Women's basketball drops two at home

This Saturday the Xavier women's basketball team fell to St.

Joseph's at home 70-67. After the opening tip, the Musketeers quickly went up 10-2 after a few layups from redshirt junior Jessica Pachko. Pachko was the high-scorer of the game with 19 points and continually found ways to keep the Musketeers in the game.

The biggest lead of the night for Xavier came with under eight minutes left in the first half where they had a nine point lead over the Hawks.

This lead did not last long as the Hawks fought back ending

the half on a 16-4 run lead by St. Joesph's sophomore guard Erin Sheilds. With both teams commanding

different portions of the first half, the score at the break was 30-27 with the Hawks on top. At the start of the second half, the Hawks carried the energy with them and went ahead 41-31 within four minutes.

The Musketeers, who out-rebounded the Hawks 39 to 29, gave up some crucial offensive boards during this span of time. These allowed St. Joseph to get second-chance points. The Musketeers never saw the lead again.

Even though they trailed by 10 points, the Musketeers never

stopped as Tyeasha Moss was able to make a few shots and get to the free throw line.

Xavier cut the lead to one on two different occasions.

Pachko was key here as she grabbed a few of her 15 rebounds throughout the game allowing her to be the only player with a double-double. With the ball and Xavier down

six, sophomore guard Ashley Wanninger missed a three-pointer which was rebounded and put back in by Pachko with 20 seconds left. The Hawks turned the ball over to Xavier's sophomore guard Shatyra Hawkes. The turnover resulted in a three-point play by Pachko. Pachko made a layup and free throw with 10 seconds left to cut the deficit to one. The Hawks were then fouled and made a pair of free-throws leading to one last chance for Xavier to tie.

Hawkes took and missed the shot to tie making the final score 70-67 with St. Joseph coming out on top.

The Xavier women's team then fell 64-38 to the Temple

University Owls last night. This marks the eleventh consecutive loss for the Musketeers this season. Their last win came on Dec. 6 when the Musketeers defeated Morehead State 71-66. Xavier will return to action

on Saturday when they travel to Kingston, R.I. to take on the

University of Rhode Island Rams.