ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - In a game of runs, it was BYU who had the most critical one as the Cougars used a 24-4 run that spanned the final two quarters en route to topping Saint Joseph's, 71-56, on Friday evening in the opening game of the University of New Mexico Thanksgiving Tournament at The Pit.

Saint Joseph's will face host New Mexico at 4:30 p.m. ET in the consolation game.

After falling down by 17 in the third period, the Hawks (1-4) battled back to take their first lead of the game in the quarter's final minute. Trailing 40-23, Saint Joseph's went on a 24-6 run over a seven minute period as senior Jaryn Garner gave her team a 47-46 advantage on a jumper in the paint with 36 seconds to go in the quarter.

Despite seeing their lead evaporate, BYU calmly responded as Cassie Broadhead closed out the period with a pair of free throws and helped start a 24-4 run that saw the Cougars open a 70-51 lead with just over two minutes to play.

The Hawks, who shot 10-of-17 in the third quarter, were held to just 2-of-11 from the floor in the fourth, while BYU knocked down 8-of-12 to advance to the tournament's title game.

In the first half, the Cougars (2-2) took control from the tip as they ran out to a 9-0 lead midway through the opening quarter. Knocking down three of their first four three-pointers at one end of the court, BYU's defense gave the Hawks trouble at the other as they went 0-of-8 from the field and turned the ball over three times before a layup by senior Amanda Fioravanti at 4:47 got them on the board.

Fighting back, Saint Joseph's made it a 15-10 game with 1:53 to go in the first quarter on a layup by Fioravanti.

BYU responded though, using a 9-2 run that spanned into the second quarter to push its lead to 24-12 on pair of free throws by Makenzi Pulsipher at 8:11. The Cougars would keep the Hawks at a distance until the final moments of the third quarter.

As a team, the Hawks went 20-of-57 from the floor (35.1 percent), 3-of-10 from three-point range and 13-of-20 from the foul line. Individually, Fioravanti added five rebounds, two blocked shots, an assist and a steal to go with her 14 points. Garner finished with a career-high 11 points and added a team-high four assists, while junior Chelsea Woods was the third Hawk in double figure, finishing with 11 points.

At the other end, BYU shot 22-of-50 from the field, including 5-of-15 from behind the arc and connected on 22-of-29 free throws (75.9 percent). Kristine Nielson led five Cougars in double figures with 15 points.

Game Notes: SJU is now 1-2 all-time versus BYU...Sophomore Alyssa Monaghan finished with nine points, three rebounds and two assists...Junior Adashia Franklyn added six points and five rebounds...Senior Mackenzie Rule finished with five points and four rebounds...Sophomore Sarah Veilleux had three assists and five rebounds...Sophomore Kristalyn Basiden added two assists and a rebound...Classmate Michala Clay grabbed a rebound...Freshman Katie Armstrong added a rebound in her collegiate debut...Senior Jazmin Horne played three minutes...The Cougars finished with a 35-36 edge in rebounding.

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