A Look into the Atlantic 10 Women’s Basketball Tournament

The Loyola women’s basketball team will be traveling to Henrico, Virginia March 6-10 with a chance to win a conference title at the Atlantic 10 Championship.

Last season, the Ramblers went 6-24 overall and recorded only one win in conference against Saint Louis University. Loyola was knocked out in the first round by Duquesne University in a tough 58-57 loss. 

In their second season in the conference, the Ramblers have a current record of 14-14 and have gone 8-9 in conference play, which has earned them the eighth seed in the conference tournament.

As there are still games left to be played, final seedings and matchups at the tournament are still uncertain. 

If their current ranking holds, Loyola can receive a first round bye, setting them up to play in the second round against Fordham University, who is currently the ninth seed. 

The Ramblers rank second in the conference in assists, recording an average of 14.96 per game. Graduate guard Sam Galanopoulos sits in 11th in the conference in scoring with an average of 13.37 points per game, followed closely by graduate guard Alyssa Fisher who has averaged 13.33. 

Galanopoulos is also fourth amongst A-10 players with assists per game, averaging 4.22 and is eighth in field goal percentage, coming in at 48.3%. Galanopoulos currently leads the conference in 3-point field goal percentage with 45.7%. 

Saint Joseph’s University 

The Hawks met the Ramblers on the court once this season, securing a 61-50 win to add to their 25-3 overall record. Saint Joseph’s only losses in conference have been against the University of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University.

Coming in as one of four teams with over 20 wins in the A-10, the Hawks also have the sixth-best winning percentage in the nation at 88.9%. The team also has the most road wins in all of Division I.

The Hawks lead the conference in free throw percentage at 80.6%. Contributing to this feat are third-year guard Talya Brugler and graduate guard Chloe Welch who both sit at 84%. Saint Joseph’s also leads the A-10 in assist/turnover ratio at 1.13, led by fourth-year guard Emma Boslet who is third in the conference with a ratio of 2.23. 

Third-year guard Mackenzie Smith, second-year guard Laura Ziegler and Brugler were all named to preseason all-conference teams. Brugler is currently third in the conference in scoring, averaging 16.37 points per game. Smith and Welch are on the 3-point field goal leaderboard, recording 42% and 36%, respectively. Ziegler leads the conference with defensive rebounds, averaging 8.32 per game. 

University of Richmond 

When the Spiders and Ramblers met, Richmond emerged victorious 75-71, maintaining their undefeated record at home. Richmond is currently 25-4 overall and 14-2 in conference play, with losses coming against Duquesne University and George Mason University. The Spiders are ranked 54th in the NCAA net. 

Fourth-year forward Addie Budnik and second-year forward Maggie Doogan were both honored to preseason all-conference teams. 

Richmond holds the number one spot in the A-10 for scoring offense with 2,055 points so far this season. In addition, the team has the highest percentages in field goals and 3-point field goals with 47.2% and 38.2%, respectively. 

The team also has the most blocked shots at 163, the majority coming from Budnik who has a season total of 71. The Spiders lead the conference with assists at 429 overall, led by fourth-year guard Grace Townsend who has averaged 4.93 per game, placing her second amongst A-10 players. 

Virginia Commonwealth University 

The Ramblers turned in their worst offensive performance of the season against the Rams at 52-36. VCU has an overall record of 24-4 and has gone 13-3 in conference play with two significant losses to Richmond and one against George Mason.

VCU’s head coach Beth O’Boyle was one of three A-10 coaches who are on the national Kathy Delaney-Smith Coach of the Year Award midseason watch list. In her 10 years with the Rams, O’Boyle has averaged a .626 win percentage with the highest coming this season at .857. 

After finishing one of their worst seasons, The Rams received 10th in the preseason coaches poll and fourth-year guard Sarah Te-Biasu was the only member named to an all-conference team. Now, the Rams have the highest rebounding margin in the A-10 along with the best rebounding defense, averaging 29.85 per game. 

