Dec. 9, 2007

Box Score

IOWA CITY, IOWA - Despite a career-high 22 points from Hawkeye Challenge All-Tournament Team member sophomore guard Amy Gillespie's, the Saint Joseph's women's basketball team fell to Northern Illinois, 90-82, Sunday in the tournament's consolation game.

The Hawks started out quickly in the first half as freshman center Sarah Acker all of SJU's points in a 6-0 spurt to start the game.

Leading 11-5, the Huskies tied the game up at 11 all on back-to-back three pointers by Terriel Cannon and Kylie York.

Saint Joseph's recaptured the lead gain, only to have the Huskies match it. Down 34-31, Northern Illinois scored five straight to take their first lead with 1:28 remaining in the half on a Shari' Welton free throw.

The Hawks cut their deficit to 39-38 with 31 seconds left in the half, but a jump shot in the paint by Mauvolene Adams in the final seconds gave the Huskies a 41-38 edge heading into the lockerrooms as NIU shot 16-of-28 (57.1 percent) to the Hawks' 15-of-32 (46.9 percent) from the field.

Trailing 48-43 to start the second half, the Hawks mounted an 18-6 run, from 18:18 to 17311, to take a 61-54 lead on a pair of free throws by sophomore guard Amy Gillespie's (Springfield, PA/Cardinal O'Hara).

Northern Illinois continued to fight though, tying the game three times over the next six minutes.

With the game tied at 68 apiece with 7:55 remaining, the Huskies' offense took over, outscoring SJU 17-5 over the next 7:04, taking a 85-73 on a pair of free throws by Kylie York. Saint Joseph's would get no closer than the final score of 90-82.

Acker added a career-high 26 points for the Hawks and grabbed seven rebounds alongside Gillespie's seven.

Saint Joseph's returns to action Friday, December 21 at Seton Hall. Game time is set for 12:30 p.m.