PHILADELPHIA, December 29, 2011 – The Saint Joseph’s Hawks women’s basketball team had their previous season end at Boston College with a loss in a WNIT second round game. The last game in 2011 for the Hawks would be a visit from the Boston College Eagles. The Hawks made the most of the opportunity to get a “pay them back” win by playing a consistent forty minutes earning a 74 – 57 victory at the Hagam Arena. Saint Joseph’s Coach Cindy Griffin felt this was an important win for Saint Joseph’s as it gave her team a chance to feel good about themselves. Especailly after last years game.
“If we would have played well up there last year and given it our best it would have sat with us a little better,” said Griffin. “This team is about revenge and redemption. That is a motivating factor, and protercting our home court is important. Beating an ACC team is important for Saint Joseph’s and the Atlantic 10. We felt like this was an opportunity to get all of those things in one night, and we did.”
Boston College took an early lead in the game. An 8 – 0 Hawk run keyed by Senior guard Michelle Baker and Senior forward Kelly Cavallo gave Saint Joseph’s the lead midway through the first half that they never relinquished. Saint Joseph’s took a 31 – 26 lead at halftime. In the second half the Hawks got some separation thanks to the “Ashleys” with a 17 – 7 run. Junior guard Ashley Prim scored 7 points in the run and Sophomore forward Ashley Robinson added 6 to give Saint Joseph’s a 50 – 38 lead with 10:38 remaining on the clock. After Boston College climbed to within 8 points Baker and Prim combined to score the next 7 points giving the Hawks control of the game with a 59 – 44 lead at the 6:40 mark on a Baker traditional three-point play. The late run was just a case of Baker and Saint Joseph’s patience and taking what the defense gave them.
“I’ve been working on not going too fast and seeing what I can get,” Baker said.
“We were able to get good looks and convert,” said Griffin. “That’s what team basketball will do.”
Baker had a team-high 17 points and added 4 assists. Prim scored 13 points, and Cavallo got 14 points and 9 assists. Saint Joseph’s made 15 of 50 field goal attempts, and 21 of 22 free throws. Boston College Forward Katie Zenevitch had a double-double with a game-high 18 points and 11 rebounds. Forwards Joy Caracciolo (13) and Kristen Doherty (10) were the other double figures scorers for the Eagles.
Saint Joseph’s improves its record to 8 – 4 and return to action on January 3 at Quinnipiac beofre opening Atlantic 10 play on Januay 7 at Massachusetts.
Many of the 2,781 in attendance were there to see the sister matchup of Erin (Saint Joseph’s) and Keri (Boston College) Shields. Both players are from Drexel Hill, PA and are graduates of Archbishop Carroll High School. Their mother, Renie (nee Dunne) was a standout basketball player for Saint Joseph’s. In their last meeting Keri led the Eagles with a game-high 26 points while Erin scored a career-high 21 points. This time Keri had 8 and Erin 7. There were times when it appeared that the siblings were playing like they did while growing up, just in a larger venue.
“When she got shots over me three times, it reminded me alot of our backyard games,” said Erin. “It was fun. She (Keri) helps me get better, too.”
Written By: Glenn Papazian
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