By Michael Letendre
NORTHAMPTON, MASS. — Only 10 players in the history of the University of St. Joseph women’s basketball program have scored 1,000 career points.
And former Bristol Eastern standout Jordan Ouellette is one of those outstanding individuals.
On the final day of the 2023 calendar year, the Blue Jays took part of the Smith Holiday Classic from the Ainsworth Gymnasium in Northampton, Mass.
St. Joseph ended up falling to Mass-Dartmouth by an 87-80 final, dropping the Bluejays to 10-3 overall while the Corsairs improved to 9-1.
However, it was still a banner day for the Bristol native. (In addition, Ouellete was also named the University of St. Joseph and Hartford HealthCare athlete of the month for December.)
With 3:59 remaining in first half, Ouellette dropped in a jumper to snare her 1,000th point — an amazing accomplishment at any level.
No. 33 from West Hartford ended the game with 15 points and nine rebounds over another solid effort.
By the completion of the contest, she had 1,004 points to her name and will continue to build upon that impressive tally.
It took her just 65 games to compile all those points, making 61 starts over her three seasons.
Ouellette has played in every game to date for the Blue Jays, posting a team-high 16.2 points-per-game on tremendous 49.2-percent shooting from the field.
She also collects 7.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists-per-game while hitting 76-percent of her free throws.
The senior averages 31.7 minutes-per-game, leading her squad in that category as well.
She’s been a mainstay with the Blue Jays since leaving Bristol Eastern where she also scored over 1,000 points.
Ouellette hates going downtown
There’s an amazing statistic that’s seemingly missing when talking about Ouellette’s amazing numbers.
All her points have come from two-point range as the forward has only attempted six three-pointers in her career – making none of those long range attempts.
Now, that might make one of her favorite players in the NBA – Boston Celtics superstar Jason Tatum – a bit mad because he shoots a boatload of three-pointers every game.
Not Ouellette.
Even at Bristol “Eastern, those long range, not-so-accurate shots were not part of her vocabulary.
That’s what makes Ouellette a throwback of the best kind, a time when basketball was civilized and programs didn’t chuck up 27 three-pointers in a game (just to make four).
Ouellette rarely attempted 3s from the Thomas M. Monahan Gymnasium on the campus of Bristol Eastern for that matter.
In terms of all time rankings at Eastern, Ouellette hit three career 3-pointers – good for 49th place all time in program history.
Currently, the Lancers’ girls basketball program has drained 1,400+ three-pointers since the inception of the three-point line.
She just didn’t attempt many 3s and even as Ouellette transitioned from point guard to small forward, incorporating three-pointers into her repertoire was not part of her skillset.
Wheeling and dealing at BE
Ouellette was a tough competitor at Eastern, hitting the court over several games for the Lancers as a freshmen before quickly moving into the startling line-up soon after.
She ended her scholastic career with 1,013 points, ninth all-time in Eastern school history.
The Sport Management Major needs just nine points to surpass her scholastic totals and those should come in the first game the Blue Jays play in 2024.
The stats
Hot off the St. Joseph Athletics website, here’s a look at her season and career highs for Ouellette. Note the lack of three-point totals…
Jordan Ouellette, Senior, Forward, USJ
Bluejay Career Highs
Points: 31 vs. Albertus Magnus – 1/31/23
Rebounds: 16 (twice), last vs. Albertus Magnus – 1/31/23
Assists: 6 (three-times), last vs. Salve Regina – 12/5/23
Blocks: 3 (twice), last at MCLA – 12/11/23
Steals: 4 (twice), lastvs. Johnson & Wales – 1/3/23
Field Goals Made: 14 (twice), last vs. John Jay – 12/7/23
Field Goals Attempted: 29 (twice), last vs. Albertus Magnus – 1/31/23
Three-Pointers Made: 0 (Someone better call the fire department…)
Three-Pointers Attempted: 2 at Albertus Magnus – 1/11/23
Foul Shots Made: 6 at MCLA – 12/09/21
Foul Shots Attempted: 7 (twice), last vs. Regis – 1/19/23
***
2023-24 Game Highs
Points: 29 vs. John Jay – 12/7/23
Rebounds: 12 (3x), last at MCLA – 12/11/23
Assists: 6 vs. Salve Regina – 12/5/23
Blocks: 3 at MCLA – 12/11/23
Steals: 3 vs. Salve Regina – 12/11/23
Field Goals Made: 14 vs. John Jay – 12/7/23
Field Goals Attempted: 24 vs. John Jay – 12/7/23
Three-Pointers Made: 0 (I’m as shocked as you are!)
Three-pointers Attempted: 1 (probably one too many…)
Foul Shots Made: 4 (twice), last vs. New England College – 12/9/23
Foul Shots Attempted: 4 (twice), last vs. New England College – 12/9/23
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