Feb. 28, 2010

PHILADELPHIA - The Saint Joseph's women's basketball team earned the fifth seed in this year's Atlantic 10 Tournament and will face 12th-seeded Fordham Friday. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m. at the Showplace Arena in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

Atlantic 10 Tournament Bracket

The Hawks, who capped the regular season with a 9-5 A-10 record thanks to a 69-58 win over Duquense on Sunday, finished tied with Charlotte, St. Bonaventure and the Dukes. The 49ers earned the fourth seed and a bye, holding head-to-head tie breakers against the Hawks, with Saint Joseph's earning the fifth seed with tie breakers over the Bonnies and Duquesne. Duquesne and St. Bonaventure finished sixth and seventh, respectively.

Saint Joseph's (16-13), which was picked to finish ninth in the preseason coaches poll, will face Fordham for the second time this season. The Hawks won their previous contest with the Rams, 62-57 at Michael J. Hagan '85 Arena in December. Fordham earned the tournament's final spot, winning a tie-breaking coin flip against La Salle.

The winner of Friday's contest will go on to face the fourth-seeded 49ers at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Xavier, the fifth-ranked team in the nation, earned the tournament's top seed, going 14-0 in Atlantic 10 play. Dayton earned the second seed and a bye, with Temple garnering the third seed and a bye.

Rounding out the tournament field are Richmond (eighth seed), Massachusetts (ninth seed), Saint Louis (10th seed) and George Washington (11th seed).

For more information on the Atlantic 10 Tournament, go to: http://www.atlantic10.com/championships/w-baskbl-2010.html