The Guru Report: Saint Joseph’s Downs Duquesne and Looks to Taking Big Five Title Hosting La Salle Monday; No. 4 Baylor and No. 10 Texas Lose in Big 12; Clark Scores 30 in No. 3 Iowa Win Over No. 14 Indiana

By Mel Greenberg @womhoopsgutu

 

PHILADELPHIA — Saint Joseph’s led a local blitzkrieg Saturday with six of eight teams winning everywhere but in the Patriot League.

 

Here on Hawk Hill in Hagan Arena, the home team bounced back from an early deficit to move from a slim three-point lead at the half and forge a 12-0 run out of the locker room with three-point efficiency either from beyond the arc or the old fashioned and-on way to go on and beat Duquesne 77-62 in the Atlantic 10 while across town in the conference the suddenly resurgent La Salle squad made it three straight by beating Massachusetts 70-64.

 

Out in the Midwest Villanova completed a perfect week in the Big East by beating Butler 65-54 in Indianapolis before heading into the deep end of the conference pool in a pair of games against ranked teams hosting No.23 Marquette Wednesday and visiting No. 22 Creighton Sunday.

In the Ivy League, Penn won at Dartmouth 53-39 in Hanover, N.H., while league-favorite and reigning champion champion Princeton in the first of several showdowns easily won at Harvard 72-49 in Cambridge, Mass.

 

Up in Central New Jersey Rider at home in Alumni Gym in Lawrenceville gained a 76-63 win over Canisius in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

 

Unfortunately, in the Patriot League the two locals were swept, Lehigh losing 75-54 at preseason favorite Holy Cross 75-54 in Worcester, Mass., while Lafayette fell 65-54 at Navy in Annapolis, Md.

 

And we’re just halfway done, with Sunday, locally, Temple tries to stay on its winning streak by hosting Memphis 2 p.m. (ESPN+) in the Liacouras Center in the American Athletic Conference; Drexel trying to bounce back from Friday’s loss at Charleston when the Dragons visit UNCW at noon while Delaware hosts league-leader Stony Brook at 2 p.m. in the Bob Carpenter Center in Newark in the Coastal Athletic Association, both games on FloHoops; and longtime rivals Rutgers hosting Penn State at Jersey Mike’s Arena at 2 p.m. in the Big Ten in Piscataway, N.J., on the subscription B1G+.

 

Nationally, Caitlin Clark continued to explode scoring 30 points to lead No. 3 Iowa to an 84-57 win over No. 14 Indiana in a Big Ten dustup at home in Iowa City; No. 13 UConn despite a slew of injuries maintained its Big East dominance winning 92-49 at St. John’s, which moved its hosting duties from the Carnesecca Arena in Queens to the UBS Arena, home of the NHL New York Islanders; and the Big 12 featured two stunning upsets as host Iowa State hit No. 4 Baylor with its second straight loss 66-63 while No. 10 Texas fell 51-58 at No. 12 Kansas State in Manhattan; and Fairfield stayed perfect in the MASC winning 78-73 over visiting Siena.

 

On Sunday attention focuses to the PAC-12 where No. 8 Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer looks to tie retired Duke men’s coach Mike Krzyzewski’s combined collegiate record win total of 1,202 when the Cardinal visits No. 5 Colorado in Bolder; and in a second Top 10 showdown in two weeks No. 2 UCLA, one of two teams left unbeaten in Division I along with No. 1 South Carolina; goes for a sweep when the Bruins travel across Los Angeles to visit No. 9 Southern Cal at the Galen Center.

 

In the A-10 Rhode Island visits Richmond, while in the SEC Vanderbilt makes a bid for a ranking hosting Missouri.

Balance is the Magic for Saint Joseph’s

 

The 15-2 start is best-ever in 17 games in the 23-year era of Cindy Griffin coaching at her alma mater where in this one, though trailing at the outset, the Hawks did not get caught in a trap game ahead of Monday’s matinee affair at home with La Salle that will give them the outright Big Five title at 4-0 with a win.

 

The frontal attack against Duquesne (8-8, 2-2 A-10) featured a career-high 25 points from Laura Ziegler, while Talya Brugler scored 23, and Mackenzie Smith scored 18.

 

“Two Really good teams going at it in Atlantic 10 style,” Griffin said. “(Duquesne) came out really hot, we had to come from behind in the first quarter.

