Manchester, N.H. (February 4) -- Saint Anselm dropped a 77-54 final to visiting Southern Connecticut on Wednesday night at Stoutenburgh Gym in NE-10 women's basketball action. The teams split the regular-season series, with each team winning on the other's home court.

The Owls jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead after a jumper from Lauren Allen (Sterling Heights, Mich.) with 16:26 left in the period. After the Hawks got on the board with a jumper from Megan Howard (St. Paul, Minn.), the visitors pushed the lead to as many as 19 points at 26-7 with 7:26 on the clock. Saint Anselm cut the lead down to 13 on two occasions before Southern Connecticut took the 34-19 lead into the halftime break. Howard led the Hawks with six points and six rebounds in the first half, while Jacqueline Johannes (Southbury, Conn.) had nine points for the Owls.

Southern Connecticut used 53.3 percent shooting from the field in the second half to pull away for the 23-point victory over the Hawks. In the loss, Howard picked up her 13th double-double of the season to lead the Hawks offensively with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Katie Larkin (Goffstown, N.H.) also finished in double figures with 14 points. Five Owls finished in double figures, led by a 17-point, eight-rebound effort by Johannes.

With the loss, Saint Anselm falls to 4-17 overall and 2-14 in the Northeast-10, while Southern Connecticut is now 6-15 overall and 3-13 in league play. Saint Anselm returns to action on Saturday afternoon as the Hawks travel to Saint Rose for a 1:30 p.m. start in Albany, N.Y.