SJU: Roster | Schedule | Stats
VCU: Roster | Schedule | Stats

PHILADELPHIA – The Saint Joseph's women's basketball squad (7-6, 1-0 A-10) heads to VCU (6-8, 1-0 A-10) to continue Atlantic 10 action this Wednesday, January 8. Opening tip at Stuart C. Siegel Center in Richmond, Va. is set for 6:00 p.m. The Hawks were predicted to finish 10th in the A-10 this year, according to the 2019-20 A-10 Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll conducted by the league's 14 head coaches and announced on October 29, while the Rams were predicted to win the league. Both teams are entering Wednesday's match-up having won their respective conference openers on Saturday; SJU downed Richmond at home, 67-56, while VCU defeated Rhode Island on the road, 75-54.

Saint Joseph's and VCU split the all-time series, 9-9, after the Rams won both regular-season games (59-40 on the road, 65-47 at home) and the A-10 Championship quarterfinals (58-47) against the Hawks in 2018-19. Prior to last year's competition, the Saint Joseph's had won seven of the last eight meetings, dating back to February 1, 2014.

Saint Joseph's returns 2018-19 Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team selection Katie Jekot from a year ago while VCU returns its entire starting five as well as its top nine scorers from last year, including First Team All-Atlantic 10 selection Tera Reed and Third Team selections Taya Robinson and Danielle Hammond.

For tickets to Wednesday's game, please click here.

SHARP-SHOOTING HAWKS
Sophomore guard Katie Jekot lit up Hagan Arena with a team-high 17 points and a career- and game-high six assists to lead SJU to a 67-56 win  over Richmond in the Atlantic 10 opener on January 4. Saint Joseph's shot a season-best 56.9 percent from the field (29-of-51) as Jekot shot 7-of-12, including three three-pointers, sophomore forward Katie Mayock added 11 points (5-of-7 FG), junior guard Mary Sheehan chipped in nine points (5-of-7 FG), and sophomore guard Devyne Newman added eight points (4-of-5 FG) in 20 minutes off the bench.

ALL-DAY KJ
Sophomore guard Katie Jekot is the returning leading scorer from last year's squad. Jekot averaged 7.5 points per game in all 31 appearances with 25 starts in 2018-19 and is SJU's returning leader in total steals (36) and three-pointers (42).

This year, the sophomore leads the squad in scoring (10.9 ppg), field goals made (29), three-pointers made (21), and minutes (31.0) and is shooting 85 percent (23-of-27) from the free throw line. Jekot turned in her first career double-double with a season-high 20 points and a career-high 11 rebounds – both game-high numbers - in SJU's 71-44 win over Sacred Heart on December 4.

NO SMALL SPARK
Led by freshman forward Gabby Smalls' team-high 10 points and game-high nine rebounds, the Saint Joseph's women's basketball squad closed the non-conference portion of its schedule with a 49-40 win over Navy at Hagan Arena on Monday, December 30. Smalls hit her 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field to go along with three offensive boards and six defensive boards in 21 minutes of play off the bench.

"Gabby has been working her tail off in practice," beamed head coach Cindy Griffin in the postgame press conference. "She gives us that burst of energy, and she wants to improve. She plays hungry and is just getting better every day. I'm proud of the way she came out. We needed her today. This was her game, and she just continues to get better and better."

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