Battling back from a 16-point deficit to start, the Saint Joseph's women's basketball team fought back, but couldn't overcome the early difference as the Hawks fell at Drexel, 51-34, Sunday afternoon at the Daskalakis Center.

Falling behind 16-0 after going 0-for-9 from the floor and turning the ball over six times in the first quarter, Saint Joseph's cut the Dragons lead to 10 as graduate student Rachel Gartner sparked a 6-0 run to start the second quarter.

Down 33-17 midway through the third quarter, the Hawks (0-2) used a 9-0 run to close the period as a pair of free throws by senior Alyssa Monaghan made it 33-26.

Saint Joseph's momentum carried no further though as Drexel pulled away in the final quarter as the Dragons outscored the Hawks, 18-8.

For the game, the Hawks shot 11-of-42 from the floor (26.5 percent), 1-of-12 from three-point range (8.3 percent) and 11-of-16 from the foul line (68.8 percent). 

Individually, Monaghan had a team-leading 10 points, while Gartner and sophomore Lula Roig each chipped in with seven points apiece.

At the other end, Drexel (1-1) finished the game going 19-of-55 from the field (34.5 percent), 4-of-17 from behind the arc (23.5 percent) and 9-of-14 from the foul line (64.3 percent). Bailey Greenberg lead all scorers with a game-high 17 points and added eight rebounds.

Saint Joseph's returns to action this Thursday at Penn at 7 p.m.

GAME NOTES: SJU is now 10-8 all-time versus Drexel...Senior Michala Clay added four points, three rebounds and two assists...Redshirt freshman Katie Jekot grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and added two points...Rookie Katie Mayock added tow points and had two blocked shots...Classmate Elizabeth Marsicano chipped in with two points, two rebounds and three steals...Junior Nailah Delinois grabbed a rebound...Sophomore Mary Sheehan finished with two rebounds, a block, a steal and an assist.

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