PHILADELPHIA – Getting a combined 42 point from its senior class, the Saint Joseph’s women’s basketball team fought hard, but ultimately fell to VCU, 67-65, in overtime Sunday in the Second Round of the WNIT at Hagan Arena.
The Hawks (22-11) were paced by a team-high 16 points from senior guard Michelle Baker (Wilmington, Del./Brandywine), while classmate Samira van Grinsven (Helmond, Netherlands/Jan van Brabaut) added 10 points and 10 rebounds. Seniors Katie Kuester (Media, Pa./Academy of Notre Dame) and Kelly Cavallo (Hampton Bays, N.Y./Westhampton Beach) scored 10 and six points respectively, while junior Ashley Prim (Ansonia, Conn./Kolbe Cathedral) finished with 15 points and a team-high five assist.
After playing regulation to a 61-61 draw, Saint Joseph’s scored the opening two baskets of the extra frame to take a 65-61 lead on a Kuester jumper with 4:02 to go. The Hawks would hold onto the four-point edge heading into the final minute of play.
Up by four, Baker went to the line for a one-and-one for the Hawks, but missed on the front end. VCU’s Andrea Barbour was fouled on ensuing possession and made both free throws to make it 65-63.
Prim was fouled on the inbounds and went to the line for another one-and-one. Unfortunately for SJU, Prim missed the first one, allowing VCU a chance to tie it. The Rams’ Robyn Parks missed a short jumper, but teammate Courtney Hurt was there for the offensive rebound and was fouled on the play. Hurt would make both to tie the game at 65-65 with 21 seconds to play.
The Hawks worked the ball around on the offensive end, with Baker getting control at the top of the key. On a swing through, she had the ball knocked away, leading to a fast break for VCU. Barbour dribbled the length of the court and through a crowd of Hawks sank the go-ahead layup with 0.7 seconds remaining.
Off a timeout, Saint Joseph’s heaved a full-court pass, but couldn’t get a shot off in time as the buzzer sounded.
In regulation, the Hawks jumped out to a 38-32 lead at halftime and extended it to 44-36 on a jumper by van Grinsven with 16:24 to.
The Rams would fight back to take a 56-52 lead with 4:24 to go, but the Hawks rallied to tied the score at 59-59 all.
VCU’s Barbour hit a pair of free throws with 54 seconds remaining to put her team up by two, but the Hawks answered back as baker sank a jumper with 21 seconds to go.
Saint Joseph’s forced a missed shot by VCU with under 10 seconds to go, allowing for last-second shot. As the buzzer sounded, sophomore Erin Shields’ (Drexel Hill, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) shot from the right corner bounced away from the rim forcing overtime.
As a team, the Hawks shot 42 percent from the field (26-of-69), 36.4 percent from three-point range (4-of-11), but just 37.5 percent from the foul line (3-of-8).
At the other end, the Rams shot 23-of-69, 5-of-12 from three-point range (41.7 percent) and hit 16-of-22 from the foul line (72.7 percent). Barbour led all scorers with 26 points, while Courtney Hurt added 19 points and 19 rebounds.
The Hawks cap the season matching its most wins since 2003-04 (22) and making their third-straight postseason appearance.
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