PHILADELPHIA (12/29/02) - Saint Joseph's junior Irina Krasnoshiok's three-point attempt from the top of the arc fell short of the mark as time expired, helping Siena hold off the Hawks, 72-69, in the championship game of the Hawk Classic at Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse. Saints' junior Liena Jansone earned tourney MVP honors after tallying 17 points and nine rebounds in the final. The Hawks put Krasnoshiok (13 points) and junior Erin Brady (11 points, 7 assists) on the all-tournament team. Siena improved to 7-3 with the win, while SJU slipped to 4-6 overall. Siena, which never trailed in the second half, led by eight points with 2:44 remaining in regulation. SJU, however, whittled the lead down and three times clawed within a basket during the game's final minute. A three-point basket by Hawk junior Amra Mehmedic made it a two point game, 71-69, with :12 seconds left. SJU then had life after Siena's Erika Anderson missed the back-end of a one-and-one with :10 remaining, making it a three point contest. The Hawks hurried the ball up court and then got the ball to Krasnoshiok, who's three-pointer missed to the right as time expired. Siena sprinted out of the gate and built up a nine-point lead, 13-4, by the 14:53 mark of the opening half. Krasnoshiok then scored ten straight Hawk points to spark a 12-2 SJU run that gave the Crimson and Gray its first lead, 18-17, midway through the period. The contest remained close through the end of the half with the lead being exchanged nine times. A lay-up by Jansone game the Saints the lead at the break 33-32. Anderson made the difference for SC in the second half, tallying 13 of her 16 points after intermission. She also connected on a pair of key three-pointers late in regulation. SJU Junior Stephanie Graff led all scorers with 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Krasnoshiok added 13 points and six boards, Mehmedic netted 16 points and Brady tallied 11. Siena also had four players in double-figures. Jansone netted 17, Anderson posted 16, senior Gunta Basko added 14 and Mary McKissack notched 11. Both teams shot well from the field with Siena hitting at a 50.0% clip from the floor, while SJU connected at 56.0%. Both were also better than 50.0% from three-point range. Basko, Hartford's Erika Messam and UMBC's Jessie Brown joined Jansone, Krasnoshiok and Brady on the all-tournament team. The Siena title game victory snapped a string of three straight Hawk Classic titles by SJU. The Hawks now break for the New Year. SJU returns to the court against Temple on Sunday, January 5 at noon. ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM:
Liena Jansone - Siena (MVP)
Erika Messam - Hartford
Jessie Brown - UMBC
Erin Brady - Saint Joseph's
Irina Krasnoshiok - Saint Joseph's
Gunta Basko - Siena

Photo Gallery - Through the President's Lens