The Guru Atlantic 10 Report: La Salle and Saint Joseph’s Finish Winners As Dayton Claims Top Seed

By Mel Greenberg @womhoopsguru

La Salle picked for eighth in the preseason claimed a win at George Washington in the nation’s capital in the Explorers’ final game of the regular season to earn a fifth seed in this week’s Atlantic 10 tournament while Saint Joseph’s claimed a win at Duquesne in Pittsburgh and will be seventh.

The tournament opens Wednesday and Thursday, mirroring the A-10 men’s format with split days over the first two days at the 76ers’ CHASE Fieldhouse in Wilmington, Del.

First the wrap up of the locals.

After the Explorers jumping to a 16-7 lead in George Washington’s Smith Center, the host Colonials got back it and were tied 54-54 with 3:51 left in regulation and still alive with a 58-55 deficit with 23 seconds left when Claire Jacobs and Kayla Spruill each made a pair of foul shots to seal a 62-55 victory.

Spruill led La Salle (16-11, 9-6 fifth) with 18 points, shooting 5-of-13 and had six rebounds, while Gabby Crawford scored 10. The outcome enabled the Explorers to go into the conference tournament with their longest win streak of the season at four.

Coach Mountain MacGillivray was hopeful of earning a perk with the fifth seed.

“I’m hoping it might be good enough to merit Spruill player of the year consideration,” he said. “She just finds a way to score night after night.”

La Salle has a three-game win streak in the series with the Colonials (11-17, 4-11).

Maxine Engel had 15 points for GWU, while Sheshlanie Laureano had 13.

Depending how many rounds La Salle lasts, they may merit a WNIT bid but however the outcome results moving forward, the outlook is right for next year with nearly everyone back.

Meanwhile in Pittsburgh, Saint Joseph’s grabbed a 73-68 win at Duquesne (11-17, 6-10) as freshman Mackenzie Smith had a career-high 26 points on 7-of-13 from the field, rookie Taylor Brugler scored 15, freshman Laila Fair scored 12, and Katie Jekot scored 10, dealt eight assists, and grabbed five rebounds for the Hawks (11-16, 7-8, seventh).

A-10 Tourney Set

Dayton defeated Rhode Island Saturday to claim the No. 1 seed forecast for the Flyers by the league coaches at the beginning of the season.

The tournament gets under way at the Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington, Del., near the Amtrak Station, on Wednesday and lasts through Sunday’s title game on 2 p.m. on ESPN2 to determine the champion and automatic NCAA tournament bid to the expanded (by four) 68-team field announced Sunday night, March 13, at 8 p.m. on ESPN.

Double byes go to the top four seeds directly into Friday’s quarterfinals: 1. Dayton (23-4, 14-1), 2. Rhode Island (12-2 both losses to Dayton), 3. Massachusetts (11-4), and 4. VCU (9-5), which won the event last year.

ESPN+ will air games on Wednesday through Friday, followed by the CBS Sports Network on Saturday for the semifinals at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and then the title game.

The 5-10 seeds have a single bye into Thursday.

Wednesday’s pair of game airs at 1:30 p.m. No. 12 George Washington vs. No. 13 St. Bonaventure; and 4 p.m. No. 11 Saint Louis vs. No. 14 George Mason on ESPN+.

Thursday games list as 11 a.m.: No. 8 Richmond vs. No. 9 Davidson; 1:30 p.m.: No. 5 La Salle vs. (12-13) George Washington-St. Bonaventure winner; 5 p.m.: No. 7 Saint Joseph’s vs. No. 10 Duquesne; 7:30 p.m.: No. 6 Fordham vs. (11-14) Saint Louis vs. George Mason winner. All on ESPN+.

Friday Quarterfinals games: 11 A.M.: No. 1 Dayton vs. vs. (8-9) Richmond-Davidson winner; 1:30 p.m.: No. 4 VCU vs. (5-12-13) La Salle-George Washington-St. Bonaventure winner; 5 p.m.: No. 2 Rhode Island vs. (7-10) Saint Joseph’s-Duquesne winner; 7:30 No. 3 Massachusetts vs. (6-11-14) Fordham-Saint Louis-George Mason winner All on ESPN+.

Saturday semifinals games: 11 a.m. (1-8-9) Dayton-Richmond-Davidson winner vs. (4-5-12-13) VCU-La Salle-George Washington-St. Bonaventure winner; 1:30 p.m. (2-7-10) Rhode Island-Saint Joseph’s-Duquesne winner vs. (3-6-11-14) Massachusetts-Fordham-Saint Louis-George Mason winner All on CBS Sports.

Sunday’s Championship 2 p.m.: (1-8-9-4-5-12-13) Dayton-Richmond-Davidson--VCU-La Salle-George Washington-St. Bonaventure winner vs. (2-7-10-3-6-11-14) Rhode Island-Saint-Joseph’s-Duquesne-Massachusetts-Fordham-Saint Louis-George Mason. ESPN2.

That is the A-10 Tourney Report.