University of Richmond
Saint Joseph's
Women's Basketball Falls Short At Saint Joseph's
02/21/2015 | Women's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Despite 24 points and 11 rebounds from redshirt-senior Genevieve Okoro, the Richmond women's basketball fell to the Saint Joseph's Hawks, 61-59, Saturday afternoon at Hagan Arena.
Okoro's double-double was her sixth of the season and 28th of her career. It was also her seventh-career 20-point game and the 63rd double-digit scoring game of her career.
Richmond (16-11, 8-6 A-10) trailed for most of the contest and the game was tied 10 times for six minutes throughout the day. The 10th tie came with 1:49 on the clock when Okoro hit two free throws that eventually led to a one-point lead.
Three-straight points from Saint Joseph's (10-16, 6-8 A-10) Natasha Cloud secured the contest with 57 seconds left on the clock.
The Hawks got out to a fast start as they led by as many as eight in the first five minutes of play. But the Spiders battled back with the help of eight steals in the first half that led to 14 points off turnovers for the two teams to go into halftime tied at 32.
It was pretty much even in the first 20 minutes, as Richmond shot 42 percent from the floor compared to SJU's 43 percent. The Spiders hit 4-of-9 three-pointers, while the Hawks were 3-of-6.
Okoro and Liz Brown led the team in the first, as they both tallied 12 points apiece. Okoro also had six rebounds in the first 20 minutes.
Another fast start from the Hawks led to an eight-point ball game with three minutes into the second half. Their largest lead of the day, 11, came at the 14:32 mark (46-35), but Richmond retaliated.
The Spiders went on a 17- 6 run to tie the score at 52 with 5:35 to play but SJU secured the game in the final minute.
Overall, Richmond shot 39 percent from the floor, compared to the Hawks' 37 percent. The Spiders tallied nine steals and forced 11 SJU turnovers that led to 20 points for Richmond. Saint Joseph's outscored the Spiders 12-6 in second-chance shots as it outrebounded Richmond 37-33.
Richmond had two other Spiders in double figures as senior Liz Brown followed Okoro with 15 points and four rebounds, while junior Lauren Tolson capped off the double-digit points with 12. Tolson also tallied four assists and three steals.
The Spiders will be back in action when they return to the Robins Center to host first-place George Washington Thursday at 7 p.m.
