PHILADELPHIA – The Saint Joseph's women's basketball team fell in heartbreaking fashion on Sunday afternoon, Rhode Island hitting a three with 1.1 seconds remaining to defeat the Hawks 58-55 inside Hagan Arena.
 
Rhode Island (22-4, 13-1 Atlantic 10) scored five points in the final 30 seconds to overcome a two-point deficit in the closing stages of the contest. Saint Joseph's (18-8, 8-6 Atlantic 10) drops its first game in its last four in the defeat.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Laura Ziegler opened the day with a three-point attempt, but was quickly countered by two buckets on the other end. However, a 13-0 run spearheaded by five-straight points from Mackenzie Smith quickly made the score 16-4 in favor of the Crimson and Gray. In the run, the Hawks held Rhody scoreless for over four minutes before the Rams cut the run.
• Only six points between the two were scored over the final four minutes of the quarter, St. Joe's holding an 18-8 advantage after one.
• Rhode Island started the second frame with six-straight points, but once again it would be the Danish rookie who sparked the Hawks. Cutting the Ram run with a deep jumper, Ziegler dropped her third three of the game on the ensuing possession.
• Smith ended what would be a 7-0 run with a pick off an inbounds pass before going coast-to-coast for the layup.
• Rhode Island would shut down the Hawk offense over the final 6:21 of the quarter, leading to an 11-0 Ram run to tie the game entering the half.
• Trading shots through the first three minutes of the third, the Rams would take advantage through the middle portion of the quarter to lead by as many as five.
• After a missed free throw on the backend of Smith's two shots, Emma Boslet came down with the offensive rebound before being benefactor of her hard work with a three from the wing to cut the deficit to 41-40, a score that would remain over the final minute of the third and into the final period.
• Ziegler opened the fourth with the first four points for the Crimson and Gray, matching Rhode Island shot for shot until Katie Jekot's second three of the game squared it all up at 47-47. The next possession, Talya Brugler would send Hagan Arena into a frenzy after a three of her own gave the Hawks a three-point advantage with under six to play.
• With the game tied at 53 apiece, Brugler lobbed a pass into a posted up Smith, who finished through contact to give the Hawks a 55-53 advantage with 56.6 remaining.
• The Hawks forced a stop, but Rhode Island pickpocketed Jekot at the half court line before an intentional foul was called. The Rams converted on the two free throws with the ball back. Sophie Phillips converted with 1.1 seconds left, hitting an off-balance three-pointer and the Hawks were unable to answer on the final shot, falling in a 58-55 thriller.

 
GAME NOTES

• Laura Ziegler finished with 20 points and 13 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the season, both tallies game-highs. Ziegler reached double figures in the second quarter, finishing the half with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
• After getting in early foul trouble, Talya Brugler finished with 11 points, nine of them coming in the second half. Brugler finished with four assists and two steals to go along with her double-digit effort.
• Mackenzie Smith scored 11 points, adding five rebounds and four assists with two steals.
• The Hawks have lost both matchups with URI this season by a combined seven points, last time losing in double overtime.
• Rhode Island outrebounded St. Joe's 42-31 on the afternoon, earning a 16-10 advantage in second chance points with a 15-10 offensive board advantage.
• Katie Jekot added eight points, six assists and two steals.
• SJU shot 22-62 (35.5%) from the floor and 9-24 (37.5%) from deep. The Hawks only took four free throws all afternoon, a season-low.
• Rhode Island finished 21-57 (36.8%) from the field, knocking down 10 of its 16 free throw attempts.

 
UP NEXT

• The Hawks conclude their road schedule on Wednesday, February 22 in a 7 p.m. matchup at George Mason.