March 3, 2011

PHILADELPHIA - Saint Joseph's women's basketball team begins its quest for the 2011 Atlantic 10 Tournament title on Friday as the eighth-seeded Hawks face ninth-seeded La Salle at noon at The Tsongas Center in Lowell, Mass. The entire A-10 Tournament will have free audio provided by the Saint Joseph's Sports Network, with the Opening Round and Quarterfinal games being streamed for free on www.atlantic10.com.

Saint Joseph's Atlantic 10 Tournament Notes

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GAME STORIES . . .
• Saint Joseph's enters the 2011 Atlantic 10 Championship as the eighth seed after going 8-6 in conference play. It marks the first time the Hawks have entered the conference tournament as an eighth seed.
• The Hawks are 6-1 in the First Round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament. Saint Joseph's topped Fordham in last year's First Round, 76-62, but fell to St. Bonaventure in the First Round of the 2009 A-10 Tournament, 72-65.
• Saint Joseph's has posted a 12-9 mark at the Atlantic 10 Tournament under head coach Cindy Griffin. The Hawks advanced to the title game in 2004 and 2007, while six players earning All-Tournament Team honors under her guidance.
• The Hawks face a familiar foe in ninth-seeded La Salle on Friday. Saint Joseph's and the Explorers have played every season since the Hawks became a Division I program for the 1973-74 season. Saint Joseph's holds a 34-9 series edge.
• Saint Joseph's topped the Explorers in this year's meeting, 77-60, on February 19 (boxcore and recap on page 17). The teams have also met three times in the A-10 Tournament, with SJU winning two of the contests (3/4/05, W, 56-50; 3/2/97, W, 61-51; 3/2/96, L, 65-62).
• Should the Hawks win Friday, they'd face the top-seeded Xavier Musketeers on Saturday. Saint Joseph's held a halftime lead against #6 Xavier earlier this year, but eventually fell, 75-54, on January 12 (boxscore and recap on page 14).
• A Semifinal matchup could pit Saint Joseph's against Richmond, Charlotte or Massachusetts. The Hawks went 2-1 against those three squads, winning at home against Richmond and Massachusetts, but falling to the 49ers.
• Saint Joseph's is 19-9 all-time in games played in Massachusetts.
• First Round and Quarterfinal matchups of the A-10 Tournament can be viewed live on www.atlantic10.com, free of charge. Sunday's Semifinal contests will begin at Noon on March 6, and televised nationally on CBS College Sports, while the title game of the 2011 A-10 Championship on Monday, March 7, will be shown live on ESPN2 at 5:00 p.m.

Atlantic 10 Championship History
All-Time Record: 35-26
Last Year: 1-1
Last Game: L, 3/6/10, Charlotte, 87-85 OT
Last Saint Joseph's Win: 3/5/11, vs. Fordham, 76-62
Current Saint Joseph's Streak: L-1
Coach Griffin at A-10s: 12-9