March 8, 2008

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - In arguably its biggest game of the season, the Saint Joseph's women's basketball team's biggest weakness showed, as the Hawks shot just 27.1 percent in falling to Xavier, 74-52, in the Atlantic 10 Quarterfinals at Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse.

It was a slow start for the Hawks as they struggled on offense. Xavier (22-8) jumped out an 8-1 lead, while SJU turned the ball over three times and went 0-6 from the field over the opening 4:41.

Saint Joseph's (17-14) fought back though, behind seven points from sophomore forward Brittany Ford , as the Hawks put together a 16-10 run over the next 7:57, cutting the deficit to 18-17 on a three pointer by sophomore guard Amy Gillespie.

Unfortunately for the Hawks, their cold streak returned on offense, going 1-of-8 to end the half. At the other end, the Musketeers used a 16-3 run to open their biggest lead of the half, 34-20, with 1:24 left in the opening stanza.

The Hawks entered the lockerroom down 34-22 after going 6-of-29 from the field (20.7 percent), while Xavier shot 15-of-28 (53.6 percent) and held a 20-6 edge in scoring in the paint.

In the second stanza, Saint Joseph's offense still couldn't get on track, shooting just 33.3 percent on 10-of-30. The Hawks smallest deficit came 1:03 into the second half, as they trailed 36-24, but couldn't get anything started as Xavier upped its lead to 19, 48-29 with 13:14 left in the game.

The Musketeers would go on to extend their lead to as many as 26, as SJU could only fight to within 16.

For the Hawks, junior guard Jenna Loschiavo led the way with nine points, while Gillespie added eight off the bench. Playing in her final collegiate game, senior guard Amy Wold scored seven points and had two assists while playing on an injured foot, while classmate Timisha Gomez capped her SJU career with six points and six rebounds. Sophomore forward Ashley Logue added a team-high eight rebounds and five points, while Ford finished with seven points. Junior guard Mary Kate McDade posted a team-high three assists to go along with six points, as freshmen Sarah Acker and Kallie Hovatter added three points and one point apiece. Rookie Alexis Johnson added a rebound and a block off the bench.

At the other end, Xavier had four players score in double digits, led by Amber Harris' 13 points and 11 rebounds. The Musketeers, who shot 32-of-64 from the field, finished with a 48-18 edge in scoring in the paint and a 50-32 advantage in rebounding.

OF NOTE:
• Gomez tied the Saint Joseph's all-time games played mark with Kim Foley's (1985-89) as she played in her 124th contest tonight.

• Saint Joseph's 17-14 record marks the 33rd winning season in the program's 35-year history of Division I play.