Feb. 6, 2005

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - The Saint Joseph's women's basketball team snapped a four-game losing streak and earned its first home victory since the season opener, with a 69-65 victory over Rhode Island Sunday afternoon at Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse.

The Hawks, who had not won at home since their season opener versus Boston University on November 12, led by two coming out of the half 35-33.

Rhode Island senior Peta Kneen gave the Rams a 36-35 lead with a three pointer 14 seconds into the half.

Saint Joseph's rallied and used a 4-0 run to take a 39-36 lead on a layup by red-shirt freshman Erica Pollock at 17:55.

From there, the Hawks would go up by as many as 10, before allowing Rhode Island a chance to tie the game in the final seconds.

Trailing by two, 67-65, after a free throw by Saint Joseph's freshman guard Timisha Gomez that gave the Hawks a 67-65 lead, the Rams ran a play that got the ball into the hands of Tanya Rhodes in the post.

Rhodes attempted an up-and-under move, but her shot was off the mark as sophomore Ayahna Cornish corralled the ball and was fouled. Cornish calmly hit two free throws with seven seconds remaining to seal the game.

In the first half, the Rams jumped out to a quick 7-3 lead, but the Hawks kept chipping away. Behind a 6-0, the Hawks gained a 17-12 lead at 12:09.

Both teams would have small runs over the final minutes as the score was tied four times before the Hawks took 35-33 lead into the half.

Saint Joseph's finished the game with one of its better shooting performances of the year, going 20-of-42 (.476), including 9-of-16 from behind the arc. Rhode Island finished 22-of-51 (.431) and 3-10 (.300) from long range.

Individually, junior Maura McBryan posted a career-high 18 points, while Cornish and Gomez added 14 and 11 respectively.

For Rhode Island, Katie Stailing posted a double double in the loss, with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

With the win, Saint Joseph's improves to 5-17 overall and move into a tie for third in the Atlantic 10 East with a 3-7 record. The Rams fall to 5-16 overall and 3-7 in the A-10.

Saint Joseph's returns to action Thursday when it travel to Temple for a 7 p.m. start.