PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Chatilla van Grinsven’s 19 points and 10 rebounds helped Saint Joseph’s snap No. 11 Dayton’s 15-game winning streak 61-54 in the Atlantic 10 Conference semifinals Sunday.
The Flyers (27-2) hadn’t lost since Dec. 30 against Bowling Green. They had beaten 22 straight conference opponents, including last season’s tournament title run, since a Feb. 11, 2012, loss to St. Bonaventure.
The fourth-seeded Hawks (22-8), who lost 73-66 at Dayton on March 3, advance to Saturday night’s final in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Saint Joseph’s never trailed and led 35-24 after van Grinsven’s 13 first-half points. Dayton got to within 52-51 with 2:45 remaining, but van Grinsven hit a jumper half a minute later, and Erin Shields tacked on six free throws in the final 1:11.
