PHILADELPHIA – Despite a 20-9 fourth quarter differential, the Saint Joseph's women's basketball team (1-1) fell to Drexel (1-1) Friday night, 63-55. Junior
Kaliah Henderson and graduate student
Alayna Gribble combined for 35 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Drexel held a 10-6 advantage at the media break with 4:38 remaining in the inaugural quarter. Henderson tallied four of the Hawks' six. The Dragons took a slim 8-6 margin the rest of the way for an 18-12 lead at the break. Gribble paced the squad with five points in the first frame.
- The home team scored the first four points of the second period to force a St. Joe's timeout. The Dragons finished with an 18-11 difference with a 64.3% shooting effort in the second stanza to widen their lead to 40-23.
- St. Joe's claimed eight of the first 14 points in the third up to the media stoppage at 4:53. Henderson recorded four of the eight points for SJU. Drexel then tallied six of the next eight to put the lead at 52-35 with 2:05 left in the period. The Dragons added another bucket for a 54-35 lead after three.
- The Hawks opened the final quarter with a triple by Gribble. St. Joe's tallied nine of the next 12 to cut the deficit to 10 points, including a 7-0 spurt over a 2:55 span. The Hawks would pull within six with 22 seconds remaining, but couldn't overcome the deficit.
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE:
- SJU shot 38.9% (21-of-54) from the field and 18.8% (3-of-16) from deep compared to Drexel's 47.2% (25-53) overall and 20% (2-of-10) from long range.
- The Hawks took the rebound advantage, 32-24.
- Drexel held the margin in the paint, 34-26, and points off turnovers, 22-4.
- Henderson tied her career mark with 20 points. She was 7-of-17 from the floor and a perfect 6-of-6 from the line. The Tampa, Fla. Native added four boards and two assists to her totals.
- Gribble notched 15 points and tied a career mark for the second-straight game with six rebounds. She went 6-of-8 overall and 3-of-4 from three-point range.
- Graduate student Katie Jekot dished out six assists, one shy of her best outing.
- Rookie Talya Brugler poured in six points and corralled six rebounds.
UP NEXT:
The Hawks head to West Long Branch, N.J. for a Wednesday night showdown with the Monmouth Hawks.