NEW HAVEN, Conn. – A physical battle saw the Saint Joseph's women's basketball team secure a 66-45 win on the road, a suffocating defense limiting Yale in the first road trip of the season for St. Joe's on Saturday afternoon.
The Hawks move to 2-0 on the year, winning road-openers in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 1993-94/1994-95 season.
FIRST QUARTER
- The Hawks jumped out to the first four points before the two teams traded baskets throughout the opening period.
- A cut to the basket and finish from Laura Ziegler gave the visitors a 14-9 lead, but they were held without a point over the final 3:33 as Yale drew level after 10 minutes.
SECOND QUARTER
- The Bulldogs took their first lead of the game just moments into the quarter, holding an 18-15 advantage with over seven minutes to play.
- Four different scorers would get in on a 10-0 run for the Hawks, Mackenzie Smith starting and finishing the spurt with strong drives to the basket.
- Once again, the Hawks were left without points for nearly the final three minutes as Yale would cut the deficit to 25-22 heading into the locker room.
THIRD QUARTER
- The Hawks offense stalled over the first three minutes of the third quarter, but were able to manage it through a solo three-pointer from Smith and defense on the other end to limit the damage.
- Chloe Welch pulled the offense into gear, her layup at 6:52 in the third good for her 10th point of the afternoon and putting her into the 1,000 point stratosphere in her career. Welch made it back-to-back buckets, putting the Hawks up by six.
- A basket on the other end saw the Hawks again respond, as Smith finished an old-fashioned three-point play to extend the lead to 35-28.
- Smith continued to stay hot for the Hawks, sparking a 10-3 advantage with another drive and a deep three, Welch chipping in to give St. Joe's a 42-31 lead after three quarters.
FOURTH QUARTER
- The Bulldogs looked to jump start a run to get back into the game, but each time over the course of the first eight minutes of the frame the Hawks were able to find a response of their own.
- The Hawks used perfection from the free throw line in the fourth quarter (15-15) to cruise to a 66-45 victory.
GAME NOTES
- Smith (25p/9r) and Welch (25p/8r) combined for 50 points and 17 rebounds, single-handedly outscoring the Bulldog offense. Welch played all but seven seconds in the win.
- Laura Ziegler and Talya Brugler were held to just 14 points combined, but defensively helped hold all Bulldogs scorers under 10 points and limiting Yale to just 20-72 (27.8%) from the field.
- St. Joe's shot just 20-50 (40.0%) from the floor but were a staggering 23-25 (92.0%) from the free throw line.
- Despite a 24-11 advantage on the offensive glass, Yale was unable to turn that into an advantage as both teams finished with 10 second chance points. Yale held a 45-41 edge in total rebounds.
UP NEXT
The Hawks head back to Philadelphia for the first of three-straight games against city rivals, facing Penn at The Palestra in a Tuesday, November 14 contest. Tip is scheduled for 6 p.m.
