Ayala’s Buzzer-Beater Lifts Regis Past USJ, 51-49

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. — Senior Serenity Ayala delivered the heroics, banking in an elbow jumper as time expired to lift the Regis College women's basketball team past the University of Saint Joseph, 51-49, improving the Pride to 6-10 overall and 3-0 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play.

Regis was led by Madi Zancan, who recorded a 20-point, 17-rebound double-double while adding three steals and two blocks. Jillian Perry also chipped in 16 points, four steals, and two blocks for the Pride.

For the Blue Jays, Sequoia Turcotte-Briggs paced the offense with 14 points, while Nevaeh Yorke added eight points, 14 rebounds, and five steals in the effort.

How it Happened

Both teams got off to a quiet start, with Jillian Perry accounting for four of the Pride's six points in the opening six minutes. From there, the Blue Jays held Regis scoreless for three minutes before a perfect trip to the line by Zancan made it a 12-8 game after one quarter.

The teams traded buckets to start before three unanswered scores by the Blue Jays, capped by a Trinity Cruz triple, gave them their first double-digit lead of the game at 21-10 with 3:12 remaining in the half. However, behind five points from Zancan, the Pride answered with a 7-0 run to cut into the deficit and head into halftime trailing 25-19.

The Pride made their move coming out of the break as Perry opened the half with a pair of buckets to make it a one-possession game. Shortly after, Zancan used the free-throw line to knot the score before a Perry free throw and a Zoey Swanson layup gave Regis a three-point edge with 4:06 remaining in the quarter. Moments later, a triple from Jordyn Striggles pushed the Pride's advantage to five, however the Blue Jays responded with five unanswered points to even the game. A late Perry layup sent Regis into the final stanza holding a slim 36-34 lead.

The Blue Jays opened the fourth quarter on a 10-1 run to reclaim a 44-38 advantage with just over six minutes to play. Back-to-back layups from Zancan and Kailyn Smith then cut it to a one-possession game, 44–42, with 4:06 remaining. A minute later, strong defense from Perry helped the Pride force a steal, which turned into offense as Zancan converted the bucket and completed the three-point play at the line to give Regis a slim 45–44 lead with three minutes to play.

The game came down to the wire, featuring two ties and three lead changes in the final two minutes. Zancan tied the game at 49 from the free-throw line with 32 seconds remaining, before the Pride answered with a big defensive stop to regain possession with three seconds to play. Off the inbounds, Zancan drew the defense and found a wide-open Ayala at the elbow, who got her shot off before the buzzer and banked it in to lift the Pride to a 51–49 victory over the Blue Jays.

Inside the Numbers

• Jillian Perry tied her career high with 16 points, shooting an efficient 6-of-10 from the floor.
• Madi Zancan recorded her 10th double-double on the season. 
• This afternoon's win snapped the Pride's three-game losing streak against the Blue Jays.

Up Next

The Pride wrap up their road stretch on Tuesday, January 20, when they travel to crosstown rival Lasell University for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.