Te-Biasu is the leading scorer for the Rams with an average of 15.22 points per game, putting her in the fifth spot in the conference. She also sits in the top spot in the conference in free throw percentage at 86.6%. Graduate forward Mykel Parham comes in the fourth place spot for rebounds with a total of 218.

George Mason University 

The one meeting between George Mason and the Ramblers this season resulted in a 62-51 win for the Patriots, adding on to their overall record of 22-5 and 13-3 in conference play. The Patriots have only lost to University of Rhode Island, Saint Joseph’s University and Davidson College. 

The Patriots were ranked in eighth place in the preseason poll and now sit in fourth in the conference. Fourth-year forward Nakani Kaysia was the only member to receive preseason all-conference team honors.

George Mason has the third best scoring offense in the conference, averaging 71 points per game, led by graduate guard Sonia Smith who has a total of 349 points, good enough for eighth place in the A-10. 

Duquesne University 

Duquesne met Loyola once this season, which ended in a 73-57 win for the Dukes. The team has an overall record of 18-9 and 13-3 in conference play with notable losses to George Mason, Saint Joseph’s and VCU. 

The Dukes were ranked fifth in the preseason poll and currently sit in the same position in the conference. Third-year guard Megan McConnell was honored on the all-conference first team and defensive team before the season kicked off. 

As a team, the Dukes are second in blocked shots with a total of 120. Fourth-year forward Precious Johnson, fourth-year center Ayanna Townsend and fourth-year guard and forward Amaya Hamilton all sit on the individual leaderboard for blocked shots at 31, 26 and 24.

McConnell has the highest assist/turnover ratio in the conference at 2.47 and sits in 16th amongst A-10 players in scoring with an average of 12.78 points per game. 

University of Rhode Island 

After finishing as the regular season champions last season, the University of Rhode Island has a current record of 17-12 and 9-7 in conference games. The Rams lost their matchup against Loyola 61-56. 

The Rams recorded the top spot in the preseason poll and are currently the sixth seed in the conference. Fourth-year Mayé Touré, graduate guard Teisha Hyman, fourth-year center Tenin Magassa and second-year forward Anaelle Dutat all received all-conference team honors. 

Rhode Island is third in the conference in offensive rebounds per game and defensive rebound percentage with 394 and 72.8%. Dutat leads the team with 91 offensive rebounds and Touré leads with defensive rebounds at 5.64. 

Touré is the leading scorer for the Rams, putting her 10th in the conference with an average of 13.43 points per game. Third-year guard Sophie Phillips has the second most made 3-pointers, averaging at 2.75 per game. 

Davidson College 

In their only meeting this season, Davidson took home a 48-45 win against the Ramblers. The Wildcats are 18-9 overall and have a conference record of 8-8. Head coach Gayle Fulks was also recently on the watch list for the Kathy Delaney-Smith Coach of the Year Award. 

Davidson was ranked seventh in the preseason poll, which is where the team is currently seeded. Redshirt fourth-year forward Elle Sutphin and fifth-year guard Suzi Rose Deegan received preseason honors. 

Third-year forward Millie Prior has the highest field goal percentage in the A-10 at 57% and sits in the third highest spot in blocked shots and offensive rebounds with averages of 1.84 and 3.04 Prior also has the sixth highest rebound average at 7.6 per game. 

Third-year guard Mallorie Haines has the second highest 3-point field goal percentage, coming in at 45.8%, and the 13th most made free throws in the conference with 44. 

Fordham University 

Fordham faced Loyola once this season, falling short 73-64 against the Ramblers on their home court. Currently seeded at ninth in the conference, a rematch between the two teams is projected. Preseason, the Rams were ranked 13th and had no members selected for preseason honors. 

Fordham sits in the middle of the pack statistically, but are the highest ranked team in steals at 253 with an average of 9.73 per game. 

