March 5, 2011

Box Score

LOWELL, Mass. - A 23-3 run by #6 Xavier that spanned both halves proved too much for the Saint Joseph's women's basketball team to overcome as the Hawks fell to the top-seeded Musketeers, 71-55, Saturday afternoon in the Quarterfinals of the 2011 Atlantic 10 Tournament at The Tsongas Center.

Up 27-20 with less than two minutes to go in the first half, the Hawks saw their lead cut to 27-25 by halftime, followed by an 18-6 run to start the second half that put the Musketeers up 43-33 on a jumper by amber Harris at 12:31.

Xavier (26-2) would extend its lead to as many as 22, but the Hawks continued to fight. Staying active, Saint Joseph's made it a 66-53 game on a steal and layup by freshman guard Erin Shields with 1:49 to go.

However, the Musketeers reinserted its starters and closed the game out on a 6-2 run.

In the first half, Saint Joseph's jumped out to a 6-2 edge, but the Musketeers countered with a 14-4 run, taking a 16-10 lead on a jumper by Harris at 11:10.

Eight-straight points by junior guard Katie Kuester gave the Hawks the lead again, opening a 20-16 lead on a jumper at the 8:08 mark. Xavier tied the game at 20-20, but Saint Joseph's answered with a 7-0 run, taking its biggest lead of the half, 27-20, on Kuester jumper with just over two minutes to go.