Dec. 8, 2007

Box Score

IOWA CITY, IOWA - Leading for a majority of the game, the Saint Joseph's women's basketball team couldn't hold off a final push by No. 21 Wyoming as the Hawks fell to the Cowgirls, 66-64, at the Hawkeye Challenge. Saint Joseph's will face Northern Illinois in the consolation game Sunday at 3:30 EST.

Paced by 14 of sophomore guard Amy Gillespie's career-high 20 points, Saint Joseph's (5-4) jumped out to 17-6 advantage, and took a 35-25lead into halftime.

The Hawks would extend their lead to as many as 13, 40-27, but Wyoming (7-1) kept chipping away, and behind a 14-2 run over a five minute span, took a 60-53 lead with 2:33 remaining.

Saint Joseph's stormed back, and cut the deficit to two, 66-64, on a three pointer by Jenna Loschiavo with six seconds left.

The Hawks fouled, with the Cowgirls missing both bonus free throws at their end. However it wasn't enough time as a desperation three by Timisha Gomez was off the mark.

Individually, Gillespie paced SJU with 20 points on 7-of-12 from the floor, including four three pointers and two free throws. Freshman Sarah Acker posted a double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds as SJU finished 27-of-55 from the field (49.1 percent), 6-of-13 from three-point range (46.2 percent, but just 4-of-9 from the foul line.

At the other end, Aubrey Vandiver paced the Cowgirls with 20 points, while Wyoming shot 47.1 percent from the field (24-of-51).