Feb. 21, 2009

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Fighting back from as many as 19 points, the Saint Joseph's women's basketball tied its game at 49 against Charlotte with 6:00 left to go. Unfortunately for the Hawks, the 49ers quickly answered, pulling away for a 69-55 win Saturday afternoon at the Gallagher Center.

Down 46-34 with 10:58 left in the game, Saint Joseph's strung together a 15-3 run over the next 4:58, as the Hawks tied the game at 49 apiece on three pointer by senior Mary Kate McDade. McDade and fellow senior guard Jenna Loschiavo combined for 13 of SJU's 15 points.

Playing from behind for a majority of the game, the Hawks had a chance to take their first lead after getting a defensive stop. However a turnover on the ensuing possession by Saint Joseph's started a 12-0 run by Charlotte that saw the 49ers take a commanding 61-49 edge with 1:54 to go.

The Hawks would come no closer than 10 from there as they fell to 12-15 on the year and 4-8 in Atlantic 10 play.

In the first half, Saint Joseph's stuck close with Charlotte in the opening minutes and trailed just 5-2. However, the Hawks offense was quickly stifled, going 7:31 without scoring, while the 49ers scored 10 straight points to open up a 15-2 edge on a free throw by Ashley Spriggs at the 12:18 mark.

Saint Joseph's finally got its offense moving, scoring on two straight possessions, but Charlotte continued to pull away at the other end, opening a 25-6 lead with 7:12 left in the half.

From there though, the Hawks turned up the scoring. Behind a 14-2 run from 6:59 to 1:22, Saint Joseph's chopped Chharlotte's lead to just seven, 27-20, as Loschiavo capped the run with three pointer, while McDade added five of her career-high 12 points during that stretch.

The 49ers would take a 33-21 lead into halftime, outscoring SJU 4-2 in the final minute.

For the game, the Hawks shot 32.1 percent from the field (17-of-53), 31.3 percent from three-point range (5-of-16) and 16-of-23 from the foul line (69.6 percent). At the other end, Charlotte shot 46.3 percent from the field (25-of-54), 30.8 percent from behind the arc (30.8 percent) and 15-of-17 from the foul line (88.2 percent). The 49ers out rebounded SJU 44-26, but the Hawks caused 19 Charlotte turnovers to just 13 at their end.

Individually, Loschiavo paced SJU with 13 points, while McDade added 12 points and four assists. The duo, along with senior managers Ryan Gensler and P.J. McCall and the Hawk, Kevin "K-Bob" Hensler, were honored for their dedication to the program in a pregame ceremony.

Danielle Burgin led three 49ers in double figures, scoring a game-high 19 points as Charlotte improved to 19-7 overall and 10-2 in the A-10.

Saint Joseph's caps the home portion of its schedule this Wednesday versus Massachusetts. Game time is set for 8 p.m. at The Palestra.

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