WRITTEN BY CHRIS THEODORES '25

STANDISH, Maine – The Great Northeast Atlantic Conference (GNAC) Champion Saint Joseph's College (23-5, 15-2 GNAC) will face off against Landmark Conference Champion (#3) The University of Scranton (27-0, 14-0 Landmark) in the opening round of the NCAA DIII Women's Basketball Tournament at the John Long Center in Scranton, Pennsylvania on Friday at 8:30 PM.

TICKET INFORMATION:

$10 – For Adults

$7 – For Youths, Students and Senior Citizens

COVERAGE:

Live Video: https://landmarknetwork.tv/scranton/

Live Stats: https://athletics.scranton.edu/sports/wbkb/2022-23/boxscores/20230303_kgc7.xml

HOW THEY GOT HERE:

Saint Joseph's – Led by 31st-year Head Coach Mike McDevitt '83, the Monks earned an automatic qualifier into the national tournament for the fifth time - and first since 2018 - after tipping Emmanuel College, 74-67, in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship at the Harold Alfond Center on Sunday. Saint Joseph's last competed in the NCAA Tournament in 2019 after earning an at-large berth into the "Big Dance."

(#3) The University of Scranton - ranked third nationally in this week's WBCA and D3Hoops.com polls, respectively - as the top seed in the Landmark Conference, Scranton defeated #2 Elizabethtown by a 69-54 margin in the conference championship game at the John Long Center on Saturday. The Lady Royals have won eight-consecutive Landmark Conference championships and will be making the program's 35th – and 10th-consecutive - NCAA Tournament appearance.

WHAT'S NEXT:

The winner of Friday's first contest, featuring Rhode Island College and Rowan, will face either the Monks or Royals in a Second Round matchup at the John Long Center at 8:00 PM on Saturday.

SEASON AT A GLANCE

Saint Joseph's:

• The Monks carry a 23-5 record into the tourney after claiming the program's fifth GNAC Championship; St. Joe's, which earned an at-large berth in 2019, is appearing in the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time, all since 2014
• The Monks have won 19 of their last 21 games and own a 9-3 record on the road this winter
• Nationally, St. Joe's ranks fifth in 3FG% (36.5%), sixth in assists average (18.0), eighth in FT% (76.0), and ninth in scoring margin (22.7) and assist/turnover ratio (1.21)
• Saint Joseph's leads the conference in field goal percentage (44.0%), 3FG per game (8.4), 3FG% (36.5%), FT% (76.0%),assists per game (18.1), and scoring defense (51.4)
• Seven different SJC players are scoring at least 5.9 points per game
• St. Joe's averages 74.4 PPG in 12 games on the road this season

Scranton:

• The Lady Royals posted a perfect regular season (27-0) and were one of just three teams in the nation to remain undefeated as of March 2nd
• Scranton claimed their eighth-consecutive Landmark Conference Championship and will be making the program's 35th – and 10th-consecutive - NCAA Tournament appearance - hosting for the ninth-consecutive year
• Nationally, Scranton ranks sixth in Team FT % (.769%), seventh in assist/turnover ratio (1.23), and 10th in scoring defense (48.3)
• Through 28 games, the Lady Royals lead the Landmark Conference in fewest points per game allowed (48.3), 3-Point FG made (180 total, 6.7 PG), Team FT % (76.9%), and rebounds (1170 total, 43.3 PG)
• Four different Lady Royals are scoring at least 10.3 points per game with two players averaging at least 14 points per game
• Scranton laid claim to all of the Landmark Conference major honors, including Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Coaching Staff of the Year

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Saint Joseph's:

• (#14) Junior guard Hannah Talon (Windham, Maine) received GNAC All-Tournament Team, Second Team All-Conference, and First Team All-State honors and was named as the GNAC Tournament Most Valuable Player after averaging 26.3 points while shooting 62.2% (28-45) from the floor and 85.7% (18-21) from the FT line in three tourney victories; on the season she is averaging 15.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game and leads the GNAC in FG% (55.8%) and ranks second in 3FG% (41.0%), third in FT% (80.5%), and fourth in FT made (94) and assist/turnover ratio (1.7)
• (#20) Junior guard Angelica Hurley (Groveland, Mass.) claimed the GNAC Defensive Player of the Year and Second Team All-Conference honors after being tasked with shutting down the opponents' top offensive threat every game; averages 11.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.9 steals per contest while shooting 39.4% (99-251) from the field, 36.8% (53-144) from three-point range, and 76.8% (63-82) from the free throw line while averaging 25.9 minutes over 27 games; she ranks fifth in the conference in three-pointers made (53), 3FG% (36.8%), FT% (76.8%), defensive rebounds (177), and assists (86) this winter.
• (#23) Freshman guard Elisabeth Stapelfeld (Brookline N.H.) received 2023 Maine Women's Basketball Coaches Association (MWBCA) Rookie of the Year and GNAC All-Rookie Team accolades; she is the Monks' third-leading scorer and averages 10.3 points and 3.4 rebounds per game with 57 assists and 33 steals while shooting 49.8% (110-221) overall, 36.8% (25-68) from three-point distance, and 81.5% (44-54) from the FT line in 28 games, including 21 starts; she led the Monks in scoring in four different games this season and ranks second on the team in field goals made (110) and FG% and third in scoring average and steals (33)
• (#11) Junior guard Nina Howe (York, Maine) earned GNAC All-Tournament Team honors and ranks first in the conference in 3FG% (43.4%) and is third in assists (116), fifth in assist/turnover ratio (1.7), and sixth in steals (58); she is the Monks' fourth-leading scorer (9.2 PPG)

