Dec. 28, 2009

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Backed by a solid all-around performance at both ends of the court, Saint Joseph's women's basketball team downed Brown, 65-36, in the opening game of the 19th Annual Hawk Classic Monday afternoon at Hagan Arena. The Hawks, which had all 11 players scores, will face either Boston University in the title game Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Both teams came out of the gate slowly, with Saint Joseph's (5-7) holding an 8-2 edge just over five minutes into the contest.

Brown (3-8) tallied six-straight points to tie the game, but the Hawks answered back with a 16-6 run over a 6:12 span as senior forward Ashley Logue's jumper gave her team a 24-14 lead.

Up 24-17, the Hawks used a 5-0 spurt to end the first half, taking a 29-17 advantage into the second half. Saint Joseph's caused 15 Brown turnovers and held the Brown Bears to just 6-of-25 from the floor in the stanza.

Saint Joseph's offense clicked to start the second half as the Hawks put together a 15-2 run, opening a 44-119 edge on a jump shot by senior guard Mariame Djouara at 14:13. The Hawks, which got seven points from junior forward Dominique Bryant during that stretch, caused six Brown turnovers and held their opponent to 1-of-3 from the field in the opening 5:47.

The Hawks would keep the Brown Bears at a safe distance, never allowing them within 20 points, while stretching their lead to 30 twice in the remaining time.

For the game, Saint Joseph's forced 27 turnovers and held Brown to just 23.6 percent from the field (13-of-55). At the other end, the Hawks shot 34.8 percent from the floor (24-of-69), 70.6 percent from the foul line (12-of-17) and knocked down 5-of-25 from three-point range.

Bryant led the Hawks offense with 11 points, while Logue finished with 10 points and four assists. Sophomore guard Katie Kuester knocked down a pair of three-point field goals and finished with eight points, with freshman guard Ashley Prim and sophomore guard Michelle Baker each adding six points apiece. Senior forward Brittany Ford had seven points, with freshman forward Mireia Vila scoring her first five collegiate points. Djouara and sophomore forward Kelly Cavallo had four points apiece, while senior guard Amy Gillespie and freshman guard Shelby Smith finished with three points and two points, respectively.

Christina Johnson paced Brown with 11 points.

In the nightcap, Boston University (4-6) held on to top South Carolina, 68-67. Down 68-65, the Gamecocks (6-4) had a chance to tie the game in the final moments only to have Kelsey Bone's three-point attempt blocked by Boston University's Kerry Cashman. South Carolina got the rejection and quickly scored, but the buzzer sounded as the ball fell through the netting.

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