Nov. 25, 2006

Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, IL - A 16-0 run over the final five minutes of regulation was the difference Saturday afternoon at Assembly Hall as the Saint Joseph's women's basketball team fell to Illinois, 69-56. Leading 53-51 with 5:51 remaining, the Hawks were held to only three points the rest of the way as the Fighting Illini scored 18.

Despite the final score, the game was very much back-and-forth for the majority of the game as there were 14 ties and 18 lead changes.

In the first half, Illinois opened its biggest lead, five, on a Jenna Smith jump shot at 11:25 to put her team up 13-8.

Saint Joseph's answered back as junior Timisha Gomez scored seven in a row to give SJU a 15-13 edge on a three pointer at 9:19.

Both teams would trade the lead with no team going up by more than one possession before the half. The Fighting Illini would take a 31-28 edge into the locker room.

In the second half, both teams continued to trade the lead, with the Hawks opening a 44-41 edge on a three pointer by sophomore Jen Oyler at 10:23.

Unfortunately for the Hawks, Illinois would stay close, and with its late run, pull off the victory.

For the game, the Hawks shot 24-of-60 from the floor (40 percent) and 6-of-23 from behind the arc (26.1 percent) but only 2-of-3 from the foul line. At the other end, Illinois went 24-of-51 (47.1 percent) and finished 15-of-18 from the foul line (83.3 percent).

Individually, Gomez led the Hawks with 15 points, while Oyler added 13 in the losing effort. Senior Erica Pollock added a team-high seven rebounds, while junior Amy Wold added nine points off the bench.

Illinois was led by Lori Bjork's 21 points, while Danyel Crutcher and Jenna Smith added 12 points apiece.

In a tightly fought first half, Illinois grabbed the early lead.

Saint Joseph's returns to action Wednesday, November 29, at Princeton. Game time is set for 7 p.m.