Saint Joseph’s Women’s Basketball: A Masterclass Against Penn
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Hold onto your bleacher seats, folks! In a performance that can only be described as a basketball ballet, the Saint Joseph’s women’s basketball team pirouetted their way to a 68-57 victory over Penn, with Talya Brugler leading the charge and scoring a staggering 21 points; imagine that… 13 of those in the first half alone! It’s like she went, “Hey Penn, how about I do my warm-up and still score more than you?”
First Quarter: The Flurry of Foreplay
- The game kicked off with Mackenzie Smith hitting a triple faster than you can say “three-pointer,” giving St. Joe’s a quick 5-0 jump. Talk about starting with a bang!
- Brugler then threw in some dazzling moves, scoring the next seven points and putting the Hawks up 12-4. Penn must’ve felt like they were trying to catch a train that had already left the station!
- However, in true form of sports drama, Penn’s Katie Collins struck back with two consecutive three-pointers. Not on my watch, said Smith, who promptly drained another triple to restore order and keep the Parisians at bay – at least for now.
- By the end of the first quarter, Brugler and Smith had combined for a whopping 20 out of the 22 points for the Hawks. If that’s not a dynamic duo, I don’t know what is!
Second Quarter: Hawks Take Flight
- The second quarter saw Brugler continuing her scoring spree, netting the first four points, as if to say, “Is this thing on?”
- Penn hung in there, but a deadly combination of long-range fire from Kaylie Griffin and Laura Ziegler pushed the score to 34-25. Who knew the Hawks had such a knack for the deep ball? Someone call the fire department!
- With a dish from Brugler to Ziegler, they flew into halftime with a cozy 39-29 lead. No snacking on potato chips for these girls; they had a game to win!
Third Quarter: Don’t Count Us Out Yet!
- As the whistle blew for the second half, Ziegler scored again. Honestly, someone should install a revolving door for these players—too many easy points!
- Penn, sensing blood in the water, attempted a comeback, but just when they thought they were back in it, Brugler found a way to put a stop to that. Talk about a power play!
- After some tussles, Penn found themselves trailing 52-43 heading into the final quarter. But, with the Hawks soaring high, it was starting to feel like a tribute band to the Eagles—All the hits, none of the misses!
Fourth Quarter: An Upgraded Finish
- To kick off the fourth, Penn’s Sarah Miller hit a triple, reigniting hopes of a comeback. But Brugler was having none of that, zooming down the court and netting a swift layup. You could practically see the momentum swing back in the Hawks’ favor!
- With a bomb from Ziegler, they widened the gap to 63-46, leaving Penn with just 2 minutes left to perform a miracle. Spoiler: It didn’t happen. But we all love a good underdog story, right?
- As the final whistle blew, the scoreboard reflected a final score of 68-57, with Penn seeing it as a learning experience and the Hawks reveling in their triumph. Thank you very much!
Inside the Box Score: Who’s Breaking Barriers?
- Brugler finished off the night with a double-double: 21 points and 11 rebounds. That’s two pints of talent, if I do say so myself!
- Ziegler also joined the double-double club with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and nearly added a triple-double for good measure. Seven assists? Is she the point guard or the magician?
- Mackenzie Smith cracked the 18th spot in program history for scoring, surpassing Michelle Baker—an achievement worth a round of applause!
- Despite shooting 37.7% from the field, the Hawks went a remarkable 93.3% from the free-throw line. A solid indication that they could at least two-step their way to victory!
Up Next for the Hawks: A Southern Adventure
With the home victory in their pocket, St. Joe’s now turns its attention westward to meet Southern Utah on November 20 at 8:30 PM ET. If they keep this pace, they might as well bring back trophies from Utah, too!
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Talya Brugler scored a remarkable 21 points, leading the Saint Joseph’s women’s basketball team to a 68-57 victory over Penn during an exciting Big 5 matchup on Friday night at the historic Palestra.
The Hawks now boast a perfect 3-0 season record, stepping confidently into Big 5 competition with their first win, marking the third consecutive year that St. Joe’s has kicked off the season with a flawless record.
