Feb. 8, 2008

PHILADELPHIA - Posting its best defensive performance of the year versus Saint Louis Wednesday night, Saint Joseph's women's basketball team is looking to improve to 5-3 in the Atlantic 10 as the Hawks host Duquesne Saturday. The Hawks and Dukes are celebrating "Think Pink Day" Saturday in conjunction with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association national program supporting breast cancer awareness.

• Click here for Saint Joseph's game notes.

GAME STORIES . . .
• The Hawks, currently tied for fifth at 4-3 in the A-10, are undefeated at home versus the Dukes, posting a 15-0 mark at Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse.
• Student-athletes from both teams will be wearing special pink t-shirts for warm-up, as well as pink shoelaces and wristbands.
• Fans wearing pink to Saturday's game will receive a $1 ticket to the contest, with a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales and a memorabilia auction at the game will go to the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition.
• Saint Joseph's freshman Sarah Acker, the A-10 leader in field goal percentage (61.3 percent), has posted back-to-back double-doubles and is averaging 20.5 points and 13.5 rebounds per game this week.

Series history
All-Time Series: 33-4, SJU
Last Meeting: 2/25/07, 75-65, SJU
Last SJU Win: 2/25/07, 75-65
Last DUQ Win: 2/9/03, 68-64
Current SJU Streak: W-5
Coach Griffin vs. DUQ: 6-1

The Hawks look for their sixth straight win against the Dukes as SJU enters Saturday's game with a 33-4 all-time series lead...Saint Joseph's is undefeated at home versus Duquesne, posting a 15-0 mark at Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse...Hawk junior Jenna Loschiavo tallied a career-high 19 points in last year's meeting.

LAST TIME OUT
Backed by a solid defensive performance, Saint Joseph's held Saint Louis to a season-low scoring output and just 24.6 percent from the field as the Hawks topped the Billikens, 65-44.

OF NOTE
Saint Joseph's freshman center Sarah Acker tops the Atlantic 10 in field goal percentage at 61.3 percent (117-of-191), and is shooting an impressive 71.7 percent in Atlantic 10 play.

INJURY REPORT
Freshman Laren Robinson is doubtful for Saturday with a knee injury, while senior Krista Hutchison is questionable.

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 AND ACKER ENTER HAWKS' RECORD BOOK
Arguably Saint Joseph's most consistent three-point threat, junior Jenna Loschiavo has continued to etch her name in the Hawk's record book this year, climbing the ladder to eighth in three pointers made (133) and ninth in attempts (258). Freshman Sarah Acker's 32 blocks this season are 10th most in the Hawks' single season records.

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. Now 21 games into their collegiate careers, these newcomers have made a big impacts on Hawk Hill as the group has averaged 17.3 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game.

ACK ATTACK
Having played in just 22 collegiate games, Saint Joseph's freshman Sarah Acker has already made an impact for the Hawks. Saint Joseph's leader in scoring (12.6 ppg), the Nanticoke, Pa., native currently is fourth in the Atlantic 10 in rebounding (8.1 rpg) and is sixth in blocks (32), with her team-leading 61.3 field goal percentage leading 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 89 assists over the first 22 games (4.05), well above her career average (1.67 apg). Also, McDade has become a bigger scoring threat this season, averaging 2.9 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 (10.6 ppg) and rebounding (3.8 rpg). The Elkridge, Md., native has led the Hawks in scoring a team-high five times and scored in double figures 13 times. Gomez, who has played in 115 of a potential 116 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 fifth in scoring (7.8 ppg), second in three pointers (33) 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 Saturday's game with 163 points and 61 rebounds. She is also one of only three Hawks to register 20-point games twice this season.

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 9.1 points, 3.0 rebounds per game, to go along with seven blocks. At Temple, Ford posted a season-high with 19 points and added five rebounds.

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 22 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 106 points (4.8 ppg) and added 74 boards (3.4 rpg).

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.

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.

SJU CLAIMS HILTON PHILADELPHIA HAWK CLASSIC TITLE
The Hilton Philadelphia Hawk Classic championship trophy returned to Saint Joseph's as the Hawks topped NO. 15 Auburn, 71-69, in the title game (recap on page 18). The Hawks earned the title, the sixth in 17 years, backed by MVP Amy Wold and All-Tournament Team member Sarah Acker's 17 and 16 points, respectively. Saint Joseph's previously won the Hawk Classic in 1993, 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2001. The Hawks topped NJIT, 68-59, in the opening round as senior guard Timisha Gomez paced SJU with 16 points.

LOOKING AHEAD
The Hawks hit the road for the first of two away games as SJU travels to Charlotte for a 7 p.m. tip Tuesday evening.