Philadelphia, PA – Behind a career-high 21 points from rookie Daphne Elliott, the Hartford women's basketball surged back for a 72-66 overtime victory over the St. Joseph's Hawks on Friday night at Hagan Arena in Philadelphia, PA. The overtime victory is the first for Hartford since February 15, 2006 (56-49 vs. UMBC). Hartford improves to 6-1 overall, while St. Joseph's falls to 2-5 in 2009-10.

Elliott's 21 points is a season high for all players and is the third time this season a Hawk has finished with 20 or more points. Elliott finished the game shooting 6-of-12 from the field, including 3-of-6 from long range. She was also a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line, while grabbing three steals in the triumph.

Joining Elliott in double figures was Diana Delva and Jackie Smith. Delva finished with her second double double of the season, compiling 15 points and 13 rebounds. Delva finished 6-of-9 from the field and 3-of-3 at the charity stripe, while blocking five shots, which ties her career best. Smith, who cemented the victory with two free throws with seven seconds remaining, finished with 10 points for her, a career-high and the first time in her career with double figure scoring. Smith was 2-of-4 from the field and also perfect at the line, 4-of-4.

 As a team, the Hawks shot 36 percent from the field (23-of-50) including 33.3 percent from long range (6-of-18). The Hawks finished with an 80 percent showing from the line, 20-of-25, with three players finishing perfect from the free throw line. St. Joseph's finished with a 45 percent effort from the field (27-og-60), including 36.4 from three point land (4-of-11).

Hartford struggled to keep their hands on the ball in the first half, committing 14 turnovers in the first 20 minutes. Those miscues led to 16 points for St. Joseph's, who went into the halftime break with a 31-24 advantage, the second-straight game Hartford has gone into the break trailing. Elliott led Hartford through the first half with seven of her 21 points.

The home team had as much as a 12-point first half lead, made possible by a 9-0 run, that held Hartford without a basket for more than three minutes. The Hawks Alex Hall broke up the run for St. Joseph's with a jump shot, off a feed from Smith, with 6:07 to play before the break. After a matching bucket for St. Joseph's, the Hawks rattled off seven straight-points to pull within five points with 31 ticks remaining before halftime, but a last second layup from Dominique Bryant gave St. Joseph's the seven point advantage at halftime.

The teams came out of the break and traded baskets for the first nine minutes, before Hartford regrouped and scored 12 unanswered points and then extended that run to 18-2, taking a six point advantage, the largest of the game for Hartford.

St. Joseph's showed they would not concede easily scoring six-straight points to pull within one 54-53, with 2:41 remaining in regulation. Hartford answered with a 24 footer from Smith, extending Hartford lead back to four. The Hawks would not trail for the remainder of the game, but two layups in the final 45 seconds from Mariame Djoura amounted to a tie score and overtime. Hartford could only muster two free throws in four attempts in the final minute, not enough to guarantee the victory but enough to force the extra period.

Hartford opened the extra time with four-straight points and never looked back from there. Mary Silvia, who came off the bench and added four points, scored her only basket of the game, a jump shot off a feed from Delva.

The Hawks would only score three baskets in the extra period, in four attempts, but seven free throws in eight attempts lifted Hartford to victory. Ruthanne Doherty hit her second of two attempts with 18 seconds left to give Hartford a three point advantage, forcing St. Joseph's to scramble for a three pointer. That three point attempt was stopped by Elliott, who smacked the ball out of her hands and handed it off to Smith who was fouled and secured the victory with a pair of free throws with seven seconds remaining.

Hartford returns to action on Thursday, December 10 when they take on the reigning National Champion Connecticut Huskies. The game will be the second of the season against a ranked opponent, but matches the highest ranked opponent Hartford has ever played with the Huskies entering as the unanimous number one team in the country. The Hawks and Huskies are set to battle at 7:00 p.m. at the XL Center in downtown Hartford. The game can be seen live on CPTV or can be heard live on the flagship station for Hartford women's basketball, WWUH 91.3 FM.