Nov. 14, 2008

Box Score

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. - The Saint Joseph's women's basketball team found out quickly where it stands as the Hawks opened the 2008-09 season at No. 5/3 Rutgers Friday evening at the Louis Brown Athletic Center. Despite hanging with the nationally-ranked Scarlet Knights for the majority of the second half, a cold first half hindered the Hawks' upset bid as they fell 86-49.

Both teams opened the new season slowly, as the Hawks spotted Rutgers the first two baskets before a layup by junior forward Brittany Ford (Wilmington, Del./Concord) nearly three minutes into the game put SJU on the board.

Up 9-7, the Scarlet Knights began to pull away as their defense stiffened. Rutgers forced three SJU turnovers and held the Hawks to 0-for-4 from the floor over a 4:32 span as they opened up a 23-7 edge on a driving layup by Heather Zurich at 8:47.

Saint Joseph's answered back with three pointer by freshman guard Katie Kuester (Media, Pa./Academy of Notre Dame) and a layup by junior forward Ashley Logue (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Hubert's) to cut the deficit to 23-12.

The Hawks continued to hang tough against No. 5/3 Rutgers, as junior Amy Gillespie's (Springfield, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) jumpshot at 4:43 brought SJU within 30-17. Unfortunately for Saint Joseph's, the Scarlet Knights finished the half on a strong note, using a 14-7 run to cap the opening stanza and a take a 44-24 edge into the lockerroom.

Despite being outscored 8-1 to start the second half, Saint Joseph's continued to chip away, getting the deficit back to 19, 57-38, with 14:26 remaining. The Hawks used a 7-0 run, capped by a jumper by sophomore forward Dominique Bryant (Bowie, Md./St. John's College High School) to match Rutgers as they tried to push the tempo.

Saint Joseph's continued to hang around, with freshman guard Michelle Baker (Wilmington, Del./Brandywine) coming off the bench to score five in a row midway through the half.

But the talented and deep Scarlet Knight bench was too much for SJU as Rutgers out scored the Hawks 22-14 over the final nine minutes.

"Today was an indication that it was the first day of the season," said Saint Joseph's head coach Cindy Griffin. "We played a very talented team and we made mistakes that they capitalized on. But our kids never hung their head and that's something I'm very encouraged by. Base on what I saw, we are going to be okay."

As a team, Saint Joseph's shot 40.4percent from the floor, going 19-of-47, while making 8-of-23 three pointers (34.8 percent). At the other end, Rutgers finished the game 35-of-72 shooting (48.6 percent) and out rebounded the Hawks 42-26. Both teams went to the line 16 times, with SJU making 13 to the Scarlet Knights' 12, while Rutgers' defense harassed the Hawks into 24 turnovers.

Individually, senior guard Jenna Loschiavo (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./Plymouth Whitemarsh) paced the Hawks with 15 points on 4-of-9 shooting from behind the arc and 3-of-4 from the foul line. Logue was the only other Hawk to score in double figures, adding 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Senior guard Mary Kate McDade (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy) recorded a game-high seven assists to go with five points. Baker led all newcomer with nine points, while Kuester added five points off the bench along with junior guard Amy Gillespie (Springfield, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara). Ford added four points before fouling out, while Bryant added two points and five rebounds in a reserve role.

Epiphanny Prince led all players in scoring, pouring in 26 points to go with seven steals, while Kia Vaughn added 11 points and four blocks.

Saint Joseph's returns to action Sunday when the Hawks open the home portion of their schedule versus Lehigh. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at the Gallagher Center on the campus of Philadelphia University.