Feb. 11, 2009

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - It took eight years, but the Saint Joseph's women's basketball team can once again add Philadelphia Big 5 champions to its resume as the Hawks topped La Salle, 59-42, Wednesday at the Daskalakis Center to earn a share of the City Series Crown. Saint Joseph's improved to 3-1 in Big 5 action with the victory and will share the league title with Temple.

Looking to claim the Big 5 title and snap a two-game losing skid, the Hawks came out aggressive in the first half and took control of the game from the start. Saint Joseph's jumped out to a seven-point advantage, 13-7, as junior forward Ashley Logue and senior Jenna Loschiavo combined for 11 of SJU's points.

The Hawks (11-13, 3-6 Atlantic 10) held a double-digit lead for a majority of the first stanza, opening their biggest lead, 35-19, with 4:29 to go. Saint Joseph's, which tool a 35-23 lead into halftime, shot 48.4 percent from the floor (15-of-31) in the first half, while holding La Salle to just 32.1 percent (9-of-28).

In the second half, Saint Joseph's gave up a basket to the Explorers to start, but opened up a 19-point edge, 46-27, behind an 8-2 spurt.

La Salle (10-14, 1-8 A-10, 2-2 Big 5) answered with seven straight points to cut it to a 12-point game with 11:37 to play, but that would be as close as the Hawks would let them get. Saint Joseph's got baskets from five different Hawks over the remainder of the contest, with freshman Michelle Baker adding six of her 12 points coming in the second half.

For the game, Saint Joseph's shot 42.6 percent from the field (26-of-61), 4-of-13 from three-point range (30.8 percent) and 3-of-3 from the foul line. At the other end, La Salle shot 32.1 percent from the floor (17-of-53), 2-of-12 from behind the arc (16.7 percent) and 6-of-8 from the foul line. The Hawks finished with a 38-34 edge in rebounds and cause 11 Explorer turnovers.

Individually, Logue and Loschiavo each tallied 15 points apiece for SJU, while Baker tied her career high with 12 points. Freshman forward Kelly Cavallo added a career-best eight points to go with five rebounds, while junior forward Brittany Ford and freshman guard Katie Kuester added four points and two points, respectively. Senior Mary Kate McDade, playing in her final Big 5 contest along with Loschiavo, added three points and seven assists, while sophomore forward Dominique Bryant was held off the scoreboard, but added a team-high seven rebounds and two blocks.

At the other end, Jamie Walsh's 10 points paced La Salle.

Saint Joseph's victory helped the Hawks to their 15th Big 5 title and first since the 2000-01 season. They return to action this Sunday, February 15, at Temple. Game time is set for 2 p.m.

***Photos of tonight's game available on www.sidephotos.com.