PHILADELPHIA (2/20/03) - Offsetting a tough night shooting with solid play on the defensive end of the floor, the Saint Joseph's University women's basketball team (15-9, 10-3 A-10) defeated Massachusetts (12-12, 4-9 A-10) at the Fieldhouse, 60-51. Junior Erin Brady scored 10 of her 15 points in the second half, including the Hawks' final six, to key the SJU win. "Our kids did a great job of really concentrating on playing harder and doing little things," related SJU head coach Cindy Griffin. "We didn't make a lot of shots, but we were getting opportunities and our defense did a great job." The game was tied at the half, 24-24, but St. Joe's took the lead on a layup by junior Stephanie Graff to open the second half and never trailed again. The Hawk lead would move to six, before the Crimson and Gray pushed the advantage out to double-digits with 6:26 remaining. UMass would get no closer than six the rest of the way. The largest Hawk lead was 11 at 60-49 with :18 seconds left. Besides Brady, fellow junior Amra Mehmedic was the only other Hawk in double-figures with 10 points. The low-post tandem of Stephanie Graff and Faith Gross added nine and eight points apiece, respectively. Senior Jennifer Butler had a double-double with 17 points and 12 board to lead UMass. Monique Govan chipped in 13 points. UMass controled the paint, holding an 18-4 edge in the first half and a 36-18 advantage for the game. SJU, however, tied a season low with just eight turnovers, and outscored the Minutewomen 21-8 off turnovers. The score changed hands four times in the opening stanza as both squads made runs to regain the lead. The win snapped a two game skid for the Hawks overall. It also gave SJU its ninth straight win over UMass. The Hawks will have little time to recover as the squad departs tomorrow for a Saturday afternoon tilt against Fordham in the Bronx.