Nov. 28, 2007

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Trying their best to play the part of David to No. 5/6 Rutgers' Goliath, the Saint Joseph's women's basketball team fell just short, as the Hawks fell to the Scarlet Knights, 56-50, Wednesday night at Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse. Saint Joseph's held a three-point lead with 3:55 remaining, but Rutgers scored 10 of the game's final 11 points to pull out the victory.

After trailing by as many as 12 points in the first half, Saint Joseph's (3-2) fought back to take its first lead in the final 10 minutes.

Trailing 40-31, the Hawks mounted a 14-4 run, from 17:55 to 8:08, as SJU's defense held Rutgers to just 2-of-17 from the floor during that stretch. Following a layup by Saint Joseph's freshman guard Kallie Hovatter that tied the game at 44, SJU senior Amy Wold intercepted a Rutgers' pass and found Hovatter, who was fouled on the play. Hovatter knocked missed the first, but knocked down the second foul shot to give Saint Joseph's their first lead, 45-44, at 8:08.

Following a basket by Rutgers (4-1), Saint Joseph's scored four straight points, with junior Mary Kate McDade converting a three-point play to put the Hawks ahead again.

Clinging to its biggest advantage of the game, Saint Joseph's couldn't hold off the Scarlet Knights over the final minutes. Rutgers' Kia Vaughn gave her team a 50-49 edge on a layup at 1:52 after grabbing a pair of offensive rebounds during the same possession.

The Scarlet Knights extended their lead to 52-49, but Saint Joseph's cut the deficit to just two with 1:06 remaining on a free throw by sophomore Amy Gillespie.

Unfortunately for the Hawks, Rutgers got the bounces in the final moments as 1-and-1 free throw attempt by Vaughn was off the mark, but the long rebound fell into the hands of an RU teammate with 12 seconds to go and RU went 4-of-4 from the foul line to cap the game.

In the first half, Rutgers jumped out to a 10-0 lead over the first 5:35 and held control for most of the stanza, allowing the Hawks to come no closer than six, 19-13, while extending their lead to as many as 12, 27-15.

Tailing 35-28 at the half, the Hawks had momentum on their side as they scored the final three points and shot 47.8 percent (11-of-23) from the floor.

Individually, senior guard Timisha Gomez paced the Hawks with 14 points, while Acker added 10 points and eight rebounds. Saint Joseph's, which shot 17-of-42 from the field (40.5 percent), went just 11of-19 from the foul line (57.9 percent).

At the other end, Rutgers was led by Vaugh and Epiphanny Prince as both scored 12 points apiece. As a team, the Scarlet Knights went 23-of-68 from the floor (33.8 percent).

Saint Joseph's returns to action at the Brown Classic this Saturday at 3 p.m. versus Manhattan.