Saint Joseph's (14-3, 4-1 A-10) vs. La Salle (11-8, 2-2 A-10)
Wednesday, January 18 | 7:00 p.m. | Hagan Arena | Philadelphia, Pa.
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GAMEDAY LINKS
Saint Joseph's: Roster | Schedule | Stats | Game Notes
La Salle: Roster | Schedule | Stats | 

PHILADELPHIA - The Hawks and Explorers meet again, this time inside Hagan Arena as Saint Joseph's women's basketball looks to complete a regular season series sweep over La Salle on Wednesday evening for the first time since the 2018-19 season.

After a New Year's Eve matchup against the Explorers, the Hawks will take their turn hosting their city rivals in the second matchup of the season when the two teams meet on Wednesday evening. The Hawks grabbed the win in the A-10 opener and the Big 5 finale, giving SJU a second-place finish in the Big 5 standings while La Salle remained winless in the season standings. The Hawks used a big boost from Emma Boslet off the bench in the win over La Salle, who nearly recorded her first double-double with a career-high 11 points and nine rebounds. Talya Brugler had a game-high 20 points against the Explorers, while Katie Jekot returned for the first time in three games with nine points and 11 assists. Jekot looks to even the series with her sister (Julie Jekot), holding a 1-2 record against the Explorer over the two seasons both have been on opposing benches in the rivalry.

Prior to the 68-64 win inside Tom Gola Arena, the Hawks had suffered three-straight losses and five in the last six to the Explorers before ending the run. The Hawks recovered from an 11-point deficit in the first half, the largest comeback on the season for SJU. St. Joe's also tallied a season-high 11 steals, holding a 20-11 advantage in turnovers to help navigate the win.

The Hawks are coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Minutewomen, holding a lead for more than 31 minutes against the preseason favorites inside the Mullins Center. Massachusetts was able to recover, narrowly edging the Hawks 58-56 despite a career-high 22 points from Ziegler.
 

Scouting The Explorers
Since the last meeting between these two teams on opening day of the Atlantic 10 schedule, the Explorers have won three of its last four - including a two-game win streak against George Mason and George Washington. The Explorers rank in the top 50 in the country in both three pointers made (7.8) and three point attempts per game (25.4). Picked second in the preseason poll, the two losses in A-10 play came from an undefeated Rhode Island (5-0) squad and the Hawks. 

Claire Jacobs leads the Explorers with 12.8 points per game, securing 3.7 rebounds. Kayla Spruill also joins in double figures with 12.7 points per game, shooting at an efficient 48.6% clip and 41.8% from behind the arc. Mia Jacobs has been a key piece off the bench the majority of the season, tallying 8.7 points per game. Molly Masciantonio is one of the premier ball handlers in the country, her 65 assists to just 16 turnovers ranking second in the country (4.06 a/to).

All About The Response
The Hawks come off of a 58-56 nail-biter against the preseason unanimous favorites to win the conference in Massachusetts, one that SJU would feel they let slip away. The Hawks led for more than 30 minutes of the contest, eclipsing a double-digit lead on two separate occasions. SJU had three attempts in the final minute to grab a game-tying or winning shot, but all three fell short as St. Joe's dropped its first conference loss of the season.

The Hawks are 2-0 in games after a loss, including a win over La Salle in the A-10 opener after falling to James Madison in the championship game of the Hawk Classic. SJU and La Salle meet for the second time on the season, the Crimson and Gray looking for a similar feat to keep them on pace for the best start under a Cindy Griffin coached team in Hawk history.

Boslet's Big Game
In the last matchup against the Explorers, Emma Boslet proved vital in the 68-64 win over A-10/Big 5 rivals La Salle. The junior set new career marks in points (11) and rebounds (9). Boslet was a perfect 6-6 from the charity stripe, remaining 100% on the season at the line. Boslet scored more in her 11 games this season (51) than in her previous 27 games of her Hawk career (42).

The Great Dane
Laura Ziegler has been enjoying life on Hawk Hill since her arrival in the summer, the rookie already accumulating five Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week honors since the start of the season.

Ziegler has tallied three double-doubles so far this year, leading the team. She is one of just five Hawks to average 11 points and seven rebounds per game over the last 13 seasons, the only freshman to do so. Ziegler leads the team in rebounds (7.9) and is third on the team in points (11.2). Ziegler also has more than double blocks (19) than any other player on the roster.

With a career-performance against preseason favorite Massachusetts, Ziegler posted 22 points on 10-20 shooting from the field against the Minutewomen, 14 of the 22 points coming in the first half. The rookie also added seven rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals in the narrow defeat.

Jekot Climbing The Charts
Entering the second matchup with La Salle, sixth year guard Katie Jekot sits close to surpassing a pair of Hawks in the record books. Jekot enters the game two assists shy from tying Mary Kate McDade (2005-09) for ninth in career assists (385). Jekot also sits within six points of tying Ciara Andrews (2012-16) for 24th in career points, just 18 points off of 21st.
 

Rk.	Player	Points
20.	Sarah Fairbanks (2012-16)	1,064
21.	Amra Mehmedic	1,054
22.	Natasha Cloud (2012-15)	1,049
23.	Melissa Coursey (1995-99)	1,047
24.	Ciara Andrews (2012-16)	1,042
25.	Katie Jekot (2017-present)	1,036
26.	Brittany Ford (2005-10)	1,009