The Hall Faces Saint Joe's in WBIT Round One, Thursday

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2024
2024 WBIT
SETON HALL (17-14) vs. SAINT JOSEPH'S (26-5)
** FIRST ROUND **
PHILADELPHIA, PA. – Michael J. Hagan Arena
7:00 p.m. ET

LIVE VIDEO: ESPN+
(Mike Samsel & Renie Shields)

LIVE AUDIO: 89.5 FM WSOU or WSOU.net
(Ryan Henry & Ryan Johnston)

FOLLOW ALONG: SideArm Live Stats | Instagram | X (Twitter)
GAME NOTES: SETON HALL | SAINT JOSEPH'S

THE GAME
Seton Hall has accepted an at large bid to the inaugural Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT) and will face third-seeded Saint Joseph's in the first round on Thursday, March 21 in Philadelphia.

MEDIA
The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Mike Samsel and Renie Shields on the call. As usual, the game will also be available over the airwaves at 89.5 FM WSOU or wsou.net. Ryan Johnston and Joe Matthews will describe the action on the radio. Live stats will also be available.

WSOU is also airing a post-game "Hall Line" show following its women's basketball games. Be sure to tune in after the final buzzer.

LAST GAME
In an even battle that went down to the wire, the Seton Hall women basketball team was edged by second-seeded Creighton, 72-65, in the BIG EAST Tournament quarterfinals at Mohegan Sun Arena on March 9.

The game was yet another Seton Hall/Creighton classic and was a one possession game throughout the entirety of the second and third quarters. The Hall trailed by three entering the fourth, and the Bluejays scored the first five points of the quarter to take their largest lead of the game. The Pirates never found the equalizer.

Sophomore Micah Gray (Oklahoma City, Okla.) had a team-best 15 points. Azana Baines (Blackwood, N.J.) finished with 14 points. Kae Satterfield (New York, N.Y.) had 11 points and five rebounds.

Seton Hall All-Time vs. the Hawks: Seton Hall leads, 10-5
2022-23 Meetings:
2023 WNIT First Round
Seton Hall 69, Saint Joseph's 61 (F) – March 16, 2023 (Walsh Gymnasium)

AGAINST SAINT JOSEPH'S
Seton Hall and Saint Joseph's will meet for the 16^th time in history on Thursday and for the second straight year, it'll be in the post-season. The Hall owns a 10-5 all-time series record and has won the last two. Most recently, the Pirates defeated the Hawks, 69-61, in the opening round of the 2023 WNIT in Walsh Gym. The Pirates haven't played at Michael J. Hagan Arena since 2015 and haven't lost there since Nov. 30, 2005.

SCOUTING SAINT JOSEPH'S
Picked to finish second in the 15-team Atlantic 10, according to the preseason coaches' poll, the Hawks didn't disappoint during the 2023-24 season. Saint Joseph's finished the regular season with a staggering 26-4 overall record, tying the program record for single-season wins. The third-seeded Hawks received a double-bye in the Atlantic 10 Tournament, but were upset by sixth-seeded Rhode Island.

The Hawks placed three players on Atlantic 10 All-Conference Teams. Laura Ziegler (1st), Talya Brugler (2nd) and Mackenzie Smith (2nd) made the team in back-to-back seasons after becoming the first trio in nearly 20 years for St. Joe's to earn all-conference nods. Ziegler joined Brugler and Natasha Cloud as the only other Hawks in the last decade to make the First Team. Ziegler was also added to the All-Defensive Team, while Brugler earned All-Academic distinction.

Although it had a fantastic start, Saint Joseph's has dropped three of its last five games. The Hall and the Hawks have had one common opponent, Villanova. Saint Joseph's defeated the Wildcats back on Dec. 9. The Pirates dropped both of their regular season tilts to Villanova. Four players are currently averaging in double-figures in scoring for SJU, and are led by Brugler's 15.8 points per game. Ziegler is averaging nearly a double-double with 14.6 points and 9.5 rebounds per contest.

UP NEXT
With a victory, Seton Hall will advance to the WBIT Second Round and meet either California or Hawaii on Sunday, March 24. The host and time have yet to be determined.