Nov. 21, 2009

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Backed by 57 points from seniors Ashley Logue, Mariame Djouara, Amy Gillespie and Brittany Ford, the Saint Joseph's women's basketball team opened play at the Michael J. Hagan '85 Arena with a 77-55 win over UMBC on Saturday afternoon.

GALLERY

The Hawks, who were up just 34-31 at halftime, easily pulled away from the Retrievers in the second stanza as they outscored their opponent, 43-24, on 17-of-33 (51.5 percent) from the floor.

Leading 41-35 with 16:24 to go in the game, Saint Joseph's went on a 20-4 run over the next 6:10 to open a 22-point advantage on a three-point play by Ford. UMBC was held to just 1-of-7 from the floor and turned the ball over six times during that stretch and went just 8-of-30 (26.7 percent) from the floor in the second half.

Saint Joseph's would maintain at least a 20-point advantage over the remaining time as they improved to1-2 on the year and helped Saint Joseph's basketball, men and women, improve to 3-0 at Hagan Arena.

In the first half, the Hawks had another cold start as they fell behind quickly, 8-1. Djouara, scored the first point for SJU in its new home, with a free throw at 19:07, while Logue's jumper at16:58 was the first Hawk basket.

Saint Joseph's came back to tie the game at 10 all, with a layup by Djouara at 13:02, giving the Hawks their first lead of the game.

Up 22-21, Saint Joseph's used a 10-1 run, from 5:44 to 2:35, to open its biggest lead of the half, 32-23 on a layup by Logue. Logue scored five of her 15 points during that stretch, while sophomore guard Katie Kuester and freshman Shelby Smith combined for the other five points.

UMBC fought back though, outscoring SJU 6-2 to end the half, including the last two baskets to make it a 34-31 game at halftime.

For the game, Saint Joseph's shot 41.4 percent from the floor (29-of-70), 25.9 percent from three-point range (7-of-27) and 66.7 percent from the foul line (12-of-18). The Retrievers finished the game 20-of-59 from the floor (33.9 percent), 2-of-17 from behind the arc (11.8 percent) and 13-of-25 from the foul line (52 percent). The Hawks out rebounded UMBC, 47-40 and caused 14 turnovers, while turning the ball over just seven times.

Individually, Djouara scored a game-high 18 points and added four assists, while Ford went 5-of-5 from the floor and 5-of-6 from the foul line for 15 points. Logue posted a career-best 16 rebounds to go with 15 points for her first double-double of the season, while Gillespie added nine points and four assists. Freshman Ashley Prim added eight points and four assists off the bench, with Smith scoring six points. Kuester, junior Dominique Bryant and sophomore Michelle Baker rounded out SJU's scoring with two points apiece as all 11 Hawks earned playing time.

At the other end, Carlee Cassidy, Katie Brooks and Erin Brown each scored 12 points apiece for UMBC.

Saint Joseph's returns to action Tuesday, November 24, when the Hawks host nationally-ranked Vanderbilt at 7 p.m.

*** Photos from today's game available at www.sidephotos.com.