March 13, 2006

PHILADELPHIA - The Saint Joseph's women's basketball team earned a bid into the 2006 WNIT late Monday evening, as the Hawks will travel to Virginia for a first round match-up this Saturday with the Cavaliers. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at University Hall on the campus of Virginia.

Posting a 20-10 record this season, the Hawks hold the best turnaround in the nation, winning 13 more contests over the previous season, including wins over nationally ranked Temple and North Carolina State. Earlier this month, Saint Joseph's advanced to the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 Championship, coming within a basket of the title game. A solid mix of veterans and rookies have helped the Hawks to their fifth WNIT appearance.

Click here for Saint Joseph's WNIT notes.

TIPPING OFF
Saint Joseph's makes its fifth appearance in the Women's National Invitation Tournament as the Hawks travel to Virginia for a first round matchup Saturday evening at University Hall. The Hawks have advanced to the second round of the WNIT in each of their previous four appearances (1998, 2002, 2003, 2004). This year's WNIT marks the 20th postseason appearance for the Crimson and Gray, having earned 11 NCAA Tournament bids and four AIAW Tournament trips. The 2006 WNIT also marks the fourth time in five seasons the Hawks have earned a postseason bid under head coach Cindy Griffin.

SCOUTING THE CAVALIERS
Virginia makes its 24th postseason appearance as it hosts the Hawks Saturday evening in the first round of the 2006 WNIT. The Cavaliers, who went 1-2 in their only other WNIT appearance (1980), streaked out to a 10-1 non-conference record to open this season, including wins over Atlantic 10 opponents George Washington and Richmond. Playing in arguably the toughest conference in the nation, the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Cavaliers posted a 5-9 record and advanced to the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament before falling to eventual ACC champs #1/1 North Carolina 82-56. Virginia finished the regular season winning five straight before falling to the Tar Heels. Individually, junior Siedah Williams leads the team in scoring, averaging 11.7 ppg as the 6-2 center is shooting 50.8 percent from the field (134-264). Senior forward Tiffany Sardin tops the Cavaliers in rebounding at 6.7 rpg and ranks second in scoring at 11.3 ppg, while sophomore guard Sharneé Zoll paces Virginia in assists (6.2 apg), steals (2.3 spg) and is third in scoring at 11.1 ppg. Sophomore guard Takisha Granberry (8.9 ppg) and junior guard Brenna McGuire (6.2 ppg) will likely round out the starting lineup for head coach Debbie Ryan. Off the bench, freshman forward Lyndra Littles (9.3 ppg) and sophomore guard Denesha Kenion (4.7 ppg) will be the first called into action for Virginia as it tends to rely heavily upon its starters. Other possible Cavaliers to see action Saturday are freshman center Abby Robertson (2.3 ppg), freshman guards Enongé Stovall (1.9 ppg) and Britneee Millner (1.4) and junior guard Tara McKnight (1.2 ppg)

THE SERIES
The Hawks and Cavaliers meet for only the eighth time as Saint Joseph's holds a 4-3 series edge going into Saturday's contest. In their last meeting, the Hawks downed Virginia 74-67 at Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse on December 18, 2003. Saint Joseph's is 1-2 all-time playing at Virginia with its lone win coming Novermber 21, 1999 as the Hawks downed the #25-ranked Cavaliers 73-61.

HAWK WNIT HISTORY
The Hawks make their fifth appearance in the Women's National Invitation Tournament as they travel to Virginia Saturday. Saint Joseph's has advanced to the second round of the WNIT in its previous four appearances, including a trip to the quarterfinals in 2004. The Hawks have posted a 5-4 all-time record in WNIT games and are 4-3 in four appearances under head coach Cindy Griffin.