GAINESVILLE - Junior Alyssa Monaghan and senior Adashia Franklyn combined for 21 points, but the Saint Joseph's women's basketball team fell at Florida, 71-51, in the Gator Holiday Classic on Thursday at Exactech Arena.

In the first half, Florida jumped out to 13-4 edge, but a 7-2 run by the Hawks made it 15-11 after 10 minutes.

The Gators (7-5) pushed its lead to 10 to start the second quarter on back-to-back three-pointers and buitl it to as many as 12 points. Taking advantage of its height, Florida turned 10 offensive rebounds into 15 second chance points in the first half as it took a 32-23 lead into halftime.

Opening the second half with momentum, the Hawks cut into their deficit to 34-29 on a layup by Franklyn with 7:47 to play in the third.

However the Gators answered back to build a 49-33 lead as a layup by Haley Lorenzen capped a 15-4 run. 

Saint Joseph's would get no closer than 12 from there as it wrapped up non-conference play with a 5-7 record.

For the game, the Hawks shot 36.7 percent from the floor (22-of-60), but went just 1-of-13 from three-point range (7.7 percent) and 6-of-12 from the foul line.

Named to the Gator Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team, Monaghan finished with a team-high 12 points and added two assists, while Franklyn finished with a 10-point, 10 rebound double-double to go with a pair of steals.

At the other end, Florida shot 42.9 percent overall (27-of-63), hit 7-of-21 from behind the arc and 10-of-13 fom the foul line (76.9 percent). Paulina Hersler led five Gators in double figures with a game-high 19 points.

Saint Joseph's begins Atlantic 10 play on December 31 as it hosts VCU at 2 p.m.

Game Notes: Senior Chelsea Woods finished with eight points and six rebounds...Junior Michala Clay added five points...Senior Amanda Fioravanti scored four points and had four rebounds...Freshman Lula Roig had three points...Senior Avery Marz, junior Kristalyn Baisden and redshirt sophomore Whisper Fisher each had two points...Senior Candace Belvedereadded three rebounds and a steal...Junior Sarah Veilleux had three rebounds...Florida finished with a 45-33 edge...SJU is now 0-1 all-time versus the Gators.