Dec. 29, 2005

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - A last-second shot by Delaware's Melissa Czorniewy hit nothing but net to help the Fightin' Blue Hens to the 15th Annual Hawk Classic over host Saint Joseph's 49-48.

The Hawks held a 44-36 edge with 8:42 remaining, but the Fightin' Blue Hens used a 13-4 run to close out the game.

Leading by one, 48-47, with just under 50 seconds remaining, the Hawks ran some time off the clock, resulting in a short jumper. The ball failed to fall, but junior guard Ayahna Cornish grabbed the offenseive rebound, only to have her tip shot, go astray with Delaware controlling the ball.

Following a timeout, the Fightin' Blue Hens got the ball to Czorniewy with just over six seconds. The guard took the ball and drove to the lane, pulling up from the line and draining a jumpshot with no time remaining.

In the first half, Delaware jumped out to an early 9-6 lead, but a 15-5 Saint Joseph's run put the Hawks ahead, with freshman guard Mary Kate McDade capping the run at 4:12.

Over the final minutes, the Fightin' Blue Hens rallied to cut the deficit to two, 23-21, at the half.

In the second stanza, the Hawks gained control of the scoreboard early, jumping out to an eight point edge. Saint Joseph's kept its lead between five and eight leading into the final eight minutes of action.

For the game, the Hawks finished 18-of-49 from the field and 4-of-19 from behind the arc, while Delaware went 17-of-49 from the floor and 2-of-8 from three-point range. The big discrepancy came at the charity stripe, where Delaware went 13-0f-21, while the Hawks finished 8-of-14.

Individually, junior guard Ayahna Cornish paced the Hawks with 11 points, while sophomore guard Timisha Gomez and freshman guard Jen Oyler added nine points apiece.

Czorniewy paced the Fightin' Blue Hens with a game-high 17, while Courtney Irvinag added 13 off the bench.

With the loss, the Hawks fall to 8-3 overall, while Delaware improves to 9-1. Saint Joseph's, which completed its nonconference schedule this evening, has already passed its total for wins in 2004-05.

Saint Joseph's returns to action Tuesday, January 3 at home versus Duquesne.

In the consolation game, the Falcons outscored Iona 45-22 in the second half to pull away for the 62-45 win.

15th Annual Hawk Classic All-Tournament Team

Liz Honnegger - Bowling Green

Toni Horvath - Iona

Jen Oyler - Saint Joseph's

Hillary Klimowicz - Saint Joseph's

MVP - Melissa Czorniewy - Delaware