New Haven, Conn. (December 6) -- Led by a 24-point, 13-rebound double-double by freshman standout Megan Howard (St. Paul, Minn.), the Saint Anselm women's basketball team defeated Southern Connecticut by a 72-65 final on Saturday afternoon. Senior Justine Lyons (Reading, Mass.) also contributed 20 points off the bench in the win.

In the first half, the Owls jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead before the Hawks rebounded with an 8-0 run, capped by a Howard basket, for the 10-7 lead with 12:58 left in the half. After SCSU held a 14-12 lead, the Hawk embarked on a 13-0 run over the next five minutes and held a 25-14 lead with 5:20 remaining. The edge was a 35-17 advantage at with 3:19 on the clock after a Lyons basket, but the Owls closed the half on a 7-0 spurt for a 35-24 Saint Anselm lead at the break.

Southern Connecticut didn't go quietly and with 13:00 left in the game, the Owls trailed just 42-39 after a layup from Sarah Schicher. The hosts got even closer at two points with 9:30 remaining after a layup from Lexi Allen, but that lead was quickly pushed up to double figures by the Hawks yet again. Up by 13 with 1:08 remaining, the Owls got a three-pointer from Allen with two seconds left for the five-point final.

In addition to Howard and Lyons in double figures, Courtney May (Lakeville, Mass.) had an 11-point, 12-rebound double-double in the win. Shicher led four Owls in double figures with 16 points, 12 rebounds and seven blocks. The Owls turned the ball over 20 times in the game.

Saint Anselm is now 1-7 overall and 1-5 in the league, while Southern Connecticut is 3-4 overall and 1-4 in the Northeast-10. The Hawks are back in action on Tuesday night as the team travels to Post University for a non-conference matchup.