PHILADELPHIA (02/22/02) - Energized by a boisterous crowd of 1,919, the Saint Joseph's women's basketball team (20-6, 11-4 A-10, 3-1 Big Five) sent off its senior class with a 72-54 victory over crosstown rival La Salle (6-20, 2-13 A-10, 1-2 Big Five) at Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse. Senior Susan Moran powered the team in her final home game by scoring 28 points and matching a career-high with 16 rebounds to help the Hawks' lock up their 20th win of the season. For 32 minutes the game teetered back-and-forth in typical Big Five fashion. The Hawks biggest first half lead was six points and SJU led at the break by four, 32-28. A pair of big second half runs, however, helped the Crimson and Gray to first seize control of the contest and then pull away for the 18-point victory. "You knew it was going to be a war," stated SJU head coach Cindy Anderson-Griffin. "You knew they were going to give it everything that they had and we were going to give everything that we had for 40 minutes. It's a Big Five game. You know everyone is going to play their best." Moran concurred, "It was a Big Five game. They are a tough team. They worked really hard. But we came through in the end. It took us awhile, but that is how it always seems to be in a Big Five game." A 13-4 run helped the Hawks to establish a double-figure advantage midway through the second half, before La Salle trimmed the lead down to just six points with 8:04 left, 53-47. SJU then closed out the game with a 19-7 spurt to provide the final margin of victory. Moran capped the run with a three-point play and then a three-point basket from the right side, exiting the game to a standing ovation. Prior to the game SJU honored its senior class, which in addition to Moran included Amy Snell, Jane Meade, Colleen McGahan and manager Molly Reilly. All but McGahan, who redshirted the 2000-01 season, but wanted to be recognized with were academic class, were playing in their final Hawk home games. "The last couple of days, I was getting myself ready, because I didn't want to be overwhelmed when I got here," related Moran. "I'm never going to play another college game at St. Joe's on this court again. That is a big thing that was a part of my life for four yers and that's over. It's sad, but it is great that I am here and that I have enjoyed every minute of it." Moran, who was playing in front of a large throng of family and friends, including her mother and sister from Ireland, received a special treat as the national anthem of Ireland was sung before the game in recognition of her breaking the school's all-time scoring record. Sophomore Amra Mehmedic supported Moran with 12 points, while fellow sophomores Irina Krasnoshiok ( 8 points) and Elizabeth "Hootie" Mohan (7 points) helped to spur a balanced Hawk attack. The win was the Hawks fourth straight and improved the team's record to 17-2 with the starting linup of Moran, Meade, Snell, Mehmedic and sophomore Stephanie Graff . The team also imroved to 19-1 whan leading at intermission. St. Joe's will conclude the regular season on Sunday at St. Bonaventure. SJU has already locked up a first round by in next week's Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament to be played at the Liacouras Center. The Hawks can claim the top seed in the East by defeating SBU coupled with a Temple loss to La Salle on Sunday.