Anna 
Saint Joseph’s women’s basketball team started its postseason with a dominant 69-40 victory over UAlbany on Thursday night at Hagan Arena. With the win, the Hawks advanced to the second round of the Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament (WBIT).
Junior Laura Ziegler led the charge for Saint Joseph’s with an all-around performance, posting 16 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists. Aleah Snead contributed 14 points, while seniors Talya Brugler and Mackenzie Smith each added 11 points.
UAlbany’s offense was driven by Kayla Cooper, who scored 22 points and recorded seven rebounds and four assists. Jessica Tomasetti chipped in with eight points for the Great Danes.
The Hawks set the tone early, hitting their first three three-pointers to take a 15-4 lead. However, UAlbany fought back, scoring seven of the next nine points to cut the deficit to 17-11 by the end of the first quarter.
Both teams struggled offensively in the second quarter, combining for just seven points in the first six minutes. UAlbany managed an 8-2 run to get within three points, but Saint Joseph’s responded with seven straight points to enter halftime with a 31-21 lead.
The second half belonged to the Hawks, who dominated on the boards with 16 offensive rebounds in the final 20 minutes. Their relentless effort helped extend the lead to as many as 31 points. Saint Joseph’s defense also stepped up, allowing just 19 second-half points to seal the commanding win.
Up Next
Saint Joseph’s will face Villanova in the second round of the WBIT on Sunday, March 23. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. on ESPN+.
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