PHILADELPHIA - The Saint Joseph's women's basketball team held off a late charge from Big 5 rival Penn to earn a 57-53 victory at the Palestra on Tuesday evening.

Leading by eight with under 90 seconds to play, the Hawks (1-3, 1-1 Big 5) saw their lead chipped away as the Quakers used a 9-3 run to make it a 53-51 game with 35 seconds to play.

Following a made free throw by Penn (1-3, 0-1 Big 5), SJU senior Amanda Fioravanti was fouled and calmly made a pair of free throws to push the lead to 55-51.

Off a missed jumper, Penn's Anna Ross was fouled on the rebound and connected on a pair for free throws to bring her team back to within two points.

Saint Joseph's senior Jaryn Garner would hit a pair of clutch free throws with 13 seconds to play, while Hawks' defense sealed the victory as it suffocated the Quakers in the final moments.

The Hawks took control from the tip as sophomore Sarah Veilleux scored 13 of her career-high 15 points in the first half. Connecting on 13-of-26 from the field, including 4-of-8 from three-point range, Saint Joseph's pushed its lead to as many as 12 in the half before entering halftime ahead 33-26.

Holding the Quakers at a distance for the third quarter, SJU saw the lead slowly slip as an early fourth quarter spurt by host Penn made it 42-38.

Garner would respond with a three-pointer and Fioravanti followed with a steal and layup to push the lead to nine. Saint Joseph's would continue to hold Penn off until the final frantic moments.

For the game, SJU shot 20-of-44 from the floor (45.5 percent), hit 5-of-9 from behind the arc and 12-of-16 from the foul line. 

Individually, Veilleux matched her career-high with seven rebounds and added two points and a blocked shot, while junior Adashia Franklyn chipped in with 11 points, seven boards and two blocked shots. Junior Chelsea Woods was the third Hawk in double figures, finishing with 10 points.

At the other end, Sydney Stipanovick led Penn with a game-high 16 points, but the Quakers were held to just 17-of-51 from the floor 

The Hawks return to action this Friday when they face BYU in the opening game of the New Mexico Thanksgiving Tournament. Game time is set for 6:30 p.m. ET.

Game Notes: Veilleux made her first career start on Tuesday...Fioravanti added nine points, five rebounds two assists and two steals...Garner had five points to go with a team-best four assists...Senior Mackenzie Rule finished with four points, two rebounds and an assist in her first career start...Sophomore Alyssa Monaghan finished with three points and two steals...Sophomore Kristalyn Baisden played nine minutes...SJU finished with a 30-25 edge in rebounds...The Hawks' bench outscored Penn 14-0.

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