LORETTO, Pa. – Saint Joseph’s redshirt senior forward Chatilla van Grinsven matched SJU’s single-game rebound mark of 21 and scored a game-high 18 points as the Hawks’ women’s basketball team topped Saint Francis (Pa.), 61-44, Saturday afternoon at DeGol Arena. Leading by two at the half, SJU outscored the Red Flash 35-20 in the second half to improve to 4-2 on the season.
Up by two to start the second half, the Hawks gave up the opening four points as Saint Francis took a quick 28-26 edge on an Alli Williams layup at 18:56.
Saint Joseph’s took over from there, using a 15-0 run to open up a 41-28 lead on a jumper by sophomore Natasha Cloud (Broomall, Pa./Cardinal O’Hara) at 12:53. The Red Flash went 0-for-8 from the field and turned the ball over four times during the six minute stretch as SJU hit 7-for-7 from the floor at the opposite end.
The Hawks’ defense would keep the Red Flash at a distance from there, not allowing them within 11 point as Saint Francis shot just 20.7 percent (6-of-29) in the half, while SJU hit 54.2 percent (13-of-24.
In a back-and-forth first half, the Hawks took used a 9-0 run to take a 9-3 lead early on a three-pointer by redshirt sophomore Natasha Cloud. The Red Flash answered back, tying the score at 9-9, but SJU maintained control over the next seven minutes, holding an 8-16 lead off a three by senior Mireia Vila.
Saint Francis (4-2) fought back to regain the lead and open a 21-18 lead, but the Hawks answered back, scoring six of the final eight points of the half to take a 26-24 advantage into the second half.
For the game, Saint Joseph’s shot 42.3 percent (22-of-52), 23.1 percent from three-point range (3-of-13) and hit 14-of-17 from the foul line (82.4 percent). Saint Francis shot just 25.4 percent overall (15-of-59), while hitting just 1-of-15 from behind the arc (1-of-15) and 13-of-21 from the foul line (61.9 percent).
Scoring 12 of her 18 points in the second half, van Grinsven helped the Hawks finish with a 48-35 edge as she matched Dale Hodges and Trish Brown’s record for rebounds in a game at 21. Cloud tallied 12 points, five rebounds and four assists.
Kelley Doogan led Saint Francis with 11 points.
The Hawks return to action this Wednesday when they host Lafayette at 7 p.m.
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