The Guru NCAAW Local Report: Saint Joseph’s Wins Its Hawks Classic; Villanova Routs St. John’s in Big East Home Opener; Temple Tops Xavier in Cal Tourney Opener

By Mel Greenberg @womhoopsguru

PHILADELPHIA — Saint Joseph’s completed its non-conference schedule with a gritty 59-54 victory Saturday afternoon over the College of Charleston in Hagan Arena capturing its Hawk Classic and pronounced to be ready to return after the Christmas break to take on the Atlantic 10 the rest of the way.

Next Sunday the Hawks will open here at 2 p.m. (ESPN+) against VCU to chase for the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament in March that will be held just outside Richmond, Va.

Laura Ziegler one day after posting her second triple double in less than a month earned tournament most outstanding player honors with 23 points and 13 rebounds.

Her 30th double double moved her in a tie for third with Sue Moran and Maureen Costello and she landed right on the doorstep of becoming the 31st in program history to reach 1,000 points landing at 999.

Talya Bruglar collected 15 points and Gabby Casey scored 10 for the Hawks (9-2).

The game was almost a duplicate of the opening round win Friday against Howard, the Hawks being chased most of the way but using a 44-29 rebounding advantage to make sure Charleston (9-2) did not have extended possessions.

Taylor Barbot did the most damage for the opposition with 23 points and she was joined on the all-tournament team by her sister Taryn, who was voted the preseason player of the year in the Coastal Athletic Association; Ziegler, Bruglar, Northwestern’s Caileigh Welsh and Howard’s Saniyah King.

After Friday’s game got away from Northwestern to Charleston in the closing minutes, the Wildcats came back in the third-place game, a narrowly fought contest all the way, and prevailed 68-66 over Howard (6-8).

Grace Sullivan scored 17 for Northwestern (7-5) while Destiny Howell scored 14 for the Bison.

“They presented a different style than we’ve seen so far this year,” said Saint Joseph’s coach Cindy Griffin, now in her 24th year at her alma mater. “It was a great battle against two very talented teams.

“Our guards rebounded well, it was a point of emphasis today to guard the three and not not give many layups. Just playing back-to-back and playing on tired legs, that’s what it came down to. But everyone stepped up and did a great job.

Emma (Boslet) did a great job handling pressure, and she just really gets us settled in there. She was productive in her rebounding and assists. Based on the quality of opponents we upped a little bit this year, just to be 9-2 we’re a little bit more prepared with the team we have to compete in the Atlantic 10 and be successful.”

Northwestern’s trip here before being bound for the rigors of the Big Ten was a bit of a home coming for coach Joe McKeown, who grew up in Northeast Philadelphia, attending at Father Judge High.

“A lot of memories in this building,” he said, recalling his prior long stint coaching in the A-10 at George Washington. “I’ve won some championships here and I’ve lost some tough games here. But the people who coached here (in the city), Jim Foster, Theresa Grentz, Muffet McGraw, Geno Auriemma, inspired me to be involved in coaching.”

Villanova Rides Bascoe to Big East Opening Win on St. John’s

A year ago, the Wildcats opening conference competition in Madison Square Garden against St. John’s and let the game get away at the finish, which set them on a rollercoaster ride through the league schedule, just missing the NCAA tournament, but advancing to the title game of the new WBIT.

On Saturday, things were more productive, in some ways surprising, considering that the Red Storm were looking like upper echelon contenders arriving at Finneran Pavilion Saturday with a 10-1 record, the one being right at the finish, while Villanova had been struggling at 6-6 to find consistency from its influx of new additions.

That was then, this was postgame where coach Denise Dillon’s group produced the score heard round the league, a 71-57 wire-to-wire blowout whose differential was in the low 20s a good part of the contest, peaking at 66-42 early in the fourth period.

Villanova opened with a hot shooting 11-13 from the field and were up 24-12 when the first quarter concluded.

Freshman Jasmine Bascoe from Toronto was 5-for-5 in the quarter and finished with 24 points, Denae Carter was back after missing several games following an injury at Delaware and scored 12 points as did Maddie Burke and Maddie Webber.

Freshman Dani Ceseretti grabbed seven boards as did Carter.

The Red Storm got 12 points from Lashae Dwyer, while Arianna Vanderhoop scored 12.

Villanova will be back right at the arival of the New Year on Jan. 1 hosting Seton Hall at 8:30 p.m. on FS1.