 

“We had the opportunity to make some shots and get some movement in our offense. I think that really changed the flow of the game. Very proud of our players for staying true to what we were trying to do which was move the ball and share the ball.”

 

Of the third quarter opening, which gave the home team control of the rest of the game, Smith said, “Coming out hard at halftime is important for us. We didn't start the first quarter like we wanted to and in previous times, like our last game, we didn't start the third quarter like we wanted to. That was really emphasized at the last two practices.”

 

Duquesne, however, enjoying one of its better seasons, refused to fold, and a three-pointer by Tess Myers moved the Dukes within single digits of the Hawks (15-2, 4-1) at 64- 58 with 7:30 remaining in regulation.

 

But the surge stopped there, being held to just four points the rest of the way, and the three pointer from Chloe Welch sealed it.

 

“They did a good job, but we just stayed true to what we knew we could do,” Ziegler said. “And we executed really well.”

 

Ziegler also grabbed 10 rebounds for her sixth double double of the season. Shooting from the field, she made a career-best on makes, 11 of 13 attempts, including making all three of her tries from deep.

 

Brugler had seven rebounds and tied a personal best with six assists, while blocking three shots, also tying a career high.

 

Smith was six of eight from the floor and three of five from deep.

 

“It’s really tough to guard all five of us, we're a very balanced team, even our players coming off the bench,” Smith said. “We’re always a threat. You have to guard us from all spots. To have the balanced scoring makes everyone play you honest.”

 

 Amaya Hamilton had 18 points for the visitors, Myers got 11, and Megan McConnell had six boards.

 

Monday's game at noon will be a national telecast on CBSSN.

 

“We know it will be a typical big 5 game,” Griffin said. “It doesn't matter what your record is. Everybody is going to bring their best,”

 

“It is something we know,” Ziegler said. “It’s been a long time since our last big 5 game (early December against Villanova). We've been waiting a little bit for this one. Finish the job. We want to get that Big 5 title this year. We've had it in the back of our heads, and we're ready to go on Monday.”

 

La Salle String Improves to Three Straight

 

Whether the Explorers (6-10, 3-2) are truly blossoming or are just the best of the rest will be better known Monday, but for now snapping an 8-game losing streak and going on the current run is to be enjoyed after the win over the Minutewomen (3-14, 1-4), a recent A-10 power reduced by roster losses.

 

‘Really happy for this team that keeps trying to grow a little bit,” La Salle head coach Mountain MacGillivray said. “It wasn’t a pretty game, but we faced adversity. We didn’t lead the game for a long time, we trailed, they made some big plays and our team hung in there. It was really nice to see.

 

“Our last couple of wins got behind, it was nice to see us come back today, we didn’t hang our heads, just keep doing what we’ve been doing.”

 

Gabby Turcol, who previously played in lower division Saint Anselm, had a personal Division I best 17 points, Nicole Melious scored 14, Molly Masciantonio had 11 points snd 14 assists, while Tiara Bolden and Jolene Armendariz each grabbed seven rebounds.

 

Villanova Streak Reaches Fifth Straight Win

 

Butler (8-8, 0-5 Big East) may have been able to hold high-scoring Lucy Olsen in check, most of her 15 points coming late to help the Wildcats (11-5, 4-1) move into second place, but freshman Maddie Webber scored  a career-high18, and Christina Dalce grabbed 12 rebounds.

 

A 10-0 start snd 18-8 first quarter got Villanova in front and a 22-13 third quarter provided a cushion.

 

Next up No. 23 Marquette comes Wednesday to Finneran Pavilion at 7 p.m. on FloHoops before playing at No. 22 Creighton in Omaha, Nebraska, next Sunday at noon on CBSSN.

 

A sweep could get the Wildcats back in the rankings sooner than anyone could have expected after the graduated Maddy Siegriest led them to a record 10^th place finish last season.

 

Elsewhere in the Big East, Marquette beat DePaul 78-47 at home in Milwaukee, Wis.

 

No. 13 UConn (14-3, 6-0), which is at Seton Hall Wednesday, won its 10^th straight, as five Huskies scored in double figures led by Paige Bueckers with 22 points and freshman Ice Brady with a career-high 17 points.

