Dec. 28, 2007

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NJIT freshman Jessica Gerald posted a career-high16 points - 14 coming in the second half - leading three Highlanders in double-figures as Saint Joseph's (PA) defeated NJIT 68-59 in women's basketball action Friday afternoon in the opening game of the Hilton Philadelphia Hawk Classic.

The Highlanders will compete in the consolation game tomorrow against Davidson at 2pm while host Saint Joseph's will face Auburn at 4pm in the championship game.

Hawk's senior guard Timisha Gomez shared game-high honors with Gerald posting 16 points - shooting 7-for-9 from the field while pulling down five rebounds. Sophomore forward Brittany Ford combined for 12 points - 10 coming in the second half. Alexis Johnson pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds for the Hawks.

NJIT rookie guard Adriana Johnson posted a career-high 12 points as she shot 5-for-9 from the field and recorded a game-high five steals. Sophomore forward Taiwo Oyelola combined for 11 points -- nine coming from behind the arc for the Highlanders.

Saint Joseph's shot (15-29) from the field -- posting 28 points which came in the paint -- in the opening 20 minutes.

The Highlanders were led by Taiwo Oyelola in the first half with 11 points hitting her third three-pointer of the game with one second left on the shot clock with five minutes left in the half bringing the score 25-18 in favor of the Hawks.

Trailing 33-29, the Highlanders came out scoring the first points of the half on a three-pointer by junior guard Jill Dickinson. The Hawks scored the next four points on lay-ups by Ford.

The Hawks built their largest lead of the game with 9:49 left in the second half on a 14-0 run led by Gomez and Ford who chipped in four points apiece.

With less then 3:40 left in the game the Highlanders cut the lead down to nine as Johnson sparked the Highlanders with a lay-up in the paint at 3:32. Gerald followed with her second steal of the game as she assisted on Johnson's jumper from the foul line.

Three seconds later Johnson posted her fifth steal of the game while finishing the play with a lay-up bringing the Highlanders within the Hawks, 64-55.

Saint Joseph's called a 30-second timeout as the Highlanders went on an 8-0 run with 2:27 remaining. Hawks Alexis Johnson completed a lay-up in the paint out of the timeout bringing the score 66-55.

Freshman Maya Al-Shingieti hit one-of-two from the free throw line at the 1:38 mark as Gerald scored the final points of the game with 26 seconds left hitting a trey from behind the arc.