Rivier's Cheikh Gueye goes to the hoop during Tuesday night's GNAC quarterifnals in West Hartford, Conn. (Photo courtesy of Steve McLaughlin/Rivier Athletics)

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. — The Rivier women’s basketball team fell short in the GNAC Quarterfinals, dropping a 93-84 decision to Saint Joseph (Conn.) on Tuesday evening at James A. Calhoun Gymnasium.

With the loss, the Raiders concluded their season at 15-11 (11-3 GNAC), while the Blue Jays improved to 17-9 (11-3 GNAC) and advanced to the GNAC Semifinals against No. 1 JWU (Providence) on Thursday, Feb. 27.

Graduate student Lyric Grumblatt sparked the Raiders early, scoring eight of their first 11 points to help Rivier take an 11-10 lead at the first media timeout. After a back-and-forth opening quarter, senior Alexa Dufries hit consecutive three-pointers, including a half-court buzzer-beater, to tie the game at 27-27.

The Raiders struggled to score early in the second quarter, going nearly four minutes without a basket as Saint Joseph surged ahead 37-27. Graduate student Hannah Muchemore and Dufries responded with three-pointers to cut the deficit to two, but a quick 10-0 Blue Jays run pushed their lead to 47-35. Late and-one conversions from Grumblatt and sophomore Alyssa Scharn trimmed the gap to 47-41 at halftime.

Grumblatt opened the third quarter with a three-pointer, but Saint Joseph answered with a 12-0 run to extend its lead to 65-48. The Raiders traded baskets with the Blue Jays, who maintained a 71-55 edge entering the final frame.

First-year Gianna Donato helped lead an 11-5 run to start the fourth, scoring six points and forcing a Saint Joseph timeout with 5:19 to play. The Raiders continued to push, cutting the deficit to nine with a corner three from senior Rachel Guinn at the 3:10 mark, but the Blue Jays immediately responded with a three-pointer of their own to put the game out of reach.

Grumblatt led Rivier with 34 points and 10 rebounds, securing her 30th career double-double and 10th of the season. Muchemore followed with 16 points on 6-of-12 (50%) shooting, including 4-of-8 (50%) from deep, while adding four assists. Dufries contributed 16 points, four rebounds, and three steals, and Donato chipped in 10 points off the bench on 4-of-7 (57.1%) shooting.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

GNAC QUARTERFINALS

SAINT JOSEPH (Conn.) 83,RIVIER 63

With the loss in the GNAC Quarterfinals at James A. Calhoun Gymnasium., the Raiders wrapped up the season at 14-13 (7-7 GNAC), while the Blue Jays improved to 20-7 (12-2 GNAC) and advanced to the GNAC Semifinals against No. 2 Lasell on Thursday, Feb. 27.

Rivier opened strong with a 7-1 lead at the first media timeout, fueled by two early baskets from senior Cheikh Gueye. Saint Joseph responded with a 10-0 run to take an 11-7 lead at the 13:07 mark. After a jumper from graduate student Kyler Bosse, the Blue Jays extended their advantage with a 12-3 surge, making it 23-12 with 9:47 left in the first half.

The Raiders fought back as senior Odarius Cade and first-year Matt Youngquist converted back-to-back layups, trimming the deficit to 23-16. Consecutive three-pointers from junior Matt Constant brought Rivier within six at 28-22 but Saint Joseph closed the half strong to take a 44-34 lead into the break.

Constant opened the second half with his fourth three-pointer, and Gueye followed with a fastbreak layup to cut the deficit to 44-39 at the 17-minute mark. The Blue Jays countered with a 12-4 run over the next seven minutes to regain control at 56-43. Saint Joseph continued to build its lead down the stretch, sealing the 83-63 victory.

Constant led Rivier with 21 points on 7-of-13 (53.8%) shooting, including 5-of-10 (50%) from beyond the arc, while adding three rebounds. Gueye contributed 13 points on 6-of-11 (54.5%) shooting and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. Bosse also added 13 points with three rebounds.