Feb. 9, 2008

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - It took until the final buzzer to sound, but the Saint Joseph's women's basketball team earned its third straight win, topping Duquesne, 59-56, Saturday afternoon at Alumni Memorail Fieldhouse.

Saint Joseph's (13-10, 5-3 Atlantic 10) led by three with :40 seconds remaining in the game, but the Dukes had possession as 1,109 fans cheered the two squads that were participating in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association "Think Pink Day."

Trailing 59-56, the Dukes' senior Kristi Little took a deep three pointer with :24 seconds remaining, but the ball found only the backboard, causing a hard rebound that neither team could control. Unfortunately for the Hawks, the ball rolled out of bounds of a SJU player, giving Duquesne the ball with :21 seconds remaining and seven on the shot clock.

On the inbounds, Duquesne (11-12, 2-6 A-10) got the ball to Sam Thompson at the top of the arc. As the shot clock began to count down, Thompson's attempt was swatted by the Hawks' sophomore Brittany Ford. The ball got tipped around, with Saint Joseph's junior guard Jenna Loschiavo eventually being fouled with :13 second remaining.

Up 59-56, Loschiavo missed the front end of a one-and-one, giving Duquesne a chance to tie. The Dukes rushed the ball up the court, but the Hawks defense scrambled along the perimeter, causing Little to force a three that was off the mark as the horn sounded.

In the first half, Saint Joseph's trailed 13-10 early, but strung together a 18-2 run over a 5:06 period to take a 28-15 lead on a layup by Loschiavo at the 7:17 mark.

The Hawks, who upped their lead to as many as 15 in the first half, entered halftime up 36-26.

In the second half, Duquesne's defense stiffened. Up 46-40, the Hawks saw their lead evaporate as the Dukes used a 9-3 run to tie the game at 49 on a three-point play by Kelly Britcher at the 6:12 mark.

Saint Joseph's, which went 9-of-33 from the floor in the second half (27.3 percent), was held to just 5-of-25 shooting down the stretch. Fortunately for the Hawks, four of those baskets came in the final minutes as SJU hung on for the win.

For the game, the Hawks went 23-of-58 from the floor (39.7 percent), 5-of-17 from behind the arc (29.4 percent) and 8-of-10 from the foul line, while Duquesne finished 20-of-71 from the field (28.2 percent), 6-of-23 from three-point range (26.1 percent) and 10-of-14 from the line (71.4 percent). Saint Joseph's won the battle on the boards 47-40, but committed 19 turnovers to the Dukes 10.

Individually, sophomore Ashley Logue led the way for the Hawks with 14 points to go with eight rebounds and two steals. Freshman center Sarah Acker posted her third straight double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds to go with three assists and four blocks, while Loschiavo added 13 points off the bench and junior guard Mary Kate McDade adding eight points and a team-high five assists and three steals.

At the other end, Duquesne was led by Britcher's game-high 20 points, while Pollino and Little added 13 and 11 points apiece, respectively.

The Hawks return to action Tuesday, February 12, when Saint Joseph's travels to Charlotte. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

OTHER NOTES: • Both teams wore special pregame pink shooting shirts, with student-athletes wearing pink armbands and shoelaces to support awareness and help fight breast cancer.