Feb. 2, 2007

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Led by the sharp shooting of sophomore guard Jen Oyler, the Saint Joseph's women's basketball team downed Massachusetts 72-65 Friday evening at Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse. Oyler posted her second double-double of the season as she tied her career-high of 20 points to go with 10 rebounds and three blocks.

The Hawks jumped out to a small 9-4 advantage in the opening half, and extended it to seven, 20-13 on a pair of free throws by senior center Zoya Pavlovskaya at the 8:54 mark.

Massachusetts would cut the deficit to two, 23-21, but Saint Joseph's responded with an 8-2 run. Pavlovskaya capped the run with a baseline jumper with 1:55 remaining in the half to put SJU up 31-23.

Taking a 31-26 edge into the second half, the Hawks quickly stretched their lead out to 11. Saint Joseph's used a 10-2 run over a four-minute span to up its lead from 37-34 to 47-36 on a layup by senior guard Ayahna Cornish.

Trailing by 12, 52-40, the Minutewomen rallied to within a possession. Behind nine straight points, Massachusetts cut the score to 52-49 on a layup by Kate Mills with 7:07 remaining.

Leading by only three, the Hawks failed to bend. Saint Joseph's would regain its eight-point advantage and not let its lead slip under seven through the remainder of the game.

For the game, the Hawks shot 20-of-59 from the field (33.9 percent), 10-of-24 from three-point range (41.7 percent) and 22-of-29 from the foul line (75.9 percent). At the other end, Massachusetts went 25-of-57 from the floor (43.9 percent), 6-of-16 from behind the arc (37.5 percent) and 9-of-14 from the foul line (64.3 percent).

Individually, Oyler's 20 points and 10 boards led all players, with Hawks' senior guard Whitney Ffrench adding 17 points and three assists.

Stefanie Gerardot led the way for Massachusetts with 15 points, while Mills added 14.

With the win, the Hawks improve to 12-9 on the season and 4-3 in Atlantic 10 play. Massachusetts falls to 12-11 overall and 2-6 in conference play

Saint Joseph's returns to action Sunday, February 4 at Rhode Island. The game will be broadcast nationally on CSTV at noon.