Feb. 20, 2013

BUTLER 67, SAINT LOUIS 62

ST. LOUIS - The Butler women's basketball team posted its season-high shooting mark and edged the Billikens 67-62 Wednesday afternoon in Atlantic 10 Conference action at Chaifetz Arena.

With the victory, Butler improves to 16-10 on the season and 7-4 in the A-10 while Saint Louis falls to 10-16 overall and 4-7 in conference play.

Butler's Daress McClung led the way for all scorers with 22 points on 11-of-12 from the floor. McClung also led all players with nine rebounds and added four assists and two blocks. Butler's Hannah Douglas also poured in 20 points for the Bulldogs.

Saint Louis' Jacy Bradley was one of three Billikens to score in double-figures as she finished with 17 points to lead Saint Louis.

Butler led by double figures early in the second half, before Saint Louis scored 11 straight points to tie the game 42-42. A lay-up by McClung and a 3-pointer by Douglas put Butler ahead 49-44 with 8:59 on the clock. Saint Louis was able to tie the game again at 54-54 following a jumper by Bradley.

Butler regained command momentarily with a 6-0 mini run, before Saint Louis twice pulled to within two points. Free throws and a Jacy Bradley three narrowed the Butler lead to 62-60 with 2:12 left. After a pair of Saint Louis free throws and a Butler layup, the Billikens continued to trail 64-62 at the 1:33 mark. After Saint Louis failed to capitalize on a Butler turnover, the Bulldogs put the game away for good with a 67-62 victory.

CHARLOTTE 79, MASSACHUSETTS 60 | CHARLOTTE POSTGAME | UMASS POSTGAME

AMHERST, MASS. - After opening the game on an 11-0 run, Charlotte (21-4, 10-1 A-10) never looked back as it defeated Massachusetts (3-23, 1-10 A-10) 79-60 on Wednesday evening.

Charlotte was led by Jennifer Hailey's 15 points and 10 rebounds while Ny Hammonds scored 17 and Jai Forney chipped in 16. Hilary Sigmon rounded out the quartet of 49ers who reached double-figures with 11. The double-double marks Jennifer Hailey's 11th consecutive double-double and her 20th on the season.

Massachusetts' Jasmine Watson finished 5-for-9 from the floor to go with a 4-of-4 day at the free throw line for a team-best 14 points. Rashida Timbilla added 11 points, with all of them coming during the second half, while contributing eight rebounds and a trio of assists. Kim Pierre-Louis also recorded 11 points while falling one board shy of a double-double.

Massachusetts went 20-for-49 from the floor, while hitting 2-of-8 three-point attempts. Charlotte answered with a 33-68 field goal clip, including going 4-for-9 from behind the arc.

SAINT JOSEPH'S 68, LA SALLE 31 | SJU POSTGAME

PHILADELPHIA - Behind a stellar defensive performance, the Saint Joseph's women's basketball team defeated La Salle 68-31 Wednesday evening at Hagan Arena. Led by Chatilla van Grinsven's 12th double-double of the season, the Hawks held the Explorers to just 23 percent shooting.

With the victory Saint Joseph's improves to 19-6 overall and 10-1 in the A-10 while La Salle drops to 8-18 on the season and 4-7 in the A-10.

Chatilla van Grinsven led the Hawks with 16 points and 15 rebounds, and had a double-double by halftime. Ashley Prim also added 11 points while Erin Shields and Natasha Cloud contributed 10 apiece.

Shanel Harrison posted her ninth straight double-digit game, to lead La Salle with 12 points. She also earned team-high rebounding honors with eight rebounds, while contributing two steals, a block and an assist.

XAVIER 54, TEMPLE 53

PHILADELPHIA - Xavier's Jessica Pachko hit the go-ahead layup with six seconds remaining to lift her team to victory and hand Temple women's basketball a 54-53 loss on Wednesday night in McGonigle Hall. The Owls (12-14, 5-6) let a five-point lead slip away in the final minute and 30 seconds as Xavier (10-15, 4-7) pulled out the victory on the road.

Pachko finished with a team-high 14 points and game-high nine rebounds for Xavier while Shatyra Hawkes scored 13 and added four assists and four steals.

Temple's Victoria Macaulay led all scorers with 15 points. Rateska Brown added 12 off the bench for the Owls. Natasha Thames had a solid game with eight points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field as well as seven rebounds and four steals.

The Owls tied their season-high with 14 steals, but the rewards were negated by their 17 turnovers.. After Hawkes brought the Musketeers within a point on a layup with 11 seconds left, Temple turned the ball over on the inbounds pass after a Xavier timeout. Pachko was able to hit the go-ahead layup on the resulting possession, and Temple was not able to get a clean shot off in the remaining time.

RICHMOND 66, VCU 62 | RICHMOND HIGHLIGHTS | 

RICHMOND, Va. - Richmond (14-13, 4-7 A-10) made a season-high 12 three-pointers en route to a 66-62 victory over VCU (10-16, 3-8 A-10).

Richmond's Rachael Bilney led the way for the Spiders with a team-high 17 points. Samantha Bilney and Becca Wann also scored in double-figures for Richmond.

VCU's Robyn Parks, the second-leading scorer in the league, led VCU with 29 points and 20 rebounds in the loss.

Richmond shot a season-high 12-of-29 from behind the arc and shot 25-of-56 from the field. The Spiders had 18 assists and nine steals.

Trailing 63-49 with 6:29 left, VCU mounted a furious comeback scoring 11 straight points and eventually pulling within three points, 63-60, with 51.5 seconds remaining. Richmond's Rachael Bilney responded with a long three-pointer, her fifth of the game, with 24.7 seconds left to snap the scoring drought and give the Spiders a six-point advantage.