PHILADELPHIA – Sophomore Olivia Mullins tied her career high with 11 points Wednesday night inside Hagan Arena as Saint Joseph's (8-14, 4-6 A-10) battled with conference leading Rhode Island (19-3, 9-0 A-10) to a 58-48 finish.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• It was an evenly matched 5:37 to start the game with a 10-10 tie. The Hawks held the upper hand 9-7 through the rest of the period for a 19-17 lead. Mullins and rookie Talya Brugler each chipped in a game high eight points in the opening frame.
• Rhode Island tallied a 7-6 margin to begin the second stanza for a 25-24 Hawks lead with 4:22 left in the period. The teams went into the half tied up at 30 each. At the break, SJU was shooting 59.1% overall and 57.1% from deep.
• The visitors took a 9-6 spurt over the first 5:53 for a 39-36 lead in the third. Rhody extended its lead as it outpaced SJU 4-2 into the final quarter. URI held a 43-38 advantage.
• The Rams claimed a 4-0 run over the initial 1:38 of the fourth before the Hawks called a timeout with a 47-38 deficit. The next 14 points were traded for seven apiece with Rhody on top, 54-45. The Rams would hold on to win the game 58-48.

BEHIND THE BOX SCORE:

• The Hawks shot 46.5% (20-of-43) overall, 37.5% (6-of-16) from deep, and 100.0% (2-of-2) from the line.
• Rhody went 46.4% (26-of-56) from the field, 33.3% (5-of-15) from long range, and 12.5% (1-of-8) from the line.
• The Rams won both the turnover (+7) and rebounding (+7) battles.
• Mullins finished 4-of-7 overall, including a career best 3-of-6 from long range.
• Brugler led St. Joe's with 12 points and five boards on a 6-of-11 evening.
• Freshman Julia Nyström also contributed 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including 3-of-4 from three-point range.

UP NEXT:
St. Joe's heads to George Mason for a battle with the Patriots on Super Bowl Sunday.