Feb. 25, 2006

TIPPING OFF
The Hawks cap their regular season this Sunday as they travel to Richmond after coming off a 63-52 overtime loss at Xavier on Friday. Saint Joseph's is in position to clinch the fifth seed in next week's Atlantic 10 Tournament with a victory. After a 2004-05 season that saw the Hawks post a 5-11 A-10 record, Saint Joseph's has bounced back this season and will finish over .500 for the first time since 2003-04 and higher than the eighth seed they were predicted to finish in the A-10 preseason poll. On the other side, Richmond can still earn a sixth seed in next weeks tournament with a victory on senior day at the Robins Center.

Click here for Saint Joseph's game notes.

SCOUTING THE SPIDERS
Picked to finish fourth in the preseason Atlantic 10 poll, Richmond has struggled this season, primarily due to injuries as the Spiders lost starters DeUnna Hendrix and Christina Campion to season-ending injuries. Despite the losses, Richmond has been one of the hotter teams in the A-10 of late, winning four straight before suffering a double overtime loss to St. Bonaventure on Friday. Under first-year head coach Michael Shafer, the Spiders' offense is led by sophomore forward Mirna Mazic's 10.8 points per game. Senior guards Araceli Gil and Saona Chapman are averaging 9.3 ppg and 9.0 ppg, respectively, as the duo is also averaging a combined 8.5 assists per game. Likely rounding out the starting lineup for Richmond are senior posts Amber Petillon (7.8 ppg) and Allison Mitchell (4.0 ppg).

THE SERIES
The Hawks and Spiders meet for only the seventh time as they enter Sunday's contest tied 3-3 in the all-time series. Richmond enters the contest having won two of the last three meetings with Saint Joseph's, including a 66-41 victory at home versus the Hawks on January 30 of 2005. The Hawks have posted a 1-2 record at the Robins Center with their lone win, a 63-50 decision, coming on February 2, 2003.