Scranton:

• (#24) Senior guard Bridget Monaghan (Florham Park, N.J.) claimed Landmark Conference Player of the Year and All-Conference First Team honors; she averages 14.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists and ranks first in the conference in FT% (.88%), third in assist/turnover ratio (1.7), fifth in 3-Point FG made (44), and seventh in PPG (14.3)
• (#11) Freshman guard Kaci Kranson (Scranton, Pa.) earned Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year and All-Conference First Team accolades; she averages 14.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists and ranks second in the conference in FT% (84%), fifth in scoring (14.7 PPG), and 11th in rebounds per game (6.3).
• (#21) Junior forward Maddy Ryan (Malvern, Pa.) garnered Landmark Conference Defensive Player of the Year and All-Conference Second Team honors; she averages 12.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per game and ranks fifth in the conference in steals (40), seventh in rebounds (7.1 RPG), and 11th in scoring (12.0 PPG)
• (#20) Graduate guard Sam Razja (Plains, Pa.) is the Lady Royals' fourth leading scorer averaging 10.3 PPG; she ranks seventh nationally and leads the conference in assist/turnover ratio (3.31) and fourth in the conference in assists (96)

ATTITUDE REFLECTS LEADERSHIP:

Saint Joseph's: Mike McDevitt '83 (625-215, .744) – 31st collegiate season

Among the most successful coaches in all of NCAA DIII Women's Basketball, McDevitt ranks 11th among active coaches in victories and 18th in winning percentage. Only two coaches in New England have more wins and just three (10+ years) have a higher win rate.

During his tenure at Saint Joseph's, Coach McDevitt has guided the Monks to at least 20 wins in 21 different seasons, the fifth-highest total in the history of NCAA DIII Women's Basketball, with 19 championships. During his career, McDevitt has garnered 15 'Coach of the Year' accolades, including GNAC top coach honors in 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2023)

With an 89-28 win over Lasell on February 19th, 2022, Coach McDevitt hit a major milestone by becoming the 24th coach in NCAA DIII Women's Basketball history to reach the 600-victory mark. He is one of just 12 active coaches to have reached the landmark.

Scranton: Ben O-Brien (27-0, 1.00) - First collegiate season

Ben O'Brien is in his first season as the head Women's Basketball Coach of The University of Scranton women's basketball team in 2022-23.

O'Brien came to Scranton following a highly successful tenure as the head coach at nearby Dunmore High School where he recorded 347 victories in 14 seasons with 13 league championships, 10 district championships and 13 PIAA State Tournament appearances. His overall record over the last 14 seasons was an impressive 347-43 for a winning percentage of .890.

The Lady Bucks found success in the state tournament, advancing to the Sweet 16 on all 13 occasions, 10 Elite Eights, six Final Fours and two state title games.

O'Brien has been named Coach of the Year by multiple outlets over the last 14 seasons including LLHoops.com (6x), NEPABasketball.com (4x) and Scranton Times-Tribune (2x). He was also honored as the 2011 PIAA State Coach of the Year.

THE LAST TIME WE MET:

This will be the first meeting between the Saint Joseph's and Scranton women's basketball programs since the teams faced off in the Hat City Classic Tournament in Danbury, Conn. on January 5th, 2014. The Lady Royals topped the Monks by a 72-51 margin on that date.

COMMON FOES:

The Monks and Lady Royals have no common opponents.

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:

Tonight's NCAA Tournament bout will be the first meeting between the Saint Joseph's and Scranton women's basketball programs and first since January 5th, 2014, when the Monks fell to the Lady Royals 72-51 at the Hat City Classic tournament in Danbury, Conn.

NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY:

The Monks will be making their sixth NCAA Tournament appearance in the last 10 years. Saint Joseph's picked up the program's first NCAA tourney triumph with a 61-56 win over UMass.-Boston in the first round of the 2018 tournament before falling to eventual repeat national champion Amherst College, 53-47, the following day.

In the team's previous four trips, the Monks suffered first-round exits at the hands of MIT (2019), Tufts University (2014 & 2017), and Christopher Newport (2016).

The University of Scranton has won the NCAA Championship once, while making nine final four appearances, the most recent coming in 2019. This will be the program's 35th – and 10th-consecutive - NCAA Tournament appearance - hosting for the ninth-consecutive time. The Lady Royals have won 68 NCAA tourney contests, the second-most in tournament history behind only Washington University (75).

NCAA DIII TOURNAMENT ALL-TIME LEADERS:

Women's Team Champions (2 or more)
Washington U. 5, Amherst 3, Hope 3, Capital 2, DePauw 2, Elizabethtown 2, Thomas More 2, UW-Stevens Point 2.

Women's Final Four Appearances (4 or more)
Washington U. 10, Scranton 9, Amherst 8, St. Thomas, Minn. 7, Capital 5, Southern Maine 5, Elizabethtown 4, Hope 4, Salem State 4, Tufts 4, UW-Whitewater 4.

Women's Tournament Victories (25 or more)
Washington U. 75, Scranton 68, St. Thomas, Minn. 55, Amherst 53, Hope 47, Southern Maine 44, Bowdoin 43, Tufts 37, DePauw 34, George Fox 34, NYU 34, UW-Eau Claire 34, UW-Whitewater 32, Christopher Newport 31, Thomas More 31, Messiah 30, Rochester 30, Salem State 29

BOLD indicates 2023 participant