FIRST QUARTER
- Mackenzie Smith set the tone early, scoring the first five points of the game, including a three-pointer on the initial possession, quickly establishing a 5-0 lead for the Hawks.
- Talya Brugler followed suit with seven consecutive points, including a three-pointer, helping fuel a commanding 12-4 advantage within the first four minutes.
- With back-to-back triples from Penn’s Katie Collins, the Quakers began clawing back, narrowing the gap to just two points before Smith sunk her second three-pointer, securing a 15-10 lead at the media timeout.
- Brugler and Smith were phenomenal, combining for 20 of the Hawks’ total 22 points in the first quarter, completing it with a 22-16 lead.
SECOND QUARTER
- Continuing her momentum, Brugler scored the first four points of the quarter, pushing the Hawks’ lead to 10 and prompting Penn to take their first timeout.
- Penn made a brief surge, cutting the lead to as little as five, but a crucial three-pointer from Kaylie Griffin and another from Laura Ziegler pushed the Hawks ahead to 34-25.
- A brilliant pass from Brugler to Ziegler in the closing seconds of the half allowed St. Joe’s to head into halftime with a solid 39-29 lead.
THIRD QUARTER
- Coming out of halftime, Ziegler quickly added to the score with a jumper, igniting the Hawks’ second-half offense.
- Gabby Casey‘s first basket was a decisive three-pointer, and she further assisted Brugler underneath, widening the lead to 46-32.
- A resilient 6-0 run from Penn narrowed the deficit before Maurina set up Brugler, halting the Quakers’ momentum and bringing the score to 54-43 heading into the final quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER
- Penn’s Sarah Miller sparked a comeback with a three-pointer early in the fourth, reducing the Hawks’ advantage to six.
- Brugler exhibited her tenacity, responding swiftly with a fastbreak layup, followed by a great assist to Ziegler for another critical three-pointer, forcing a Penn timeout.
- The Hawks surged, crafting an impressive 11-0 run, extending their largest lead of the game to 63-46.
- Penn’s Mataya Gayle narrowed the gap with back-to-back three-point plays, but St. Joe’s continued the offensive onslaught, with Casey driving to the hoop for a foul-induced three-point play, solidifying the victory.
- The final minutes saw Penn score some consolation points, but the Hawks confidently walked off the Palestra floor, triumphant with a 68-57 victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Talya Brugler amassed an impressive total of 21 points and secured 11 rebounds, marking her second double-double of the season, extending her career total to seven.
- Laura Ziegler also achieved a double-double, contributing 16 points, 12 rebounds, and a career-high seven assists, just three assists shy of a triple-double.
- Ziegler has consistently performed against the Quakers, averaging 15.0 points and 11.3 rebounds across three matchups.
- Through Brugler and Ziegler’s outstanding performance, St. Joe’s has witnessed multiple players achieve double-doubles in the same season for the first time since the 2017-18 season.
- Mackenzie Smith further cemented her legacy by scoring 11 points, moving into 18th place in program history with 1,187 career points.
- In addition to Brugler and Ziegler, Gabby Casey reached double digits with her 10 points, contributing six rebounds, three steals, and two assists.
- The Hawks achieved an overall shooting percentage of 37.7% from the field and an impressive 93.3% from the free-throw line.
- Outrebounding Penn 43-31, St. Joe’s delivered a solid team effort, assisting on 20 of the 23 baskets made.
- Stina Almqvist led Penn with 21 points, nine rebounds, and three assists.
- The Hawks have historically dominated their rivalry with Penn, holding a 44-5 all-time record, continuing a streak of four consecutive wins against them.
- With this victory, St. Joe’s has triumphed in eight of their last nine Big 5 matchups dating back to the previous season.
UP NEXT
St. Joe’s will set out for a challenging two-game road trip in Utah, beginning with an intriguing clash against Southern Utah on Wednesday, November 20. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET, which is 6:30 p.m. local time, and will be broadcasted on ESPN+.
What were Mackenzie Smith’s contributions in the recent game?
UP NEXT
The Hawks will look to continue their winning streak as they face Southern Utah on Nov. 20 at 8:30 PM. Fans can catch the game and follow the team’s journey as they aim for a strong start in the upcoming matches.
