Jan. 29, 2008

PHILADELPHIA - Saint Joseph's women's basketball team will look to snap a two-game losing streak and keep its Big 5 title hopes alive as the Hawks travel to city-rival Temple Wednesday. The game will be streamed live on www.sjuhawks.com.

GAME STORIES . . .
• The Hawks(1-1 Big 5) need a win Wednesday to keep their hopes alive for a share of the City Series title as Villanova has capped its Big 5 play with a 3-1 mark and Temple is currently undefeated at 2-0.
• Saint Joseph's is tied with Villanova for most career wins in the Big 5 with 84.
•The Hawks lead the all-time series 40-24, but have won just one (65-64, 1/27/06) of the last 10 meetings with Temple and are 4-7 all-time at the Liacouras Center.
• Saint Joseph's freshman center Sarah Acker is averaging 14.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in the Hawks' two Big 5 games this year, while senior guard Timisha Gomez is averaging 13.0 points and 6.0 rebounds a contest.
• Gomez is averaging a team-high 14.8 points per game in A-10 contests, while classmate Amy Wold is averaging 5.0 assists per game in conference competition.

• Click here for Saint Joseph's game notes.

LAST TIME OUT
Trailing Dayton for a majority of the game, the Saint Joseph's had a chance to win the game in its final possession. Unfortunately for the Hawks, a three-pointer by Timisha Gomez hit the rim, but failed to fall through as the Flyers came away with a 56-54 win at Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse.The Hawks would cut the deficit to 56-46 with 3:51 remaining, but would get no closer.

INJURY REPORT
Freshman Laren Robinson is doubtful for Wednesday with a knee injury.

OF NOTE
Freshman center Sarah Acker's 57.7 field goal percentage currently ranks fourth all-time among SJU's single-season leaders...Senior guard Timisha Gomez currently ranks 10th in conference-only scoring at 14.8 ppg, while classmate Amy Wold ranks third in assists at 5.0 per game...The Hawks currently rank fifth in conference home attendance (860) and sixth (901) in overall home attendance...SJU is 84-29 all-time in Big 5 play.

CAPTAINS ON THE DECK
Saint Joseph's Head Coach Cindy Griffin named seniors Timisha Gomez, Krista Hutchison and junior Mary Kate McDade as the team's captains for the 2007-08 season. All three Hawks are first-time captains.

LOSCHIAVO ENTERS HAWKS' RECORD BOOK
Arguably Saint Joseph's most consistent three-point threat the past three seasons, junior guard Jenna Loschiavo has continued to etch her name in the Hawk's record book this year. Already fifth in SJU history in three-point percentage (.377), Loschiavo has climbed the ladder for both three pointers made and attempted. The Plymouth Meeting, PA, native enters Saturday's game ninth all-time in both makes (130) and attempts (345).

GOMEZ AND ACKER EARN WEEKLY HONORS
Combining for 39 points in Saint Joseph's 68-61 win at St. Bonaventure, the Hawks' senior guard Timisha Gomez and freshman center Sarah Acker were honored for their individual performances with Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Week and Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week accolades, respectively. Earning the first Big 5 honor of her career, Gomez tallied a career-best 21 points to go along with five rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal in the Hawks' win, while Acker was a perfect 7-of-7, scoring 18 points and adding nine boards and four blocks. Acker had previously earned A-10 weekly honors for the week of December 2-9.

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
The Hawks added several five faces for the 2007-08 season with the addition of freshmen Sarah Acker, Dominique Bryant, Kallie Hovatter, Alexis Johnson and Laren Robinson. As a group, these rookies averaged 91 points and 52.5 rebounds per game as seniors in high school. Sixteen games into their collegiate careers, these newcomers have made major impacts on Hawk Hill as the group has averaged 16.8 points, 11.9 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game.

ACK ATTACK
Having played in just 19 collegiate games, Saint Joseph's freshman Sarah Acker has already made an impact for the Hawks. Saint Joseph's leader in scoring (11.9 ppg), the Nanticoke, Pa., native currently is seventh in the Atlantic 10 in rebounding (7.9 rpg) and is fifth in blocks (28), with her team-leading 57.7 field goal percentage ranks second in the A-10. Acker has also earned individual accolades, being selected Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week twice (Dec. 2-9, Jan. 7-13 ) and earning Hilton Philadelphia Hawk Classic All-Tournament Team honors.

