If you spend any time around Hagan Arena, you’ll hear the hawk screech. It’s constant. It’s also a little bit intimidating if you’re not used to it. But lately, it’s not just the mascot making noise on Hawk Hill. Saint Joseph's women's basketball has transformed from a "tough out" in the Atlantic 10 into a legitimate powerhouse that programs across the East Coast are starting to dread seeing on the schedule.
They win. A lot.
Honestly, people outside of Philly don't always give the Big 5 the credit it deserves anymore, which is a mistake. Specifically, what Cindy Griffin has built at St. Joe’s is a masterclass in roster continuity. In an era where the transfer portal has basically turned college sports into a one-year-contract league, the Hawks have somehow kept their core together. That matters. It’s the reason they’re winning 20+ games a season while other teams are still trying to learn each other's names in January.
The Cindy Griffin Factor and the "Big 5" Grit
You can’t talk about Saint Joseph's women's basketball without talking about Cindy Griffin. She’s an alum. She played there. She is the program. Since taking over in 2001, she’s become the winningest coach in the school’s history, but that doesn't really capture the vibe. The vibe is blue-collar. It’s "The Hawk Will Never Die." It sounds like a cliché until you see them down by 10 with four minutes left against a high-major opponent.
The Philadelphia Big 5—St. Joe’s, Villanova, La Salle, Temple, and Penn—is a unique beast. It’s a round-robin gauntlet. Every game is a rivalry. When the Hawks play Villanova, records go out the window. It’s about bragging rights in the city, and that specific pressure cooks a different kind of player. You’ve got to be tough to survive a winter in Philly hoops.
Why the 2023-2024 Season Changed Everything
For a long time, the Hawks were consistent, sure. But the 2023-24 campaign was a shift in gravity. They started the season 15-0. Read that again. They didn't just stumble into a winning record; they went on a tear that forced the national media to actually look at the A-10 standings. They finished 28-6.
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That kind of success isn't an accident. It was built on the back of players like Talya Brugler and Laura Ziegler. Brugler is a bucket. Plain and simple. She has this uncanny ability to find space in the paint when it looks like there isn't any. Ziegler, coming over from Denmark, brought a level of versatility that basically broke opposing defenses. When your "big" can pass like a guard and stretch the floor, you’re playing a different game than everyone else.
The Tactical Identity: How They Actually Win
St. Joe’s doesn’t usually try to out-run you. They out-think you. Their offensive sets are clinical. It’s a lot of motion, a lot of high-post entries, and a massive emphasis on efficiency.
- Ball Movement: They aren't selfish. If a player has a "good" shot but a teammate has a "great" shot, the ball moves.
- The Mid-Range Game: While the rest of basketball is obsessed with the "three or layup" math, the Hawks are comfortable killing you from 15 feet.
- Defensive Shell: Griffin runs a disciplined defensive system. They don’t gamble on steals often, but they also don’t give up easy looks. They make you work for 30 seconds, hoping you’ll take a bad shot out of frustration.
It’s frustrating to play against. If you’re a fan of a team playing the Hawks, you spend most of the game wondering why your star guard can't get to the rim. It’s because the gaps are closed. The help-side defense is always there.
The European Connection
One thing most people get wrong about Saint Joseph's women's basketball is thinking it’s just a local Philly squad. It’s not. Not anymore. Griffin and her staff have tapped into a massive international pipeline. Look at the roster. You’ll see players from Denmark, Germany, Canada, and beyond.
This isn't just about finding talent; it's about finding a specific style of talent. European players often grow up in club systems that emphasize fundamentals over raw athleticism. When you mix that "Euro" high-IQ style with the "Philly" toughness of the local recruits, you get a hybrid team that is incredibly difficult to scout. They can play fast, but they are much happier picking you apart in the half-court.
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Life at Hagan Arena: The Home Court Advantage
If you haven't been to a game at the Michael J. Hagan '85 Arena, you’re missing out. It’s intimate. It’s loud. The student section—the 54th Street Hawks—isn't just there for the snacks. They know the game.
There’s a specific psychological weight to playing in an arena that small when the fans are on top of you. It’s not like the cavernous NBA arenas where the crowd feels miles away. At St. Joe’s, you can hear what the fans are saying. You can feel the energy shift after a big block or a transition three. For the Saint Joseph's women's basketball team, it's a fortress. For visitors? It's a nightmare.
Recruiting Against the "Big" Schools
How does a school like St. Joe’s compete with the NIL money of the Power 5? It’s a fair question. Honestly, they don’t try to beat them at their own game. They can't outspend a South Carolina or a LSU.
Instead, they sell something different: Stability.
In the portal era, a lot of players are tired of being treated like trade assets. At St. Joe’s, the coaching staff stays. The system stays. You’re not just a jersey number; you’re part of a lineage. That pitch resonates with players who want to actually develop over four years rather than just hopping from school to school. It’s a "culture" play, and in the long run, it’s proving to be a winning strategy.
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Common Misconceptions About the Program
People often think the Atlantic 10 is a one-bid league. It’s not. The A-10 is consistently one of the best "mid-major" conferences in the country, often ranking right up there with the Big East in terms of depth. St. Joe’s has to navigate games against Richmond, Rhode Island, and Duquesne—teams that could easily knock off a Top 25 opponent on any given Tuesday.
Another myth is that the Hawks are just a "defensive" team. While they are stingy on that end, their offensive efficiency numbers are often near the top of the conference. They don't just stop you from scoring; they make sure every possession they have counts.
Looking Ahead: The Future of the Hawks
The trajectory is pointing up. With the core of the team returning and a recruiting class that continues to balance local grit with international skill, there’s no reason to think the 20+ win seasons are going away.
But there's a hurdle. The NCAA Tournament.
The goal for Saint Joseph's women's basketball isn't just to make the dance; it’s to stay there. They want to be the team that causes a massive upset in the first round. They have the veteran leadership to do it. They have the coaching. Now, it’s just about execution when the bright lights of March turn on.
What to Watch For This Season
- Talya Brugler’s Scoring: Watch how she adjusts to the double-teams she’s definitely going to see this year. Her passing out of the post has become a secret weapon.
- The Point Guard Play: Who steps up to manage the tempo? In close games, the Hawks need a floor general who won't blink.
- Bench Depth: The A-10 schedule is a grind. Keeping the starters fresh for the conference tournament in March is the real challenge.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're looking to follow or analyze this team more closely, stop looking at basic box scores. They don't tell the whole story.
- Watch the "Points Per Possession" (PPP): The Hawks thrive on efficiency. Even in a low-scoring game, their PPP is usually high because they don't waste possessions with silly turnovers.
- Track the "Big 5" Schedule: These games are the best indicator of how the team handles high-pressure, emotional environments. If they sweep the Big 5, they're usually headed for a deep postseason run.
- Attend a Mid-Week Game: To really understand the culture, go to a Tuesday night game against an A-10 rival. The intensity is higher than you’d expect.
- Check the Net Rankings: If you want to know their tournament chances, keep an eye on the NCAA NET rankings starting in December. It’s the metric the committee cares about most, and the Hawks have been climbing it steadily.
Saint Joseph's women's basketball is a blueprint for how to build a winning program without a $100 million football budget. It's about identity. It's about the screech of the hawk. And most importantly, it's about a group of players who decided that staying together was more valuable than chasing a bigger logo. In the modern landscape of college sports, that's not just rare—it's a competitive advantage.