Comeback Falls Just Short, ‘Cats Drop 57-52 Decision

Saturday, January 31

Davidson, N.C.

2:00 p.m.

Davidson College

5-17, 1-8 A-10

Saint Joseph's

7-13, 3-5 A-10

Saint Joseph's

Davidson

Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com

Comeback Falls Just Short, ‘Cats Drop 57-52 Decision

1/31/2015 4:55:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Gavin McFarlin - Assistant SID

Box Score (pdf)
Game Highlights
DavidsonPhotos.com

DAVIDSON, N.C. — Freshman Mackenzie Latt recorded her second consecutive double-double and Davidson nearly erased a 19-point second-half deficit before Saint Joseph's held on in taking a 57-52 decision Saturday afternoon in Atlantic 10 women's basketball action in front of a crowd of 671 in John M. Belk Arena.

Latt, who recorded her eighth double-double of the year, tallied game highs of 16 points and 11 rebounds to go with four assists and four steals. She got 14 points and six boards in the second half when the Wildcats (5-17, 1-8 A-10) used a 19-2 run to get within two points after being down 51-32 with 11 minutes to go.

Saint Joseph's (7-13, 3-5 A-10) put three players in double digits, led by Sarah Fairbanks' 12 points. Kathlee Fitzpatrick added 11 points and Ashley Robinson had 10. Natasha Could finished with eight points, nine assists and four rebounds.

Hannah Early reached the double-digit mark a team-high 21st time for Davidson, with 13 points and eight rebounds, while Shannon Eriksson finished with nine points and three rebounds off the bench. Kayla Seymour had a nice all-around game off the bench as well, with six points, a career-high tying six rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Seymour helped spark the near comeback for the Wildcats, canning a three-ball with 10:39 to go to make 51-34. Latt followed later with a layup and jumper, and then Eriksson drained a three-pointer off a pass from Latt to cut the Hawks' lead to 12 (53-41), forcing SJU to burn a timeout.

Davidson continued to push, getting five straight points by Dukes, including a three-point play with 3:35 on the clock to make it 53-46.

After a steal by Seymour on the Hawks' next possession, Early got in on the scoring as she swished home a deep shot from behind the arc for the 'Cats' third triple in the scoring spurt and then hit a turn-around jumper to make 53-51 with 2:27 left in the second half.

Saint Joseph finally answered with a clutch bucket inside by Ashley Robinson with 2:02 left and Cloud sealed the win for the Hawks by hitting three free throws in the last 28 seconds. After the big run, Davidson missed its final four shots in the closing minutes.

The first half saw both teams play even through the first 13 minutes after Lillian McCabe tied things up at 18-all. SJU would then finish the half on a 15-2 run to grab a 33-20 lead going into the break.

For the ninth time this season, Davidson reached the 40-rebound mark, outrebounding the Hawks 40-38.

Davidson begins February with a road trip to Washington, D.C., where it will play George Washington next Thursday, Feb. 5, at 11 a.m.

GAME NOTES: Early has scored in double figures 49 times overall for her career … she is now 34 points away from 1,000 for her career … Early's 57 three-pointers on the season are nine away from tying Ashley Lax's single-season record of 66 set in 2008-09 … Latt's double-digit scoring game was her 14th of the season … Davidson had 14 assists on 20 field goals, the fourth time in the past six games it has dished out at least 13 or more in a game.