PHILADELPHIA (11/16/01) - Senior Susan Moran matched a career-high with 36 points and the Saint Joseph's women's basketball team overcame a 22-0 second half run by Southern California to win 81-72 at Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse. With the victory SJU ushered in the Cindy Anderson-Griffin coaching era with a victory and opened the season 1-0, the Women of Troy slipped to 0-1. "It feels good," said Anderson-Griffin, who earned her first win at her alma mater. "I am so happy for these kids. It is a confidence builder for me and the kids." Using an uptempo style and scintillating shooting from the floor, the Hawks rapidly opened up an eight-point lead at 19-11. Moran had her way in the lowpost scoring SJU's first eight points and 15 of the team's initial 19 before going to the bench after picking up a pair of first half fouls. In her absence, the Crimson and Gray extended their advantage to a game-high 17 points, 42-25, with just 29 seconds to play before intermission. SJU shot 59.4% (19-32) from the floor in the first half. "You can really see how much our team has matured," assessed Moran, "because not only did our team maintain the lead they were able to increase the lead." In the second stanza, Hawk fortunes took a dramatic turn, as USC used a 22-0 run to momentarily take control of the game. Erasing a 51-35 deficit at the 15:31 mark, the Women of Troy needed only 5:09 to storm to a six-point advantage with 10:22 remaining. Fending off the USC run, SJU regained its composure down the stretch. With Moran connecting from the line, sophomore Stephanie Graff hammering the boards and seniors Jane Meade and Amy Snell controlling the pace the Hawks knotted the game at 65-65 with 6:00 left. In the waning minutes SJU coupled some key free throws and a counter-striking attack to pull away for the nine-point win. In addition to Moran's 36 points, sophomore Amra Mehmedic finished in double figures with 13 points. Graff contributed nine points and corralled a career-high 12 caroms. Meade added 9 points and a career-best 7 assists. Nine of the ten Hawks that played scored. Aisha Hollans led four Trojans in double figures with 21 points and Ebony Hoffman had a double-double with 17 points and 10 boards. SJU returns to the hardwood on Sunday afternoon, when the team renews its rivalry with former A-10 foe Rutgers. The two squads will tip-off at 4:00 p.m. and will be televised locally on CN-8. © Copyright 11/16/01 Saint Joseph's University & Saint Joseph's University Athletic Department