The Guru NCAAW Report: Ziegler Nearly Outscores Loyola Chicago With Third All-Time City Performance for Saint Joseph’s; Texas Upsets South Carolina

By Mel Greenberg @womhoopsguru

PHILADELPHIA – lf no one is in the woods how does anyone know a tree has fallen as the saying goes.

Well, understandably, because people were getting ready with a vested parochial interest in a certain annual football game and the parties around it, even with a moved up tip time, Hawk Hill, not counting any with the ESPN+ game on at their celebrations, was devoid of its normal crowd Sunday afternoon though true Saint Joseph’s (20-4, 11-2) was an overwhelming favorite in its Atlantic 10 matchup with Loyola Chicago at Hagan Arena.

But being the only media person on the scene, it can be said that what was eye witnessed was one of the great individual performances in local Division I collegiate women’s basketball history.

Junior Laura Ziegler, as a native of Denmark one of the foreign legion contingent on the Hawks roster, blasted past all the great names in the program’s existence – climbing past Sue Moran and Dale Hodges to reach 43 points, three short of outscoring the opposition all by herself in an 83-45 victory over the Ramblers (11-13, 3-10).

Hodges was the only other 40-point scorer at 42 against Temple on Jan. 31, 1990, for the previous high, and she reached 40 two other times.

The 43 ties for sixth nation wide this season for most points.

Once the record was reached with 6:53 left in regulation, veteran Saint Joseph’s coach Cindy Griffin, who is in her 24th season at her alma mater, in an act of compassion pulled Ziegler a minute later, though Loyola’s Allison Guth would not have been offended if left in the game for more milestones.

They were within a short distance.

The all-time high in the city was two years ago when Maddy Siegriest scored 50 at Villanova, followed by Gabriela Marginean with 47 at Drexel with the Dragons’ five overtime win at the Daskalakis Athletic Center over Northeastern.

The former Drexel star stopped by a Hawk practice a few days earlier being in town for a halftime honor at the Dragons’ game Sunday with UNCW being inducted into the department’s Hall of Fame.

Ziegler, who has produced the program’s fourth and fifth triple double this season, is third.

“Saint Joe’s is really special team and Laura is a special player,” Guth said, adding, “even if we didn’t look so special.”

In Atlantic 10 history, Rutgers Hall of Famer Sue Wicks edges Ziegler by a point at 44 for most by any conference player at the time of membership or in a conference game, but Ziegler has the highest since 1987.

The game was part of a series of positive karma from local teams playing Sunday indicating it was going to be a great day for the Eagles at the Super Bowl in New Orleans.

Drexel (12-9, 8-3) in the Coastal Athletic Association beat UNCW 68-55 to move within a game of first place North Carolina A&T, which was upset 56-52 by visiting Campbell, while Delaware won 73-65 in double overtime at Hofstra.

In the Big Ten, Rutgers (10-14, 2-11) won its second conference game, winning 78-69 over Purdue (8-15, 1-11) at home at Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway, N.J., improving chances making the cut above the three lowest teams for next month’s tournament that as a result of expansion, won’t be in the field.

In that regard, Penn State (10-14, 1-12) is at the very bottom after being a 69-63 road victim at Northwestern ( 8-14 1-10), which won its first conference game but had more Philly magic considering coach Joe McKeown is a Father Judge grad.

Back here at the postgame press conference, Griffin said, “Our players came in bought into the scouting report, really, really focused, Laura having a sensational day, a record-breaking day and she’s just playing so well for us. All of the players were feeding off of that, which was nice to see. Our defense was awesome again and we had an emphasis of getting more points on the board.

“Lara’s phenomenal. Being able to coach with Susan Moran and playing with Dale Hodges, two really great players, but Laura, her versatility and being able to score in so many different ways. She’s exceptional.”

Ziegler was motivated by her family being here to see her play.

“I just thought they kept me in because I played well. I didn’t realize what the record was.”

It’s the eighth-straight win and it’s all coming together at the right time having dodged bullets of potential upsets from below while going the last several weeks without Talya Bruglar sidelined with a hand injury.

“Everyone’s stepping up,” Griffin said, with an eye to the first of several Super Bowl type Atlantic 10 matchups Wednesday at 8 p.m. on Peacock when the Hawks, a half-game out of first, travel to defending champion Richmond (20-5, 11-1), which stayed in front with an 82-58 win at Duquesne as Rachel Ullstrom scored 21 points with eight boards, and Maggie Doogan double doubled with 17 points and 12 boards.

Back here, Ziegler shot 17-26 from the field with three makes from deep on seven tries, and 6-6 from the line. The 17 made shots ties for second in the program annals.

Mackenzie Smith scored 17 points shooting 7-10 from the field and 2-4 from deep, but the added story was  Julia Nystrom, a native of Sweden, making her season debut getting in the last five minutes and going 2-3.

“That was great to see, she’s been working so hard to get back,” Ziegler said.

Bruglar is to see the doctor Monday and positive clearance is anticipated.

The Zieglar-Smith duo of 60 is a new record in the program – the previous being 58 by Hodges and Kim Foley in 1988 and by Hodges and Ellen Shields in 1990.

Note to the populace reading, there’s enough developed talent at every team in the city except La Salle being the youngest, that on a given night threats for something spectacular exists.

“I’ve been disappointed the colleges don’t get more support here,” retired University City coach Lurline Jones said during an interview prior to her induction into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame last fall, though Villanova saw a boost through the play of Siegrist, now in the WNBA.

But even with the 76ers now bidding for a WNBA expansion team here, the competition from elsewhere  for the next franchise is formidable and unless the decision makers don’t see media coverage, don’t see decent crowds, the desire for one will be considered lip service.