Temple Takes Opener in No. 24 Cal’s Tourney Beating Xavier

Long gone from the Atlantic 10, the Owls on the West Coast hooked up with a former rival of yesteryear beating Xavier 66-51 in the opener of the Raising the B.A.R. Invitational in Berkeley, Cal.

Less than a month from beating Villanova for the Big Five title, Temple will be in the title of another tourney, playing host California, which ended a long drought entering the Associated Press women’s poll last Monday.

“It’s just another opportunity,” Temple coach Diane Richardson said.

The Owls (4-0) are now in the American Athletic Conference while the Musketeers (4-7) are in the Big East.

But the host Golden Bears (12-1), who are now in the Atlantic Coast Conference in their departure out of the PAC-12, beat an active A-10 team in Fordham 69-53 as Ioanna Krimili hit five from deep and finished with 19 points while Ugonne Onyiah was 6-for-6 from the field for 13 points against the Rams (6-4).

Temple’s Tiarra East was 7-13 from the field and was 4-6 from beyond the arc, to score 20 points, while Tarriyonna Gary was 7-15, including 3-7 from deep for 18 points, including her 1,000th, and Amaya Oliver had 12 points and 14 rebounds.

The Temple game after the third-place affair will begin in Haas Pavillion in Berkeley at 9 p.m. EST (ACCNX) making it the absolute last affair to be played prior to a week-long Division I shutdown for the holidays.

Princeton Takes Vermont

The Tigers (7-4) had a strong effort at home in Jadwyn Gym winning 60-45 over the Catamounts (7-4), who failed to have anyone score in double figures.

Ashley Chea, who has appeared as the new go-to with Madison Saint Rose lost for the season with an injury, scored 14 points with six boards, and Fadima Tall had 13 points.

Princeton next Sunday hosts Conference-USA favorite Middle Tennessee at 2 p.m. (ESPN+).

Rutgers Rallies Over Lafayette

The visiting Leopards (3-8) had a 15-point lead heading for an upset of the Scarlet Knights (8-4) until the home team erupted with a 26-point third quarter in Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway, N.J.

Kiyomi McMiller, both the Big Ten and USBWA freshman of the week, turned in a personal best for Rutgers with 31 points, shooting 12-25 from the field. She also made five from deep.

The Scarlet Knights also celebrated the return from a 660 days absence due to injury of Awa Sidibe, who had six points, five boards and two steals.

Chyna Cornwell and JoJo Lacey each cored 12 points.

Rutgers is 3-0 in the series.

Halee Smith had 17 points for Lafayette, Abby Antognoli had 15 points, five rebounds and four assists, and reserve Teresa Kewiet scored 12.

Rutgers stays home after the break and returns to the Big Ten, hosting No. 11 Ohio State next Sunday at 2 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.

Lafayette begins play in the Patriot League visiting Boston U. on January 2, a Thursday, at 2 p.m. (ESPN+) in the Bean City.

 Lehigh Edges Wofford

The Mountain Hawks (8-3) ended their 13-day break for finals with a 69-64 victory over the Terriers (6-4) at Stabler Arena home in Easton, Pa.

“Wofford is a good team,” said Lehigh coach Addie Micir. “It was awesome to get that kind of opponent on our home floor. We knew they were going to make a run, and we said we have to defensive rebound and keep scoring. And how about Maddie Albrecht showing us what fifth-years need to do.”

Albrecht scored 21 points and grabbed six boards.

She personally choked a Wofford comeback, the Terriers were within a point with 1:59 left in regulation 63-62 when he made a layup and hit a pair of foul shots for a 67-62 lead.

Lily Fondre added 15 points as did Ella Stemmer.

Ahead of the Patriot League phase of the schedule, Lehigh will host Misericordia next Sunday at 1 p.m. (ESPN+).

La Salle Felled by UC San Diego

La Jolla was a nice place to visit but not productive place to play, the Explorers (7-7) falling short to the UC San Diego (4-9) hosts of the two-day Multi-Team Event 69-53.

Ayisse Magassa was the lone Explorer to score in double figures for La Salle, scoring 11 points with four boards, though the top rebounder for La Salle was Aryss Mactoon with seven boards.

The Explorers return home after the break to resume Atlantic 10 competition hosting George Washington next Sunday at John Glaser Arena at 2 p.m. (ESPN+).

And that’s your local report.