Feb. 13, 2010

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Saint Louis overcame a nine-point halftime deficit and forged a second-half lead, but Saint Joseph's made just enough free throws in the closing seconds and held on for a 71-67 Atlantic 10 Conference victory Saturday afternoon at Hagan Arena.

Amanda Kemezys and Lauren Woods led the Billikens (8-17, 2-8 A-10) with 15 points apiece, with 11 of Kemezys' 15 coming in the second half. Katie Paganelli scored 11 points, while Janisha Gearlds tallied seven points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals. Jacy Bradley added four assists.

Saint Joseph's (13-12, 6-4 A-10) was led by Ashley Logue (20 points), Mariame Djouara (14 points, eight rebounds) and Ashley Prim (eight assists).

"This is a really tough one," head coach Shimmy Gray-Miller said. "It was a heartbroken group of players in the locker room. I felt for the most part we played hard enough to win. But on the road, the execution has to be there, especially at the end of the game. We fell short in that area.

"However, I am confident that we will regroup, reload and bounce back with a strong game at Fordham Tuesday night."

Saint Louis shot 43.3 percent (26-of-60) from the floor - its best mark in an A-10 game this season - 44.4 percent (4-of-9) from 3-point range and 84.6 percent (11-of-13) from the free-throw line in recording a season-high point total in a conference game. The Billikens claimed a 33-31 victory on the boards, out-rebounding the Hawks 20-11 in the second half. Eleven of those 20 second-half rebounds were on the offensive glass, leading to 12 second-chance points. Kemezys led SLU with six caroms.

The Bills exploded out of the gate in the final period, using a 10-0 run in less than four minutes to take the lead. Paganelli began the outburst with a 3-pointer following Gearlds' offensive rebound. Gearlds canned a trey from the right wing, and Paganelli followed a miss of her own 3-point attempt with an offensive rebound and layup. Gearlds put SLU on top 41-40 with an offensive board and short jumper.

After Michelle Baker finally ended the Saint Joseph's drought with a baseline drive, Woods made a fast-break layup and Paganelli netted two free throws for a 45-42 Saint Louis lead. The Hawks scored the next six points to go on top, only to see the Billikens gain a 50-48 edge on Kemezys' short turnaround and Ashley Hanlen's 3-pointer from the left wing. Baker's two free throws were followed by two from Woods, and it was 52-50 SLU at the 9:28 mark.

Saint Joseph's seemingly seized control after that, scoring on five straight possessions in a 9-0 flurry that resulted in a 59-52 lead with 6:34 left. But the Billikens gained new life when Kemezys collected the rebound of a teammate's blocked shot and laid it in, igniting a stretch of six consecutive possessions on which Saint Louis scored. Woods' fast-break layup and Kemezys' layup were followed by Ayriell Robinson's 13-foot pull-up jumper that narrowed the SJU lead to 61-60.

The teams exchanged baskets on their next two possessions. Djouara hit two jumpers, while Kemezys turned an offensive rebound into a layup and followed with two free throws with 2:42 remaining to make it a 65-64 Saint Joseph's advantage. The Bills forced a turnover on the Hawks' next touch, but Brittany Ford's steal and layup put SJU in front 67-64 at the 2:02 mark.

Each team had an empty possession, and Woods' up-and-under bank shot with 38 seconds left pulled the Billikens to within a point at 67-66. Ford made the back end of a two-shot foul for a 68-66 Saint Joseph's lead.

Saint Louis turned the ball over on its next two touches, but Saint Joseph's missed four consecutive free throws to leave the door open. Kemezys secured an offensive rebound and was fouled with 6.6 seconds remaining, and she sank the second of two free throws to make it a 68-67 game.

Prim was fouled before the ball was inbounded and made the first free throw. Her second toss was off the mark, but Baker sneaked in for the offensive rebound, was fouled and sank two free throws to secure the win.

After falling behind 7-2, the Billikens used an 11-4 run to surge ahead. Woods ignited the spurt with a driving layup, and Bradley followed with a running jumper. Kemezys sank two free throws, and Woods' conventional 3-point play tied it at 11. Mallory Eggert grabbed an offensive rebound and scored to complete the run and give the Bills a 13-11 edge.

Saint Joseph's scored the next six points to take a 17-13 advantage. The Hawks later led by five points on two occasions before Kathryn Hester's basket and 3-point play on consecutive possessions brought SLU to within a point, 28-27. But after the Hawks' Brittany Ford and Hester traded buckets, Saint Joseph's scored on five of its final seven possessions in a 10-2 flurry that put the Hawks on top 40-31 at the break. Logue scored six of her 14 first-half points in the run.

The Billikens stay on the East Coast to take on Fordham Tuesday, Feb. 16. Tip time is 6 p.m. (CT).