Dec. 7, 2011

Box Score

EASTON, Pa. - Senior guard Michelle Baker led the way with 18 points as the Saint Joseph's women's basketball team held off Lafayette, 65-57, on Wednesday night at the Kirby Sports Center. Baker was one of four Hawks in double figures for the game as the Hawks' wont their third straight game.

Saint Joseph's (5-3) led by seven, 32-25, at halftime and would push the margin as high as 12 at 40-28 with 14:21 to go.

Lafayette (3-6), however, clawed back into the game, getting within six in the final minutes. The Hawks kept the Leopards at bay, shooting 10-for-10 from the free throw line in the final minute to ice the game.

In the first half, SJU started slowly, trailing 5-4 five minutes in. The Hawks quickly took control of the contest, opening a 14-7 advantage on a free throw by Redshirt sophomore forward Ashley Robinson at 9:24.

Saint Joseph's would continue to push the ball, opening its biggest lead of the half, 25-12, on fastbreak jumper by senior guard Katie Kuester.

The Leopards answered though, using a 13-7 run to end the half and make it a 32-25 advantage for SJU despite Lafayette shooting just 29.4 percent from the floor (10-of-34).

For the Hawks, Kuester had 11 points while senior forward Kelly Cavallo and sophomore guard Erin Shields scored 10 apiece. Cavallo also added 10 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. Additionally, senior center Samira van Grinsven reached the 1,000-point mark for her career with a jumper at 18:24.

Brya Freeland led all scorers, pouring in 21 for the Leopards.

The Hawks return to action Saturday as they open Big 5 play at Villanova at 2 p.m.