Seventh-seeded Saint Joseph’s earned the program's first Atlantic 10 Championship Semifinals appearance since the 2017-18 campaign behind a 51-48 victory over No. 2 overall Rhode Island during Thursday evening's Quarterfinals at CHASE Fieldhouse.
Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team selection Laila Fair scored a game-high 17 points, grabbed seven rebounds and doubled her career high with six assists. A-10 Rookie of the Year Tayla Brugler scored 10 points.
As a team, Saint Joseph’s had 19 assists on 21 made baskets.
"I’m just really proud of our team today," Saint Joseph’s head coach Cindy Griffin said. "We showed a lot of resilience. The game had a lot of lead changes and we made plays defensively when we needed to. They responded at halftime, our kids did an unbelievable job and we’re excited about what we can do tomorrow."
Rhode Island was paced by All-Conference First Team recipient Emmanuelle Tahane’s 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting. All-Conference Third Teamers Marie-Paule Foppossi and Dez Elmore netted 11 and 10 points, respectively, while teammate Dolly Cairns added 10 points.
"I have to give credit to St. Joe’s, I think they outplayed us today," Rhode Island head coach Tammi Reiss said. "They came with incredible effort, tough kids, so all of the credit to them, especially defensively and on the boards. They really made things difficult for us offensively, so my hat's off to them."
Both teams attempted to find momentum and go on the game’s first run, but neither squad was able to create separation beyond one possession, leading to a 15-15 stalemate.
Rhode Island would finally earn the first breakthrough, going on a 5-0 run as Foppossi converted two layups. She was fouled on the second basket and completed the three-point play.
The Rams defense contained the Hawks in the second quarter, holding them to six points, though a Fair layup separated the teams by a point.
Cairns would bury a 3-point shot with nine seconds remaining, giving Rhode Island a four-point advantage after 20 minutes.
Saint Joseph’s opened the third quarter on a 13-2 run beginning and ending with a key triple from Julia Nyström, yet another Atlantic 10 All-Rookie selection from the Hawks.
"We challenged the guards because the post players had been carrying us," said Griffin. "We were 0-for-7 [from the 3-point line] at the half, and it’s ‘guys, it’s time to step up and make shots. We know that you can.’ We adjusted a little bit with our offense and we were able to get Nyström for a couple of open looks."
Rhode Island began to establish some offensive form, but Fair capitalized on a turnover to score and then sophomore guard Olivia Mullins beat the third-quarter buzzer, stretching the advantage to eight.
"As a team we were psyched, everyone was succeeding at that point," Fair said.
The Rams entered the fourth quarter a determined side, as evidenced by a 7-0 run in the first 1:56 of game action, bringing the teams to within a single point.
"It’s now or never," Reiss said concerning her message to the team. "I was very proud that they responded and didn’t lay down, because it could have went the other way. They came together and we made a run."
When Fair made a free throw and a cutting Mullins scored a layup, Saint Joseph’s was able to regain an edge heading down the stretch.
With the Hawks held without a field goal for the last 3:25 of game action, it came down to free throws and defense to close the contest.
Katie Jekot was able to split free throws with 10 seconds remaining, and after Cairns missed a 3-point shot, Rhode Island’s second shot attempt came just following the buzzer, surrendering the victory to Saint Joseph’s.
"Our motto this week is that we bend but we don’t break," said Brugler. "We were bending a bit at the start of the fourth quarter, but we knew we had to come out strong and finish what we started."