Nov. 27, 2005

Box Score

LEWISBURG, PA - Behind the first collegiate double-double from freshman center Hillary Klimowicz, the Saint Joseph's women's basketball team downed Bucknell 59-55 Sunday afternoon at Sojka Pavilion as the Hawks improve to 3-0 on the season.

Trailing by five, 30-25, early in the second half, the Hawks mounted an 8-0 run, taking a 33-30 lead on a Klimowicz layup at 14:58. The 6-foot-2 center scored six of Saint Joseph's eight points as the Hawks grabbed their first lead since 8:35 of the first half.

Leading by as many as four, 41-37, Saint Joseph's saw its lead quickly disappear as Bucknell used a 9-2 run, from 11:09 to 8:18, to take a 46-43 edge.

Down one with 5:33 to play, the Hawks went ahead for good on a pair of Klimowicz free throws at 4:21. Senior forward Faith Schutte added a big basket with 43 seconds to go as the Hawks held onto a slim one point lead. Schutte drove down the lane, avoiding a Bucknell defender who had fallen down and banked home a running jumper.

A jump shot by Hope Foster brought the Bison within three, 58-55, with seven seconds remaining, but junior guard Whitney Ffrench (New Minas, Nova Scotia/Taber Academy) added an insurance free throw for the Hawks as they earned their first road win of the season.

"I'm proud of how our team reacted," said Saint Joseph's head coach Cindy Griffin. "We could have easily given up, trailing by five, but our kids persevered and went out and played up to their potential."

Off the tip, Saint Joseph's came out fast, jumping out to a 6-0 edge as junior guard Ayahna Cornish scored four of her 14 during that stretch.

Bucknell fought back and took its first lead of the game on jump shot by Amanda Brown at 5:27, capping a 8-2 run for the Bison.

The Bison carried momentum into the final minutes as they held the Hawks scoreless over the final 5:07, to take a 27-22 edge into the half.

For the game, Saint Joseph's shot 21-of-56 from the field for 37.5 percent, and 2-of-9 from behind the arc (22.2 percent). Bucknell finished 22-of-54 from the floor (40.7 percent) and 7-of-16 from three-point range (43.8 percent) The major difference came at the free throw line as the Hawks, who went 1-of-3 in the first half, finished 15-of-22 for the game, while the Bison went 4-of-9.

Saint Joseph's also held a large advantage on the boards, out rebounding Bucknell 48-24, with 20 of its rebounds coming at the offensive end.

Individually, Klimowicz paced the Hawk with a game-high 19 points and 13 rebounds. The Scotch Plains, NJ native also added four blocks, an assist and a steal. Cornish was the only other player to score in double figures, adding 14 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals.

For Bucknell, Lauren Schober led the way with 16 points, including a game-high four from behind the arc.

With the victory, the Hawks improve to 3-0 on the season, while Bucknell falls to 2-3. Saint Joseph's, which improves to 2-0 all-time versus Bucknell, didn't earn its third victory last season until January 3.

Saint Joseph's returns to action Wednesday, November 30, when it hosts Seton Hall at 7 p.m.