Dec. 20, 2012

Box Score

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Despite a season-high five players in double figures, the Saint Joseph's women's basketball team fell to Central Michigan, 98-84, in the opening game of the Gator Holiday Classic Thursday afternoon at the O'Connell Center.

Redshirt Chatilla van Grinsven and junior Erin Shields combined for 35 points for the Hawks, while junior Ilze Gotfrida and redshirt sophomore Ashley Robinson and Natasha Cloud scored 14, 13 and 11 points respectively.

The Hawks (5-4) will face either the host Florida Gators or Savannah State in the consolation game at 4:30 p.m. on Friday.

Down 47-42 to start the second half, the Hawks started quickly and took a 52-51 lead on a Shields' three-pointer at 16:42.

Saint Joseph's held a 56-55 lead on a van Grinsven jumper at 13:45, but the Chippewas would begin to pull away from there. Behind a 15-4 run, Central Michigan opened up a 70-60 advantage with 9:36 to play.

Unfortunately for the Hawks, they'd come no closer than eight points from there as Central Michigan hit 21-of-29 from the line from there.

In the first half, Central Michigan jumped out to a nine-point edge just under four minutes in. A three-pointer by Brandie Baker gave the Chippewas a 13-4 lead at 16:16.

The Hawks fought back to take their first lead midway through the stanza as an 8-0 run saw SJU go from down 23-18 to a 26-23 lead on a layup by Cloud at 9:58.

In a fast-paced final minutes, the Hawks held a 40-38 edge late, but Central Michigan used a 9-2 run over the final 2:21 to take a 47-42 lead into the second frame.