PHILADELPHIA – The Saint Joseph's women's basketball team nearly overcame a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter, eventually falling in a 67-64 defeat to Duquesne on Wednesday evening inside Hagan Arena.
 
Aleah Snead led the Hawks with 10 points, adding three rebounds and three assists. Mackenzie Smith and Laura Ziegler each added nine points, Ziegler registering 13 rebounds and five assists. Nine different players scored for the Hawks.
 
Megan McConnell paced the Dukes with 19 points, eight rebounds, six steals and five assists. Mackenzie Blackford added 13 points, while Jerni Kiaku and Kiandra Browne each scored 10 points.
 
Laura Ziegler and Talya Brugler combined for just three points in the first half, Duquesne (10-6, 1-3 Atlantic 10) taking advantage to build a 19-5 advantage to start the game. Saint Joseph's (12-3, 3-1 Atlantic 10) chipped away at the deficit, the bench providing 15 points to help draw within three at the halftime break.
 
Duquesne was able to build another double-digit lead in the third quarter. The Hawks used an 8-0 run late in the fourth quarter to bring the game within one before the Dukes countered with eight of the next 11 points. St. Joe's was unable to overcome the late deficit, falling for the first time in conference play.


INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Mackenzie Smith's nine points moved her into the top 10 in program history in scoring with 1,369 points in her career.
• Smith tied a career-high with four blocks on the evening.
• Snead registered her second double-digit performance of the season and her third of her career.
• Ziegler and Emma Boslet combined for 10 of the 17 assists on the night for St. Joe's.
• The Hawks finished 25-62 (40.3%) from the field and 6-14 (42.9%) from the free throw line.
• The defeat breaks a seven-game win streak on the season and a six-game win streak over Duquesne.

 
UP NEXT
The Hawks head back on the road on Sunday, January 12 to take on VCU. Tip is scheduled for 2 p.m. on CBSSN.