Jan. 26, 2011

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - The Saint Joseph's women's basketball team struggled on offense Wednesday evening, matching its season-low point total in a 51-40 loss to St. Bonaventure. The Hawks shot just 35.4 percent from the floor (17-of-48) as they fall to 12-8 overall and 2-4 in the Atlantic 10.

In the first half, neither team could shake free as the game remained a two-possession contest over the entirety of the 20 minutes. Saint Joseph's held a 15-11 lead early, but the Bonnies fought back to take a 26-21 lead into the second half.

The Bonnies (14-7, 4-2 A-10) controlled the pace of the game for most of the second stanza, opening a 36-27 lead on a layup by Alaina Walker with 11:34 to go.

Saint Joseph's answered though, using a 9-1 run over the next five minutes, to make it a 37-36 game on a jumper by junior forward Samira Van Grinsven with 6:11 to play.

The game remained a one-point contest, 41-40, with under three minutes to play, but St. Bonaventure got back-to-back three pointers from Megan Van Tatenhove and Jessica Jenkins to pull away. The Bonnies, which added four free throws in the final minute, held the Hawks to 0-of-6 from the field in the final three minutes to preserve the win.

Individually, Van Grinsven paced the Hawks with a team-high 16 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots. Saint Joseph's, which shot just 3-of-12 from three-point range and 3-of-6 from the foul line, got six points and six assists from freshman guard Erin Shieldsand six points from senior forward Dominique Bryant.

At the other end, Van Tatenhove tallied a game-high 19 points as St. Bonaventure hit 19-of-52 from the floor (36.5 percent), 6-of-18 from behind the arc and 7-of-8 from the line.

The Hawks return to action Saturday at Dayton at 2 p.m.

OF NOTE: Wednesday's game was moved up from a 7 p.m. start to a 5p.m. tip due to inclement weather...The Hawks previously scored 40 points in a 46-40 loss at Lehigh on December 1.