Jan. 14, 2007

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Despite a record-setting nine blocks by senior forward Erica Pollock, the Saint Joseph's women's basketball team feel to Richmond 64-57 in double overtime Sunday at Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse.

Trailing by 15, 41-26, with 12:11 left in regulation, the Spiders strung together a 23-7 run over the next nine minutes, taking a 49-47 edge on a three pointer by Kara Powell.

After giving up a Richmond free throw, Saint Joseph's responded as sophomore Jenna Loschiavo banked in a deep three pointer to tie the game with 1:12 left in regulation.

The Spiders had a chance to win the game in regulation, but Pollock blocked a layup by Katie Holzer to force overtime.

In the first extra session, Richmond opened a 53-50 edge as Powell drained three free throws.

The Hawks cut it to 53-51 on a Jen Oyler free throw with 1:35 remaining and on the ensuing possession tied the game on a layup by Whitney Ffrench with 48 seconds remaining.

Richmond again had a chance to win the game on the last possession, but again Pollock came up huge, blocking a Powell layup with two seconds remaining to force double overtime.

Saint Joseph's held a 57-55 edge in the second extra frame thanks in part to a pair of Pollock free throws with 2:43 remaining, but would go cold from there. The Spiders held the Hawks to 0-of-6 from the field over the remainder of the frame and in turn went 7-of8 from the foul line to earn the win.

In the opening half, the Hawks and Spiders battled back and forth over the opening 10 minutes with the Hawks leading 15-14 with 8:44 remaining. From there, Saint Joseph's went on a 14-3 run to open a 29-17 advantage with 2:34 remaining in the half. Richmond would add a late basket as the Hawks held a 29-19 edge into the half.

For the game, Saint Joseph's shot 17-of-65 from the field (26.2 percent), 6-of-23 from three-point range (26.1 percent) and 17-of-20 from the foule line. At the other end, Richmodn went 21-of-76 from the floor (27.6 percent), 3-of-17 from behind the arc (17.6 percent) and 19-of-30 from the foul line (63.3 percent).

Individually, Loschiavo and senior Ayahna Cornish led SJU with 12 points apiece, while Oyler finished with 11. Pollock, who had a team-high 13 rebounds and six points, set a new SJU single-game record with nine blocks, surpassing the previous mark of seven set by Stephanie Graff during the 2003-04 season.

Katie Holzer paced Richmond with 18 points and 15 rebounds, while Powell finished with 13 points.

With the loss, the Hawks fall to 8-8 on the year and 1-2 in the Atlantic 10. Richmond improves to 8-10 overall and 2-1 in the A-10.

The Hawks return to action Thursday, January 18, at Fordham.