PHILADELPHIA – The Saint Joseph's women's basketball team dropped a 72-61 decision to Richmond Saturday afternoon at Hagan Arena on Senior Day.
 
A tightly contested first quarter featured multiple lead changes before Jill Jekot and Rhian Stokes combined for a 4-0 burst to give the Hawks a 13–9 edge — the largest lead for either side in the opening period. Tierra Simon answered with a baseline jumper late in the frame to trim the deficit to two.
 
Saint Joseph's extended its lead to four twice in the second quarter, but Richmond responded with a 7-0 run to move in front, 20-17. The Spiders maintained control the rest of the half, closing on a three-point play to take a 28-22 advantage into the break.
 
Richmond carried that momentum into the third quarter, opening on an 8-2 run to build a 36-24 lead. The margin grew to as many as 14 before the Spiders entered the fourth quarter ahead 51-39.
 
The Hawks made one final push early in the fourth, as Faith Stinson and Emily Knouse connected on consecutive three-pointers to cut the deficit in half. After Richmond stretched the lead back to double digits, Knouse knocked down her second triple of the period to pull within seven. The freshman stayed hot, adding two more threes to bring Saint Joseph's within six, but a decisive 6-0 Richmond run in the final minutes sealed the 72-61 result.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Rhian Stokes led the Hawks with 15 points, five rebounds and four assists.
• Freshmen Kaylinn Bethea and Emily Knouse each scored 12 points. All 12 of Knouse's points came in the fourth quarter.
• Aleah Snead grabbed a game-high seven rebounds to go with eight points and three assists.
• Faith Stinson contributed eight points, five rebounds and three steals.
• Saint Joseph's shot 36.4% (20-for-55) from the field and 29.6% (8-for-27) from three, while converting 13-of-15 (86.7%) from the free-throw line.
• Richmond shot 48.0% (24-for-50) overall and 36.4% (8-for-22) from three, finishing 16-for-18 (88.9%) at the line. Maggie Doogan scored 35 points, including a 14-for-14 performance at the stripe
• The Hawks held a 32–29 rebounding edge — the first time this season Saint Joseph's has been outrebounded in a loss (previously 14–0 when winning the battle on the glass).
• Bethea and Knouse combined for all 24 bench points.

 
UP NEXT
Saint Joseph's enters the Atlantic 10 Championship as the No. 5 seed and will play in the second round Thursday at 1:30 p.m., facing the winner of the No. 12/13 matchup.