MCING IT HAPPEN
Serving as backup point guard her first two seasons on Hawk Hill, junior Mary Kate McDade has thrived this year as a starter. Currently sixth in the Atlantic 10, and first on SJU, the Philadelphia native has dished out 74 assists over the first 19 games (3.89), well above her career average (1.67 apg). Also, McDade has become a bigger scoring threat this season, averaging 3.2 points per game after entering the year at 1.3 ppg.

GO-TO GOMEZ
It has been a solid start to the season for senior guard Timisha Gomez, averaging a career-high in scoring (11.5 ppg) and rebounding (3.9 rpg). The Elkridge, Md., native has led the Hawks in scoring a team-high five times and scored in double figures 12 times. Gomez, who has played in 112 of a potential 113 career games, earned Brown Basketball Classic All-Tournament Team honors after helping SJU to the title.

GILLESPIE GOING STRONG
It has been a breakout season for sophomore guard Amy Gillespie. Ranking fourth in scoring (7.4 ppg), second in three pointers (26) and earning Hawkeye Challenge All-Tournament Team honors, the the Springfield, Pa., native has thrived in a larger role this season. Gillespie, who averaged 21 points per game at the Hawkeye Challenge, more than doubled her entire scoring (44) and rebounding (21) totals from last season, as she enters Wednesday's game with 134 points and 53 rebounds.

SO NICE THEY NAMED HER IT TWICE
Having already earned MVP honors at the Brown Basketball Classic after leading SJU to the title, senior guard Amy Wold again earned some hardware, earning MVP accolades at the Hilton Philadelphia Hawk Classic. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa native scored a team-high 17 points and had five assists and six rebounds in SJU's title-game win over No. 15 Auburn. Wold averaged 12.5 points, 6.0, assists and 5.0 rebounds per game in helping the Hawks to their second in-season title of the year. Over the four-game span, the senior averaged 14 points and 5.25 assists per game.

FORD TOUGH
Averaging 13 points and 6.8 rebounds per game en route to Atlantic 10 All-Tournament honors last March, forward Brittany Ford was expecting a stellar start to the 2007-08 season. That didn't occur as planned as the Wilmington, DE native missed the opening 10 games with a minor knee injury. Returning to the lineup at Seton Hall, Ford is still shaking off the rust, but has still posted solid numbers for SJU, averaging 8.3 points, 3.2 rebounds per game and five blocks in her first six contests.

SAINT JOSEPH'S VERSUS THE POLLS
Topping No. 15 Auburn in the title game of the Hilton Philadelphia Hawk Classic, Saint Joseph's improved to 31-104 all-time versus ranked opponents and 1-2 on the season. The Hawks previously lost to No. 5/6 Rutgers, 56-50, November 28 and to No. 21/22 Wyoming, 66-64, on December 8. The Hawk last win over a ranked team prior to Saturday came on March 4, 2007 as SJU topped No. 8/9 George Washington, 57-55.

POST MANEUVERS
With several Hawks having a larger role this season compared to last, there is no arguing the transformation of SJU's sophomore forward Ashley Logue. Playing limited time in just seven games a year ago, Logue has excelled this year, playing in all 19 games, including 12 starts. Scoring only two points and adding six rebounds as a rookie, Logue eclipsed nearly all her career-highs in the opener at Lehigh (16 points and six rebounds). To date, Logue has scored 102 points (5.4 ppg) and added 70 boards (3.7 rpg).

THE FINAL FIVE
Getting to the line 279 times on the season (14.7 per game), more than a third of Saint Joseph's trip to the charity stripe have come within the final five minutes of games. The Hawks, who are 193-of-279 from the line overall, are 80-of-110 at the stripe in crunch time and shooting higher (72.7 percent) in the final minutes than during the first 35 (66.9 percent).

WOLD NAMED BIG 5 CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Coming off MVP honors at for the Hilton Philadelphia Hawk Classic, Saint Joseph's senior guard Amy Wold was honored for her stellar play at the tournament with Big 5 Co-Player of the Week honors. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native earned the first SJU City Series weekly honor after helping the Hawks to the Hilton Philadelphia Hawk Classic title. In the championship game versus No. 15 Auburn, Wold tallied a team-high 17 points and five assists, and finished the two-game tournament with a 12.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per contest.