Nov. 16, 2008

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - The Saint Joseph's women's basketball teamed evened its record at 1-1 with a71-63 win in its home opener versus Lehigh Sunday afternoon at the Gallagher Center. The Hawks saw an early 15-point lead disappear, only to outscore the Mountain Hawks 13-5 to end the contest and earn the victory.

Saint Joseph's got out of the gates quickly versus Lehigh (1-1), grabbing a 10-4 edge less than four minutes into the contest. Junior guard Mariame Djouara sparked the Hawks with a jumpshot and followed that up with a steal and an assist on the first two possessions for the Hawks.

Saint Joseph's extended its lead to 15-9, but the Mountain Hawks fought back with an 8-0 run from 11:45 to 8:11 as Alex Ross gave Lehigh its first lead of the game, 17-15.

Down two, the Hawks offense began to click, rolling up a 16-1 run over the next four minutes as freshman guard Katie Kuester capped the run with a pull-up three pointer on a fastbreak. Saint Joseph's junior forward Brittany Ford accounted for nine of her 11-first half points during that stretch.

Up 35-20, the Hawks saw their lead cut to 10 entering halftime as Lehigh finished the first stanza on an 8-2 run.

Leading 42-32 early in the second half, Saint Joseph's saw their lead slowly chipped away as Lehigh cut the deficit to 42-40 on an Erica Prosser three pointer at 15:03.

The Hawks extended their lead to as many as seven, but the Mountain Hawks still pressed, tying the game twice, at 53 apiece and at 58 all.

With the game tied at 58-58, Saint Joseph's got a free throw from Ford and a big three pointer by junior forward Ashley Logue with 2:59 remaining.

Saint Joseph's defense stiffened over the final minutes, causing two missed shots and two turnovers, with senior guard Mary Kate McDadeadding a decisive three pointer at 1:12 to put SJU up 65-58 and seal the victory.

For the game, the Hawks shot 23-of-52 from the field (44.2 percent), 8-of-16 from three-point range and 17-of-25 from the foul line (68.0 percent). Saint Joseph's got a team-high 19 points from Ford, while Logue and McDade each added 14 points apiece.

Erica Prosser's 20 points paced Lehigh as the Mountain Hawks finished 23-of-58 from the field (39.7 percent), 5-of-18 from behind the arc (27.8 percent) and 12-of-14 from the line, while out rebounding SJU 35-34.

Saint Joseph's returns to action Wednesday at city-rival Drexel. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at the Daskalakis Center.