Rutgers Shows Life While Penn State Getting Dicey

In Rutgers’ win, JoJo Lacey scored 22 points while Destiny Adams had 20 points and 11 boards, and Mya Petticord scored 17.

The Scarlet Knights’ other win was the rally from 17 down at Penn State.

Next up is a visit to Iowa Thursday followed by hosting Northwestern on Feb. 17 on the Big Ten Network, travel to Washington and Oregon, and hosting Penn State on March 2.

In the Penn State game at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Ill., Sunday, Talayaha Walker scored 14 for the Lady Lions, Gracie Merkle had 13 points and 12 rebounds, and Gabby Elliott scored 13 against Northwestern.

Next up, a visit to Illinois at 7 p.m., Thursday, followed by hosting Wisconsin, Sunday, then to Michigan, hosting Purdue and traveling  to Rutgers.

Drexel and Delaware Sweep CAA Sunday

In Drexel’s win, Chloe Hodges was 8-13 for 17 points with six boards while Grace O’Neill scored 12, and Cara McCormick and Molly Lavin each scored 10 points.

The Dragons dominated the boards 41-22.

Next up is the direct battle for at least second when William & Mary visit Friday at 6 p.m. on FloSports.

Delaware (7-14, 4-7)  suddenly has a three-game win streak after beating Hofstra (9-13, 4-7).

Tara Cousins had 21 points, shooting 8-15 with six boards and her 49 minutes played in the double overtime win are exceeded only by the 50 from Elena Delle Donne.

Chloe Wilson had 14 points and 10 boards, Ande’a Cherisier had 12 with four assists, and Ella Wanzer scored 11.

Next up is a visit Friday at 6:30 p.m. at the Bob Carpenter Center in Newark.

The National Scene: Texas Avenges South Carolina Loss in SEC

There were no good winning omens ahead for the Eagles from Dawn Staley with the No. 2 Gamecocks and defending national champion South Carolina (22-2, 10-1) being upset in an SEC revenge win 66-62 at No. 4 Texas (24-2, 10-1), ending a 57-game conference regular season win streak dating to 2021 though the North Philadelphia native could be seen on social media  doing a little dance in Eagles attire after the Super Bowl victory.

Madison Booker had 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Longhorns, who moved with Oklahoma from the Big 12 to the SEC this season.

Rori Harmon made two critical foul shots with 10.8 seconds remaining.

The Gamecocks’ Sania Feagin missed a 3-point attempt a second later and Harmon grabbed the rebound to end it.

MiLaysia Fulwiley had 13 points for the visitors who were on a 17-game win streak.

Meanwhile, No. 6 LSU made it a sweep of No. 19 Tennessee beating the Lady Vols 82-77 in another close one, this time in Baton Rouge, and short-circuiting the celebration since Thursday of the non-conference win over No. 5 Connecticut, also close, for the first time since 2007.

Reserve Kailyn Gilbert scored 23 points including two foul shots in the final seconds by the Tigers (25-1, 10-1), now in a three-way tie for first with South Carolina and Texas.

Mikaylah Williams had 16 points, and Aneesah Morrow double-doubled with 14 points and 14 boards while Flau’Jae Johnson scored 12.

On the other side Ruby Whitehorn scored 21, Jewel Spears scored 19, Talaysia Cooper collected 16 points and Zee Spearman got 15 but Tennessee (17-6, 4-6) is now 9th, two spots below is 7th pick back on media day with four teams below ranging to a game and a half behind.

No. 23 Alabama (20-5, 7-4) won at Mississippi State 80-60 as Sarah Ashlee Barker had 19 points while equaling her career-high 19 rebounds.

Beyond the locals in the Big Ten noted above, an in-state meeting saw Michigan  (17-7, 8-5) pull a 71-61 road upset at No. 20 Michigan State (18-5, 8-4) as Syla Swords had 19 points and six boards with six assists.

No. 16 Maryland (19-5, 9-4) won 81-73 at Washington (14-10, 5-7) as Rutgers transfer Kaylene Smikle shot 13-18 from the field for a career-high 36 points.

No. 1 UCLA (23-0, 11-0) is still unbeaten after a 62-52 win at former PAC-12 rival Oregon (16-8, 7-6) as Londynn Jones had a season-high 21 points but the Super Bowl of the conference is just ahead when the Bruins travel across L.A. to No. 7 Southern Cal Thursday at the sold out Galen Center.

In the ACC, four ranked teams won their games while the higher one in No. 14 NC State (19-4, 11-1) got 22 points while Zoe Brooks scored 21 in a 97-74 rout at No. 22 Florida State (19-5, 9-3) which got 23 points from Ta’Niya Latson.

No. 3 Notre Dame (21-2, 12-0), likely to move up a spot in the new AP Poll at noon Monday, in South Bend won 91-52 over No. 21 California (19-6, 7-5) as Hannah Hidalgo scored 24 points with five assists.

In the other games it was No. 10 Duke (19-5, 10-2) getting 24 points from freshman Toby Fournier in a 90-49 win over visiting Miami.

No. 13 North Carolina (21-4, 9-3) was rescued by Reniya Kelly with 17 points and the lead basket with 42 seconds left in a 53-51 win at Clemson, No. 17 Georgia Tech won 71-51 at Boston College, and Louisville beat visiting Stanford 74-65.

Connecticut back in the Big East bounced back from the non-conference loss at Tennessee to win 77-40 at Province, victory number 1,235 for Geno Auriemma whose team will reach 600 straight weeks in Monday’s new AP poll.

It’s also 33 straight conference wins as Paige Bueckers scored 20 for the Huskies (22-3, 13-0), who welcome St. John’s Wednesday and then head back into ACC country Sunday at South Carolina.

And that’s the report.