Jan. 3, 2010

Box Score

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Saint Joseph's women's basketball team capped the road portion of its non-conference schedule with a hard-fought loss at Maryland, 79-69, Sunday afternoon at the Comcast Center. Senior guard Amy Gillespie's 16 points helped spark a second-half surge that made it a single digit game for the majority of the second half before the final outcome.

Up 12 at the half, Maryland quickly added to its lead, taking a 42-26 advantage on a Dianda Tchatchouanga at 16:42.

From there, the Hawks mounted a furious comeback, as a layup by freshman guard Ashley Prim made it a 45-39 game at 13:56.

Saint Joseph's (6-8) and Maryland continued to trade baskets, with neither team truly gaining any ground. Another Prim free throw made it a four-point game, 57-53 game with 8:11 to go.

The Hawks kept it within a pair of baskets over the next few minutes, but the Terps pulled away in the closing minutes. A 5-0 run extended Maryland's lead from 64-59 to 69-59 and the Hawks would never make it a single-possession game from there.

In the first half, the Hawks snagged a quick 3-2 edge to start the game on a three-point field goal by junior forward Dominique Bryant, but Maryland quickly put the clamps on SJU's offense.

The Terps scored 11-straight points over a four-minute span to gain a 13-3 lead on layup by Tianna Hawkins at 13:37.

Saint Joseph's cut the deficit to 15-9, but was held to just four points over nearly an eight-minute span as Maryland opened a 29-13 lead. The Hawks went over six minutes between field goals as the Terps opened their biggest lead of the half on a three pointer by Anjale Barrett at 4:24.

Sparked by a Gillespie layup in traffic, the Hawks outscored Maryland 11-7 to end the stanza to make it a 36-24 at halftime.

Saint Joseph's shot just 8-of-36 from the field (22.2 percent) in the first half, but finished 23-of-70 for the game (32.9 percent). Gillespie and Bryant combined for 29 points, while sophomore guard Katie Kuester and senior forward Ashley Logue added nine points apiece.

At the other end, Tchatchouang had a game-high 25 points as Maryland improved to 12-2 on the year and 11-0 at home.

Saint Joseph's returns to Saturday when the Hawks open their Atlantic 10 slate at home against Fordham. Game time is set for 1 p.m.