Brugler and Ziegler Dominate as Women’s Basketball Claims Big 5 Title Against La Salle

With a 64-39 victory over La Salle inside Hagan Arena, the Hawks claimed their first undefeated season in the Big 5 since 2013-14.

The Hawks advance to 16-2 (5-1 Atlantic 10, 4-0 Big 5) on the year to continue the best start under the direction of head coach Cindy Griffin. La Salle falls to 6-11 (3-3 Atlantic 10, 0-4 Big 5), the three-game win streak coming to a close.

FIRST QUARTER

• La Salle's Emilee Tahata and Talya Brugler each traded the first five points of the frame, before Chloe Welch buried a transition three to give the Hawks their first lead at 8-5.
• Brugler continued her strong start with the next six points to extend the run to 12-0, already climbing into double digits as the Explorers called a timeout.
• Ziegler scored the final basket of the quarter after La Salle buried a three to stop the bleeding, giving the Hawks a 16-8 advantage after 10 minutes.

SECOND QUARTER

• The visitors scored the opening four points of the second to draw within 16-12 before Aleah Snead downed one of her two free throw attempts.
• A near five-minute drought without a field goal ended for the Hawks as Mackenzie Smith drove down the baseline and finished through contact to get the bucket to fall.
• Shots were at a premium for both teams, St. Joe's final basket coming through a Gabby Casey three pointer with under a minute to play.
• Minimizing the La Salle offense to just 35.7% from the field, the Hawks were able to take a three-point lead into the half.

THIRD QUARTER

• On two separate occasions to begin the half, the Explorers were able to cut the deficit to one point with an answer each time coming from the hosts.
• A 13-3 St. Joe's run, led by Brugler and Ziegler with 11 of the 13, was able to extend the advantage to double digits for the first time on the afternoon.
• The Explorers looked to cut the lead below 10 before the end of the frame but Julia Nyström stepped back from her defender and let fire a deep three as time expired, the shot banking off the backboard and dropping in to give SJU a 43-32 advantage headed into the final 10 minutes.

FOURTH QUARTER

• The Hawks opened the fourth with eight-straight points as back-to-back triples from Welch and Brugler gave the Hawks a 51-32 lead before La Salle responded.
• Brugler and Ziegler responded with baskets in response to push the lead to 20 before one last charge from the Explorers, grabbing a quick four points with under four minutes remaining.
• The Hawk defense responded however, keeping the Explorers off the scoreboard the remainder of the way and scored the final nine points to surge past La Salle in a 64-39 win.

GAME NOTES

• Talya Brugler finished tied with a season-high 26 points to lead the Hawks, finishing 11-12 from the field. Her lone miss, Brugler grabbed the offensive rebound and scored on the second chance.
• Laura Ziegler grabbed her second double-double in as many games, finishing with 16 points to go along with a career-tying 16 rebounds. Ziegler also led the Hawks with six assists.
• Mackenzie Smith and Chloe Welch combined for 15 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.
• The Hawks dominated the glass with a 40-19 advantage, at one point outrebounding the Explorers 19-3 to start the second half.
• 19 of the 25 baskets for the Hawks were assisted.
• St. Joe's shot above 50% for the third-straight game, finishing 25-49 (51.0%) from the field. The last time the Hawks accomplished the feat was in the 2011-12 season.
• SJU dominated inside the arc, finishing 18-28 from twos and dropping a 34-14 advantage in points in the paint over La Salle.
• The 39 points allowed is the fewest on the season, previously 45 by Yale.
• The Hawks were plagued by turnovers, 17 turnovers being converted to a 19-8 advantage to the Explorers.
• The 22 points in the first half was the fewest of the season, twice having being held to 25 points over the opening 20 minutes this year.

UP NEXT
St. Joe's takes its undefeated road record to the test, meeting with Rhode Island in a pivotal A-10 clash on Sunday, January 21. Tip is slated for 12 p.m.

This news article originally appeared on sjuhawks.com.