KATY, Texas – A quartet of Hawks recorded double-figure point totals Sunday afternoon as Saint Joseph's women's basketball (1-6) lost to Ball State (3-2), 73-67.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Hawks started on top with a triple by graduate student Alayna Gribble, before the game was eventually tied up 5-5. St. Joe's rallied off a 15-3 run over the next 4:44, which forced a Ball State timeout at 4:49. Ball State scored 11 of the final 19 points for a 26-16 Hawks' lead. Gribble recorded 10 points in the opening period with rookie Mackenzie Smith adding five.
• Ball State fired off quickly in the second stanza with a 6-0 run over the initial 3:13, which forced a timeout by SJU with 6:47 remaining. The Hawks held a 26-22 lead. SJU ripped off a 7-2 run over the next 2:24 to build its lead to 33-25 with 4:15 left. The Cardinals held the upper hand through the rest of the half with an 11-4 margin. SJU remained in front, 37-35.
• St. Joe's kept the offense hot in the third period with a 10-8 scoring margin up to the media break at 4:37. The Hawks hit 50.0% (4-of-8) of their shots during that time. The teams split the last 10 points for five apiece through the remainder of the stanza for a 52-48 SJU lead.
• It was a nearly even battle over the initial 6:10 with the Cardinals holding the advantage 11-10. St. Joe's kept a 62-59 lead. Ball State claimed a 9-0 run over the next 2:27 to go up, 66-62, with 2:14 left. The Cardinals took a 7-5 margin to the final buzzer for a 73-67 victory.

BEHIND THE BOX SCORE:

• Saint Joseph's shot 41.5% (22-of-53) overall, 29.2% (7-of-24) from deep, and 76.2% (16-of-21) from the line.
• Ball State went 59.6% (28-of-47) from the floor, 42.1% (8-of-19) from long range, and 52.0% (9-of-17) from the charity stripe.
• Ball State won the rebounding battle, 29-26, while the Hawks took the turnover margin, 12-15.
• In her first collegiate start, Smith recorded a career high 17 points and tied her career mark of five rebounds. Smith went 6-of-15 from the field and 5-of-6 from the line.
• Graduate student Katie Jekot registered 14 points and four assists on a 4-of-12 outing, including 4-of-10 from deep.
• Gribble finished with 12 points and five rebounds. The Pittsburgh, Pa. native was 4-of-10 overall and 3-of-8 from long range.
• Sophomore Olivia Mullins rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points and a career best five assists.

UP NEXT:
St. Joe's returns to the confines of Hagan Arena on Saturday when Yale visits Philadelphia.