The Guru’s NCAAW Local/National Roundup: Saint Joseph’s Overcomes DII West Chester Upset Bid; Mallon Gets 100th in Drexel Win at Pitt While Lehigh Upsets Cincy; UConn Tops Louisville

By Mel Greenberg @womhoopsguru

PHILADELPHIA – In the first half Tuesday night here on Hawk Hill in Hagan Arena a concern grew among the Saint Joseph’s faithful in the season opener with visiting area DII West Chester doing a great imitation of Rocky Balboa taking advantage of an offer provided by Apollo Creed and leading 15-12 off an 8-1 run at the end of the first period.

Might the ghost of legendary coach Carol Eckman of the Ram powerhouses in the early 1970s be lurking on the bench.

And through the magic of instant game progress delivered on smart phones, though the home team had already rallied to a 29-26 lead at half, there was a large share in the house already aware that Laura Ziegler, the sole member of last season’s dynamic front court that included Talya Brugler and Mackenzie Smith eligible to return, but did not, was putting up strong double double numbers with her new No. 20 Louisville team in a blowout deficit to No. 1 UConn, the defending national champions, down in Annapolis, Md., at the Naval Academy.

Somewhere longtime Philly women’s summer league commissioner David Kessler was smiling over his longtime claim how the league makes teams better when they return to their campuses, a message coincidentally on election night approved by veteran Jefferson coach Tom Shirley who texted the league makes us all better.

However, late arrivals from night classes here did not experience the earlier aura of unease because what they saw during the final two quarters was the reworked collection of newcomers and a few veterans methodically surging to a 69-46 victory.

Night two of the new season saw continued success from two locals who on near midwest road trips produced last minute triumphs by Drexel 68-60 at Pitt, a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, and Lehigh 88-85 at Big 12 Cincinnati, which is the next opponent for Saint Joseph’s here on Tuesday night after a Hawkks visit to America East contender Maine  Friday night at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.

Those are the kind of outcomes that if enough occur certainly backs claims by mid-majors wanting a fair share of the enlarged at-large action should the size of the NCAA tournaments fields increase next season or soon thereafter.

Back here, Saint Joseph’s coach Cindy Griffin after opening her 25th season at her alma mater said of the way the entire game was handled by her squad, “I think tonight was really good for us,” she said. “We kind of got punched in the face a little bit and I thought we responded, give credit to West Chester, they were physical, they were up in our faces, trying to expose us on some slips and some switches and we needed that.

I just thought we were rushing, we were playing too fast,” said Griffin. “What we thought was open wasn't opened; Inside they were double teaming us, didn't space the floor well, we were standing around, and we were watching our guys get double teamed and we weren't flashing to the ball.”

It was a big night for Penn State transfer Jill Jekot, making her first collegiate start and the youngest in a large family of local women’s stars including older sister Katie, who played here over six seasons graduating in 2023; oldest sister Kelly was at Penn State (2017-22); third oldest Julie was at La Salle (2022-24) and now a grad assistant to Explorers coach Mountain MacGillivray.

Jill, who will face her former team when Penn State visits here Nov. 16, scored 20 points off 6-12 from the floor, four better than Katie’s first game and second best in program debuts behind Claire Melia’s 23 against Columbia in 2019.

The surroundings were not new having attended Griffin’s basketball camp in elementary school and watching her sister.

“I feel like I've been in this gym since I was like 10 years old watching her play,” Jill said. “I've been around here for a long time.”

As for her 33 minutes of action when she also was 6-7 from the line and 2-6 on 3-point attempts, Jill said, “Getting out there was exciting, nerve wracking, I'm glad we won our first game and started on a good note. It is special and honestly, I love this team, I love what they value, the selflessness, the relentlessness, and I work every day to reach those values for them and for this team.”

“You know what you're getting with a Jekot,” Griffin said of the abundance of talent in the family. “You are getting a very high basketball IQ, someone that values different parts of the game as far as her ability to score a goal in different ways, and you know you're going to get a team player, and Jill has all those qualities.”

Junior Gabby Casey had a double double with 13 points and ten boards, freshman Emily Knouse out of Archbishop Wood had nine points on three makes from deep, and Cecilia Kay, a transfer from American U., had six points and 11 rebounds.

On the defensive side, the Hawks dominated the boards 50-27, second chance points 16-2, and in the paint 32-16.

In Drexel’s win, Laine McGurk had a career-high 33 points as well as personal bests in 35 minutes, 13 field goals off 19 attempts and five makes from deep, giving Dragons coach Amy Mallon her 100th victory.

Deja Evans had 12 points and 16 rebounds, the boards one short of her career best.

Drexel next plays at Marist Friday.

Lehigh survived a game with 15 lead changes at Cincinnati as juniors Whitney Lind (26) and Jessie Ozzauto (25) combined for 51 points as each reached career scoring highs.

The Moutain Hawks, defending Patriot League champions, travel to two-time MAAC reigning champions Fairfield but first the host Stags visit Villanova at Finneran Pavilion at 7 p.m., Wednesday night, the only game on the local card.

Yet to open, La Salle and Rider play Thursday, Penn on Friday and Princeton Sunday.

The National Scene

Reduced to an out of season WNBA star attending her alma mater’s action as a spectator, Paige Bueckers saw her No. 1 UConn squad take big leads and fend off rallies to open defense of national title No. 12 beating No. 20 Louisville 79-66 in Annapolis, Md., a game originally scheduled for Germany moved due to the Federal Government shutdown.

Sarah Strong had 21 points, nine rebounds, five assists for the Huskies, while Azzi Fudd scored 20, reserve Kayleigh Heckel, a transfer from Southern Cal, had 14 points off the bench, and KK Arnold scored 13.

The Cardinals got 16 points and 18 boards from Saint Joseph’s transfer Laura Ziegler, while Imari Berry scored 13 points and Skylar Jones, transferring from Arizona, also scored 13.

The Cardinals hosts Northern Kentucky Sunday while the Huskies host Florida State at 4:30 p.m. the same day on FS1.

   In a game not called an upset as No. 9 N.C. State edged No. 8 Tennessee 80-77 in Greensboro, N.C., the winning Wolfpack who had been 1-9 in top ten games the last quarter century got 21  points, 14 boards and the go-ahead basket from Vanderbilt transfer Khamil Pierre while Zamareya Jones had half her 18 points in the final quarter.

Tilda Trygger tacked on19 points and eight rebounds.

The Vols had 23 points and 11 boards from Talaysia Cooper.

N.C. State hosts No. 18 Southern Cal Sunday in Charlotte while Tennessee Friday hosts ETSU.

The other ranked teams who played delivered wipeouts: No. 24 and Atlantic 10 favorite Richmond 83-49 over Mount St. Mary’s; No. 23 Michigan State 125-39 over Mercyhurst; No. 13 MIchigan 100-40 over Canisius; No. 5 LSU over Houston Christian 108-55; and Southern Cal over New Mexico State 87-48.