Feb. 12, 2011

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - The Saint Joseph's women's basketball team extended its win streak to three games as the Hawks topped Richmond, 71-61, Saturday afternoon at Hagan Arena. Freshman guard Erin Shields led four Hawks in double figures with 17 points and added four assists as Saint Joseph's improved to 15-9 overall and 5-5 in the Atlantic 10.

Up 30-29 to start the second half, Saint Joseph's pulled away from Richmond in the early stages of the final frame. Behind a 13-4 spurt, the Hawks opened a 43-33 lead on a three pointer by junior Katie Kuester at 15:50.

Saint Joseph's held a 50-39 lead with 12:22 to go, but the Spiders mounted a furious comeback to retake the lead. Richmond put together a 14-2 run, taking a 54-53 lead on a layup by Brittani Shells at 7:30.

The Hawks answered back immediately with an 11-0 run as Shields scored four of her 17 points during that stretch and junior forward Samira Van Grinsven gave SJU a double digit lead, 63-53, with a pair of free throws with 4:31 to go.

Richmond (15-10, 6-5 A-10) would come no closer than six points from there as the Hawks hit six-straight free throws in the final minute to close out the game.

In the first half, neither team established a comfortable advantage as the two teams exchanged leads nine times. The Hawks led by six early, with Richmond holding its biggest lead, three points, less than five minutes later.

For the game, Saint Joseph's shot 45.6 percent from the floor (26-of-57), 50 percent from three-point range (6-of-12) and 86.7 percent from the free throw line (13-of-15). Outrebounding Richmond 37-28, the Hawks' offense truly excelled in the second half, hitting 52 percent of its shots (13-of-25), 83.3 percent from behind the arc (5-of-6) and knocking down all 10 free throws.

Individually, Van Grinsven added 15 points, five rebounds, four assists and a pair of blocks, while classmate Kelly Cavallo grabbed a game-high nine rebounds and added 12 points. Kuester was the fourth Hawk in double figures, scoring all 11 of her points in the second half and handing out a team-high five assists.

At the other end, Crystal Goring scored a game-high 22 points, while Abby Oliver and Shells added 16 and 12 points, respectively. As a team, Richmond shot 43.3 percent from the field (26-of-60), 23.1 percent from three-point range (3-of-13) and 85.7 percent from the foul line (6-of-7).

Saint Joseph's returns to action Wednesday at Duquesne. Game time is set for 7 p.m.