KINGSTON, R.I. - The Saint Joseph's women's basketball team got a last-second layup by Ashley Robinson to force overtime, but couldn't replicate that in the extra frame as the Hawks fell at Rhode Island, 63-61, Wednesday at the Ryan Center.
Down by two with under two minutes to play in regulation, the Hawks' Kathleen Fitzpatrick scored three of her career-high 25 points on a three-pointer at 1:02 to push SJU ahead 56-55.
Rhode Island responded as Sydney Lewis buried a three-pointer to give her team a 58-56 edge with 38 seconds to go.
Saint Joseph's (8-15, 4-7 Atlantic 10) couldn't convert on its next possession, and fouled twice to force the Rams to a one-and-one situation. Off the inbound on the third Hawk foul, freshman Chelsea Woods tipped the pass and grabbed the loose ball, allowing SJU to call timeout with possession with 15 seconds to go.
Out of the timeout, senior Natasha Cloud drove into the paint, but missed her shot only to have Robinson follow with the tying layup with 1.5 seconds to go to force overtime.
In the extra frame, Saint Joseph's fell behind 63-60, but a foul shot by Cloud made it 63-61 at 1:15.
After a pair of missed chances by both squads, Rhode Island got the ball back on a defensive rebound.
Off the inbounds with 13 seconds to go, Woods again came up big tipping the ball out of bounds off a Rhode Island player to get possession back to the Hawks.
SJU would work the ball to Robinson with time winding down, but the forward couldn't copy her heroics as her shot was off the mark. The Rams would miss a free throw with 0.5 seconds to go, allowing the Hawks no chance at a basket as the horn sounded.
In the first half, the Hawks struggled to find consistency on offense as they fell behind by as many as 10 before entering halftime down 27-19. Despite getting 10 points from Fitzpatrick on 4-of-8 shooting, Saint Joseph's shot just 29.6 percent from the floor (8-of-27) and turned the ball over seven times.
Rhode Island would push its lead to as many as 14 in the second half before the Hawks' comeback to force overtime.
For the game, Saint Joseph's shot 35.8 percent (24-of-67), 23.5 percent from behind the arc (4-of-17) and 64.3 percent from the foul line (9-of-14).
Fitzpatrick added four steals and four rebounds to go with her 25 points, while Robinson and junior Sarah Fairbanks were the only other Hawks in double figures, finishing with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Cloud had a game-high eight assists to go with 10 rebounds and eight points.
At the other end, Rhode Island shot 40.3 percent (25-of-62), 36.4 percent from three-point range (8-of-22) and hit 5-of-10 from the foul line. Charise Wilson led three Rams in double figures with 24 points.
Saint Joseph's returns to action Sunday at Dayton. Game time is set for noon at will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.
Game Notes: The score was tied five times and lead changed hands three times...Woods added two points, three steals, two blocks and two rebounds in 29 minutes...Classmate Adashia Franklyn added two points, five rebounds and four blocked shots...Ciara Andrews finished with two points and an assist...Mackenzie Rule tallied a rebound.
