Aug. 19, 2012

DUBLIN, IRELAND - The Saint Joseph's women's basketball team upped its record to 3-0 on its trip through Ireland, with a 65-53 win over Dublin City University Mercy on Sunday afternoon.

Erin Shields led the Hawks with 15 points while Chatilla van Grinsven had 11 and Natasha Cloud and Kelsey Berger each chipped in 10 points.

Facing their stiffest competition yet, the Hawks fell behind early to the DCU squad as the Mercy jumped out to a 10-2 edge. Saint Joseph's gathered itself though and fought back to take a 13-12 lead on a three pointer by Shields with 1:34 left in the quarter.

The Mercy would open the second quarter up 18-15, but the Hawks battled back to take a 21-18 lead as Shields and junior Ashley Robinson scored the first eight points of the quarter for SJU.

With the score tied at 27 all, redshirt junior Kelsey Berger's two free throws sparked a 7-1 run for the Hawks and give them momentum and a 34-30 lead at halftime.

In the second half, Saint Joseph's defense stiffened. After giving up 30 points in the opening two quarters, the Hawks held the Mercy to 23 points over the final 20 minutes, while scoring 31 at the other end.

A Shields' layup gave the Hawks their biggest lead of the third, 40-32, just under two minutes into the quarter as redshirt sophomore Natasha Cloud scored a pair of early baskets to get the Hawks' offense going.

Freshman Sarah Fairbanks gave her squad its first double-digit lead of the game, 48-38.

Up 48-41 to start the fourth, Saint Joseph's pulled away midway through the period as van Grinsven scored five-straight points and the Hawks hit three of four from the foul line in the final moments to seal the win.

Individually, Robinson finished with seven points, while senior Ashley Prim and junior Ilze Gotfrida added four points apiece. Junior Mireia Vila and Fairbanks rounded out the scoring with two points each.