FAIRFIELD, Conn. - Outscoring Sacred Heart 31-14 in the second half, the Saint Joseph's women's basketball team overcame an early deficit to pick up a 61-44 victory over the Pioneers on Thursday morning at the Pitt Center.

Senior Alyssa Monaghan finished with a 13 points and classmate Whisper Fisher added 10 points and nine rebounds to lead a balanced Hawk offense that saw nine players score.

Falling behind 7-0 to start, Saint Joseph's battled back and took its first lead of the game, 30-27, as Monaghan scored on a layup and followed with a pair of free throws off an intentional foul.

Sacred Heart's Erin Storck hit a three-pointer before the half to send the teams into the lockerroom tied at 30-30. 

Carrying momentum into the third quarter, the Hawks dominated at both ends of the court as they outscored the Pioneers, 15-6, to open a 45-36 edge. On the offensive side, SJU went 7-for-12 from the field and 1-of-2 from behind the arc, while the Hawks' defense held Sacred Heart to just 3-of-9 from the floor.

The Hawks continued to control the pace in the fourth en route to outscoring the Pioneers, 31-14, for the half and holding them to just 5-of-19 from the floor.

For the game, Saint Joseph's went 26-of-53 from the field (49.3 percent), 4-for-12 from three-point range and 5-of-6 from the foul line. Monaghan added five rebounds and three assists to go with her 13 points, while Fisher had three blocked shots on top of her 10 points and nine boards.

At the other end, Sacred Heart was held to 12-of-42 from the floor (28.6 percent) and 2-of-14 from behind the arc (14.3 percent), but went 18-of-20 from the foul line as Katherine Haines led her team with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Saint Joseph's (4-7) returns to action at Delaware on December 28 at 7 p.m.

GAME NOTES: SJU is now 3-0 all-time versus Sacred Heart...The Hawks finished with 38 points in the paint and got 23 from the bench...Michala Clay finished with nine points...Katie Jekot had a game-high five assists to go with eight points...Mary Sheehan scored six points and had four rebounds...Lula Roig added five points...Katie Mayock and Elizabeth Marsicano each had two points apiece...Devyne Newman and Avery Marz each saw action.

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