PHILADELPHIA - The Saint Joseph's women's basketball team opens Big 5 play this Wednesday as the Hawks travel to Temple for a 7 p.m. matchup at McGonigle Hall. Free audio for the game is available courtesy of the Saint Joseph's Sports Network, with video stream available on OwlsTV.
GAME STORIES...
• Wednesday's matchup is the 80th meeting between the Hawks and Owls.
• Saint Joseph's holds a 44-35 edge in the all-time series.
• The Hawks' 79 games versus Temple are the most they have played versus any opponent, with Rhode Island second at 59.
• Temple won the previous meeting with the Hawks with a season-opening 86-70 loss to Temple at Hagan Arena on November 11, 2016 to snap SJU's four-game win streak.
• Saint Joseph's is 15-17 all-time versus the Owls at Temple.
• The Hawks have won the last two meetings at Temple, but had previously lost nine straight on the road in the series.
• Temple's 86 points in last year's contests were a season-high for opponents versus Saint Joseph's.
• The Hawks' 70-67 win on November 29, 2015 came in dramatic fashion as they overcame a 14-point second half deficit to win in the final seconds behind a Chelsea Woods layup and pair of free throws by Ciara Andrews.
• The Hawks are 109-42 all-time in Big 5 matchups and have captured or shared the Big 5 title 17 times.
• Saint Joseph's enters Wednesday with a 5-0 record and are coming off a 87-58 victory over Saint Peter's in the title game of the 24th Annual Hawk Classic on Sunday.
• Junior guard/forward Sarah Veilleux was named Hawk Classic MVP after averaging 19.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game in wins over Saint Peter's and Eastern Illinois.
• Senior guard/forward Chelsea Woods and senior forward Adashia Franklyn were named to the Hawk Classic All-Tournament Team.
• As of Tuesday, Saint Joseph's is one of just 27 undefeated teams in the nation. Additionally, the Hawks are the lone unbeaten Atlantic 10 team.
• Saint Joseph's is looking to improve to 6-0 on Wednesday and cap an undefeated November in the process. The Hawks have previously gone unblemished nine times in November, but only four of thos times featured multiple games. Saint Joseph's best record in November came in 2005-06 as it went a perfect 4-0.
• Saint Joseph's captured the 24th Annual Hawk Classic with wins over Eastern Illinois (80-62) and Saint Peter's (87-58). This year marks the 11th Hawk Classic title for SJU as it had previously captured the tournament crown in 1993, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2015.
• The 2017-18 schedule has featured a pair of new opponents for the Hawks this season in Niagara and Eastern Illinois. Saint Joseph's has taken a 1-0 lead both of the all-time series behind a 93-69 win at the Pruple Eagles and an 80-62 win over the Panthers in the opening game of the 24th Annual Hawk Classic.
• Leading Saint Joseph's to the 24th Annual Hawk Classic title and capturing tournament MVP honors, junior guard/forward Sarah Veilleux was recognized for her performances last week as she was named National Jesuit Women's Basketball Player of the Week by Jesuit Basketball Spotlight officials. Averaging 19.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 2.5 assists per game last week, Veilleux helped the Hawks to victories over Eastern Illinois and Saint Peter's. In the opening game against the Panthers, Veilleux scored a game-high 22 points and added four steals, three assists and two rebounds in an 80-62 win. She followed with 16 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals in the championship game against Saint Peter's.
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