PHILADELPHIA – A slow first half for the Saint Anselm College women's basketball team proved to be the difference in Sunday's 61-50 loss to nationally-ranked University of the Sciences.
Saint Anselm drops to 6-5 on the year while the Devils, ranked No. 16 in the D2SIDA National Media Poll, improve to 8-1 on the season. USciences is also receiving votes in the Women's Basketball Coaches' Association National Poll.
The Devils led by a 38-22 margin at halftime, shooting exactly 50% from the floor while limiting Saint Anselm to just 28% shooting (8-for-29). The Hawks responded with a strong second half, outscoring the hosts by a 28-23 spread in the final 20 minutes, but the early struggles for Saint Anselm could not be overcome despite a 19-2 scoring run that spanned the third and fourth quarters.
Sophomore Gabby Turco (Wildwood, N.J.) had 17 points for Saint Anselm with senior Peyton Steinman (Pittsfield, Mass.), competing in her 100th career game for the Hawks, was responsible for 14 points and a team-best nine rebounds. She also added three steals, two assists and two shot rejections in the defeat.
USciences overwhelmed the Hawks in the game's first five minutes, outscoring Saint Anselm by a 16-5 margin by connecting on its first six shots that included four consecutive three-point baskets. Kendall Keyes had nine points all by herself in that time frame while Saint Anselm struggled with maintaining possession, turning the ball over three times.
The second quarter did not start much better for the Hawks, who were stunned once again with a 7-0 scoring stretch that saw the first three shooters for USciences find the bottom of the basket. The Devils closed strong heading into the locker room, making three-of-four shots in the final three-and-a-half minutes of the second quarter.
In a recurring theme, USciences once again controlled the start of the third period, pumping home eight quick points to capture a 46-22 lead with 6:17 to go in the stanza. The Hawks were 0-for-7 on offense to begin the second half and, across the first three quarters, USciences was able to score a combined 20 points prior to Saint Anselm's first point in each frame.
The Hawks managed to fight their way back into the game in the third and fourth quarters, producing a 19-2 scoring spurt that was keyed by 6-of-10 shooting and nine points from Turco alone. Meanwhile, the Devils helped the Hawks with six turnovers while making just one basket.
Trailing by just a 48-41 margin with 6:30 left in regulation time following a Steinman jumper, Saint Anselm conceded the game's next five points to USciences, putting the game out of reach. The Devils also made eight of their final 12 free throws despite not making another field goal, laying claim to an 11-point win as time expired.
Keyes finished with 22 points and Jess Huber had 18 for the Devils, who ended the game with seven treys on 14 attempts. Rebounds were split right down the middle, 34 for Saint Anselm and 34 for USciences.
Saint Anselm returns to action Monday, Dec. 20, taking on Goldey-Beacom at 1 p.m. in Wilmington, Del.
