Jan. 5, 2008

Box Score

AKRON, OH - Leading by 23 at the half, the Saint Joseph's women's basketball team hung on to top Akron, 81-75, Saturday at Rhodes Arena. The Hawks were led by freshman center Sarah Acker's 17 points.

Leading 51-28 at the break, Saint Joseph's (8-7) saw its lead slowly chipped away by the Zips. The Hawks saw their lead cut to four, but answered with back-to-back three pointers to up its lead again to 10.

Down five with a minute to play, Akron's Keyla Snowden drove to the hole, but her shot was well short as Acker recovered the rebound and gave the possesion back to the Hawks.

Saint Joseph's remained poised in the final seconds as Mary Kate McDade iced the game with a pair of free throws.

Leading 5-3, Saint Joseph's opened the game, using a 14-4 run, from 17:36 to 13:11, to take a commanding 19-7 advantage as sophomore forward Ashley Logue capped the run with a free throw.

Down 21-11 the Zips (5-9) fought back with a 6-0 run, but the Hawks answered back, scoring 16 straight, including two of their nine first-half three pointers as SJU saw its lead bloom to 37-15 with a layup by freshman Sarah Acker at 5:29.

Saint Joseph's entered the half up 51-28, setting a season-high for points in a half as the Hawks shot 20-of-37 (54.1 percent).

Saint Joseph's returns to action next Saturday, January 12, as the Hawks open their Atlantic 10 schedule at St. Bonaventure at 4:30 p.m.