PHILADELPHIA – Sophomore guard Katie Jekot went off for a game-high 20 points and a game-high 11 rebounds to earn her first career double-double and to lead the Saint Joseph's women's basketball squad to a 71-44 win over Sacred Heart on Wednesday evening. With the win, the Hawks even out at 4-4 while the Pioneers fall to 3-5.

Jekot hit a career-high eight shots from the field (of 14) and matched her career-high with four three-pointers (of nine) en route to a season-high 20 points. Jekot's 11 defensive rebounds marked the first time the sophomore pulled down double-digit boards in her career, and she achieved her first career double-double in 29 minutes of work.

"It feels great," said Jekot of her performance. "It's nice to hit those shots for my team. My teammates are looking for me and getting me open, and it was definitely a great feeling. We just need to take this energy and enthusiasm and put it into this [next game at Villanova]."

"It was tremendous," said head coach Cindy Griffin of Jekot's standout night. "She's really coming into her own as a player as far as understanding the offenses and defending. She's doing a wonderful job defensively. She's putting our players in successful situations . . . For her to get that double-double, we'll take it today."

How It Happened
• Junior guard Lula Roig scored eight of SJU's first 10 points and, with the score set at 10-9 in favor of the Hawks with 3:35 to go in the first quarter, SJU tore off on a 7-0 run to close the opening 10:00; Jekot hit a three (3:19), assisted on junior guard Mary Sheehan's jumper (2:00), and hit a jumper herself with 48 seconds to play.
• Saint Joseph's shot 75 percent (9-of-12) from the field and held Sacred Heart to 20 percent (2-of-10) from the field to drop 20 points in the second quarter; Jekot drained a pair of three-pointers and freshman forward Gabby Smalls hit back-to-back lay-ups (9:12, 8:28) to lead SJU into the halftime break up by 19, 37-18.
• The Hawks opened the third quarter on an 11-0 run, which was capped by a Sheehan lay-up (8:00) to give SJU its largest lead of the game, a 30-point advantage. A three-pointer from the right wing, courtesy of sophomore forward Elizabeth Marsicano, gave SJU 55 points to close the third.
• Despite entering the fourth quarter with a comfortable 55-32 advantage, the Hawks continued to put on the offensive pressure, highlighted by a fast-break play from graduate student guard Rachel Gartner up to Marsicano (4:09) and freshman combo guard Jaden Walker's first collegiate three-pointer (2:16). Freshman guard Lauren Ross registered her first collegiate free throw point (1:30) to bring the Hawks to 71 for the game.
 
Postgame Thoughts
"I'm really proud of our players tonight for bouncing back after Sunday," said head coach Cindy Griffin following the win. "We came out really strong in the first and third quarters, very aggressive, assertive, and confident. We shot the ball very well today. We really defended really well . . . We were able to capitalize off of turnovers today."