PHILADELPHIA (12/18/03) - Freshman Ayahna Cornish (17 points) and senior Elizabeth "Hootie" Mohan (14 points, eight rebounds) each established new career highs as Saint Joseph's defeated visiting Virginia, 74-67, at Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse on Thursday night. Down by one with 2:12 to go, SJU scored 11 unanswered points to seal the victory. The win, which improved the Hawks' record to 4-2 on the season, was the first over an ACC school since SJU's last win over Virginia, a 74-61 victory in Charlottesville, Va. on November 21, 1999. Head coach Cindy Griffin mixed up the starting lineup, inserting Cornish and sophomore Maura McBryan for seniors Irina Krasnoshiok and Amra Mehmedic. The move paid dividends early, as the youthful pair scored SJU's first nine points giving the hosts a 9-6 advantage at the first media timeout. The Hawks would stretch their lead to as many as 10 with 10:46 to go in the first half as Cornish's suffocating defense (four steals) helped give Saint Joseph's 12 points off turnovers before intermission. Virginia (3-4) would outscore the Crimson and Gray 22-13 after the midway point of the half to take its first lead since the 18:30 mark, at 34-33 with 23 seconds remaining. Freshman Whitney Ffrench made one of two free throws to knot the score at 34 as the teams headed to the locker rooms. The second half was a back-and-forth affair that featured 11 lead changes and six ties. Virginia would take a four-point lead, its largest of the game, on a three-ball by Brenna McGuire at the 14:47 mark. Saint Joseph's scored the next seven points to take a 48-45 lead on a Cornish layup just three-and-half minutes later. The Cavaliers continued the topsy-turvy half by going on a 7-2 mini-run in less than three minutes on an Anna Prillman three-pointer, giving UVA a 52-50 lead. Virginia took its final lead at 2:12 on two free-throws by Siedah Williams, but after that it was all St. Joe's. The Hawks scored the next 11 points, as layups by Cornish and senior Erin Brady and a 5-for-6 performance from the charity stripe by Mohan down the stretch sealed SJU's first win in the series since 1999. Senior Stephanie Graff was again solid in the post, adding 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Brady and Mehmedic each scored eight for the Hawks, who committed just three turnovers in the second half. Williams led Virginia, which began the season ranked #24 in the nation, with 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting. McGuire was the only other Cavalier in double figures with 11 points. SJU has little time to bask in the glory, with two-time defending national champion and current #1 Connecticut looming. The Huskies come to town on Sunday, December 21 for a noon tip-off at The Palestra. Tickets are still available by contacting the Saint Joseph's ticket office at 610-660-1712 or visiting Ticketmaster. The game will be broadcast regionally on CN8 and can be heard live on the internet at www.sjuhawks.com.