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Saint Joseph's University

Saint Joseph's Hawks
Saint Joseph's Hawks
Women's Basketball Returns To Conference Play Wednesday Versus Fordham

Women's Basketball SJU Athletic Communications

Women's Basketball Flies Past Saint Francis, 83-53

Dec. 19, 2011

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Using a 21-2 run to end the first half, the Saint Joseph's women's basketball team showed little rust off a nine-day layoff as the Hawks topped Saint Francis (Pa.), 83-53, Monday evening at Hagan Arena. Senior guard Katie Kuester led four Hawks in double figures with a season-high 16 points.

Saint Joseph's (6-4) took control off the tip, running out to a 14-1 edge less than four minutes in. The Hawks hit their first four shots as knocked down 17-of-32 from the floor (53.1 percent) in the first stanza.

Down 27-12, Saint Francis (4-5) used a 7-0 run over a two-minute span to make it a 27-19 game on a jumper by Alexa Hayward at 5:55.

From there though, the Hawks took full control as they outscored the Red Flash 21-2 to end the half and take a 48-21 lead into halftime. Saint Joseph's hit 6-of-10 from the floor during the stretch, including a combined four three pointers from Kuester and sophomore guard Erin Shield, while Saint Francis hit just 1of-10 and turned the ball over four times in the final minutes of the half.

Trailing by 27, the Red Flash continued to fight though in the second, making it a 60-45 game with under seven minutes to play.

But the Hawks responded, outscoring Saint Francis 23-8 to end the game and improve to 4-0 at home this year.

For the game, SJU shot 45 percent from the field (27-of-60), hit 8-of-15 from three-point range (53.3 percent) and shot 21-of-32 from the foul line (65.6 percent). Senior center Samira van Grinsven added 14 points and eight rebounds, while classmate Michelle Baker finished with 13 points and five assists. Shields was the fourth Hawk in double figures with 13 points, while senior Kelly Cavallo added a team-best 11 rebounds.

At the other end, Saint Francis shot just 29.7 percent from the floor (19-of-64), 1-of-12 from three-point range (8.7 percent) and hit 14-of-25 from the foul line (56 percent). Nickia Gibbs led all Red Flash players with a game-high 20 points.

The Hawks return to action this Thursday, December 22, when they host UCLA at 1 p.m.

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