Tuesday December 1st at 7pm at Eastern Connecticut.