Saint Joseph’s Downs Penn 68 – 57 at the Palestra
PHILADELPHIA, PA. 11/15/2024 –
The first Big Five game of the season for both teams in the new Big Five format. The winner of the pod advances to the Big Five Classic Championship game. This is the first step for the Saint Joseph’s Hawks and the University of Pennsylvania Quakers. The game goes to Saint Joseph’s 68 – 57. The Hawks led from start to finish in a game they did not take for granted.
“I told the girls, we’re in a tournament setting, this is the first game of a tournament, that’s the mentality we have,” said Saint Joseph’s Coach Cindy Griffin. “The first game in any tournament is always the hardest. Not to say the next game isn’t going to be hard, Thinking about it, it’s a three game tournament, but we have to take it one game at a time.”
And that message got through to the players who know the importance of their initial Big Five game of the season. St. Joe’s is the defending champion. It was the old format. This is the new format and a good start is imperative for SJU to be able to defend the title.
“It’s really important,” said Brugler. “If we don’t come put 2 – 0 in our pod we’re not able to compete in the championship game in the Big Five Classic. So we knew how important it was going to be.”
Brugler scored a game-high tying 21 points for the Hawks and added 11 rebounds. Fellow front court mate Laura Ziegler scored 16 points and led the game with 12 caroms. SJU wants to win this title as it is meaningful to the team and school.
“It means a lot,” Ziegler said. “It is something we talk about every year in the summer, and throughout the whole season. It’s always a focus from Coach Griffin. We always talk about the A10 and the Big Five at the same time.”
Stina Almqvist headed Penn with 21 points and 9 rebounds.
Key Run of the Game
Saint Joseph’s had control from the beginning, but had a hard time shaking Penn. Early in the 4th quarter the Hawks led 52 – 46. After a three-pointer by Quakers guard Sarah Miller, SJU answered with an 11 – 0 run over the next 5:12 headed by Brugler and Ziegler who scored nine of the points. Gabby Casey capped the run with two free throws. Penn guard Mataya Gayle ended the run coming alive on offense with six straight points of her 13 total.
The Hawks Owned the Boards
Saint Joseph’s had a 43 – 31 advantage in rebounding with a 15 – 7 edge on the offensive glass which tilted the game toward SJU.
“That’s a point of emphasis,” Griffin said about winning the battle of the boards. “Noy only from a skill set, but also from a hunger stand point, like you got to go for the ball with two hands securing the rebound.”
What the Numbers Say
St. Joe’s had two other players score in double figures as Mackenzie Smith scored 11 points and Casey added 10.
The Hawks assisted 20 times on 23 baskets. A sign of a team playing together.
“We have a solid group that grew from last year, and we’re very used to playing with one another,” said point guard Emma Boslet. “We practice a lot getting each other the ball, and we take a lot of pride giving it to each other.”
Up Next
Saint Joseph’s (3 – 0) heads west to play at Southern Utah and Utah next week. The Red and Blue goes to Villanova who lurks as their Big Five common opponent in the pod. An arch-rival to St. Joe’s, and a rival to Penn who looks forward to playing this game.
“Every Big Five game is so fun because it means so much more,” said Almqvist. “And in my position, we’ve never beat Villanova, so this is the year.
The Quakers (3 – 1) go into that game taking the ability to play hard and compete out of this game.
“Overall, I think our team competed really hard,” said Penn Coach Mike McLaughlin. “Defensively we were good enough to give ourselves a shot to win the game. The number was close to where we needed to be. I was really proud that we fought right to the end.”
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: glenn@phillycollegesports.com
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