Fourth-year guard Taylor Donaldson leads the A-10 in scoring, averaging 17.67 points per game. Donaldson also leads the A-10 in made 3-pointers with 67 in 24 games played. Graduate guard Emy Hayford sits in 15th in the conference scoring with an average of 12.81 points per game. 

Saint Louis University 

After winning the A-10 championship last season, the Billikens lost a key member in Brooke Flowers, who is now a graduate student manager after her eligibility ran out. Against the Ramblers this season, the Billikens are 1-1, losing a 74-72 game and winning a 77-68 game. 

After their run last season, the Billikens were ranked third in the preseason poll and had three team members named to all-conference teams, including graduate guard Julia Martinez, who was named to the second team and all-defensive team. The team currently has an overall record of 12-17 and has gone 7-9 in conference play.  

The team sits in second in scoring offense in the A-10, recording an average of 71.21 points per game. However, they are dead last in scoring defense, allowing an average of 74.11 points to be scored against them. 

Graduate guard Kyla McMakin is the second-leading scorer in the A-10, averaging 16.57 points per game. On her tail is fourth-year forward Peyton Kennedy who averages 15.11 points per game, putting her in the seventh place spot. Martinez leads the conference in steals with 62, followed closely by third-year guard Kennedy Calhoun with 56. 

University of Dayton 

The last game the Ramblers played was against Dayton Feb. 25, sending the Flyers home with a 64-61 loss. Earlier in the season, Dayton took a 69-64 win at home. 

At 11-16 overall and 5-11 in conference play, the Flyers hold the 11th seed going into the conference championship after being ranked ninth in the preseason poll. Graduate forward Mariah Perez was the only Flyer named to a preseason all-conference team. 

Dayton leads the A-10 in offensive rebounds at 14.85 per game and has a 40% offensive rebound percentage. Third-year forward Arianna Smith leads the conference in this category, averaging 11.05 rebounds in 22 games played. 

George Washington University 

The Ramblers’ final game of the season is set to take place Saturday, March 2 against the Revolutionaries of George Washington. The teams have not yet met each other this season. 

The Revolutionaries were slated fifth in the preseason and now sit at 12th in the conference with a 4-12 conference record and 11-17 overall. Second-year guard Nya Robertson and graduate forward Mayowa Taiwo were both named to all-conference teams. 

George Washington comes in at the low end on the stat sheet, despite Roberston being fourth in A-10 scoring averaging 15.96 points per game.

La Salle University 

Against the Explorers this season, the Ramblers have given them another loss in the A-10 to put their overall record at 7-20 and 4-12 in conference play. 

La Salle sits in the 13th seed currently after being ranked 12th in the preseason poll with no players being named to all-conference teams. 

On the stat sheet, La Salle is third in the conference in steals, averaging 8.85 per game. Graduate guard Makayla Miller leads the Explorers with 49 steals, placing her seventh in the A-10 conference.

St. Bonaventure University 

The Bonnies have gone 1-1 this season against the Ramblers, recording a 84-72 win in their first meeting and a 78-50 loss in their second. Overall, the Bonnies are 4-23 and have a conference record of 1-15, putting them in the 14th seed spot in the conference. 

St. Bonaventure sits in the same spot they were projected to finish in in the preseason poll. None of their players received an honor to an all-conference team. 

The Bonnies are last in the conference in scoring offense, averaging 55.23 points per game. However, they held their opponents to an average of 66.42 points, putting them in 11th in the conference. 

University of Massachusetts 

The Minutewomen of the University of Massachusetts have lost both meetings with the Ramblers season, receiving a 79-66 loss and a 64-52 loss. 

Currently sitting in last place in the A-10 with a record of 1-16 in conference play and 3-26 overall. Their only conference win was against Dayton 76-66. The team was projected to finish in 11th in the preseason poll. 

Third-year guard Stefanie Kulesza appears on the leaderboard in rebounds with 193, field goal percentage at 45.8% and steals averaging 1.93 per game. 

Featured image by Holden Green | The Phoenix