Jan. 12, 2008

Box Score

OLEAN, NY - Behind a career-high 21 points from senior guard Timisha Gomez and 15 second-half points from freshman center Sarah Acker, the Saint Joseph's women's basketball team topped St. Bonaventure, 68-61, in SJU's Atlantic 10 opener at Bob Lanier Court at the Reilly Center.

Down 35-34 at the half, Saint Joseph's (9-7, 1-0 Atlantic 10) quickly outscored the Bonnies, 7-2 to start the half as Acker accounted for all seven points.

The Bonnies (12-4, 0-1 A-10), who trailed 49-44, clawed back to regain the lead, 50-49, behind a 6-0 run.

A pair of baskets by Gomez put the Hawks up again, this time, 53-50.

The game remained tight, with the Hawks leading 60-59 with 1:02 remaining. Gomez, who shot 9-of-15 from the field, again came up big, burying a jumpshot from the foul line to put SJU up 62-59 with 46 seconds remaining.

Saint Joseph's defense tightened on the next possession, forcing a shot by the Bonnies's Andrea Doneth, with Acker corralling the rebound. The Hawks would head to the line six times in the final seconds as they held on for the win.

Behind a 10-0 run over nearly four minutes the Bonnies opened their biggest lead of the first half, expanding their 14-13 edge to 24-13 as they held the Hawks to 0-6 from the field and three turnovers.

Trailing 28-19 at the 7:13 mark, Saint Joseph's made a run of its own, tying the score at 31 apiece. The Hawks got back-to-back layup from sophomore forward Brittany Ford to cap a 12-3 run that knotted the game.

Saint Joseph's sophomore guard Amy Gillespie nailed a three pointer to put SJU up 34-33 with 31 seconds remaining, but Ashley Edwards gave the Bonnies the edge at the half, making a short jumper with 2.2 seconds left. Both team finished the half shooting over 50 percent, with the Hawks going 13-of-25 (52 percent), while the Bonnies shot 14-of-25 (56 percent).

Saint Joseph's returns to action this Wednesday as the Hawks host Fordham in SJU Atlantic 10 home opener at 7 p.m.