 

 Penn and Princeton Power to ivy Road Wins

 

Whether the Quakers will be able to nick the conference frontrunners is to be determined.

 

But handling everyone else should get them into the league playoffs again.

 

Penn (9-6, 1-1 Ivy) checked one off Saturday with a big second half moving from a two-point deficit to an 18-8 third period to beat the Big Green (6-8, 0-2) for the 17^th straight time.

 

Stina Almqvist had 15 points and 13 rebounds while Jordan Obi also double doubled with 11 points and 10 boards.

 

Freshman Mataya Gayle had eight points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, while Lizzy Groetsch scored nine.

 

On Monday Penn hosts Cornell at 2 p.m. in The Palestra (ESPN+).

Princeton, meanwhile, in a top of the league matchup, had little difficulty with host Harvard at Lavietes Pavilion in Cambridge, Mass., winning 72-49 over the Crimson (8-7, 1-1).

 

Six players scored in double figures for Tigers (12-3, 2-0), the first time that high a total since 2015.

 

Madison St. Rose scored 16, with five steals; Ellie Mitchell had 10 points and 14 rebounds; while Skye Belker had 13, Ashley Chea scored 11, and Chet Nweke and Kailyn Chen joined Mitchell each with 10 points.

 

Harvard’s Lola Mullaney matched Rose’s game-best 16 points, while Harmoni Turner scored 12.

 

Princeton is at Dartmouth at 6 p.m. Monday (ESPN+), and then in another league showdown hosts Columbia Saturday in Jadwin Gym at 4 p.m. on ESPNU.

 

Columbia on Saturday at home in Levien Gym off Broadway in New York City’s Upper West Side crushed Cornell 82-53 as the Lions (11-4, 2-0) won their ninth straight. Abby Hsu scored 20 with eight rebounds and six assists with four steals and a block against the Big Red (6-8, 0-2). 

 

Reaching 1,834 points, she is now on the Ivy’s all-time top ten list.

 

Kitty Henderson scored 15 and matched her career high with 11 rebounds and also dealt six assists with a career-best five steals. Riley Weiss snd Cecelia Collins each scored 10 and Collins also dished eight assists.

 

On Monday Yale visits at 2 p.m. on ESPN+.

 

Rider Tops Canisius

 

A strong second half carried the Broncs (5-9, 2-3 MAAC) to a win over the Golden Griffins (9-6, 4-2) as Makayla Firebaugh had a game-high 20 points, Jessika Schiffer scored 16, and Kaylan Deveney had a career-high 14 points. Taylor Langan added 11 points.

 

 “it was a great team win,” said Rider coach when Lynn Milligan. “We made shots today. We executed our stuff. We made some nice reeds. We got a lot of stuff around the rim today, which was super important. We had 11 steals, which really takes a team out of flow on offense.” 

 

Next up Rider visits Siena in suburban Albany, N.Y., at 7 p.m. (ESPN+).

 

Lehigh and Lafayette Lose on the Road

 

Patriot League preseason favorite Holy Cross kept Lehigh scoring down in the 75-54 victory at Hart Arena.

 

“Holy Cross came ready to play right from the jump,” said Lehigh Addie Micir. “They were really physical, ran their stuff and executed their stuff well.

 

“I thought we got open looks early, but we didn't knock them down, and we kind of let that get in our head a little bit.”

 

Jamie Behar had 11 points and Maddie Albrecht had 10 for the visiting Mountain Hawks (9-6, 1-3 Pstriot League).

 

Holy Cross (10-5, 4-0) got 18 points and 14 rebounds from Simone Foreman, while Janelle Allen scored 13, and Bronagh Power-Cassidy scored 12.

 

Lehigh hosts Navy Wednesday in Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, Pa., at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.

 

The Midshipmen (5-10, 1-3) will be coming off their win over visiting Lafayette (6-9, 1-3) in Annapolis, Md.

 

Navy sailed to a 34-23 lead over the Leopards, who got 13 points each from Abby Antognoli and Makayla Andrews, who also grabbed eight rebounds.

 

Kyah Smith had 18 points for the home team, while Zanai Barnett-Gay had 13 points and eight rebounds, and Violet McNece scored 15. 

 

Lafayette hosts Holy Cross Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Kirby Sports Center in Easton, Pa., on ESPN+.

 

And that’s the report.