ST. LOUIS (Interstat) — Aleah Snead scored 18 points and dished seven assists to lead Saint Joseph’s to a 65-54 victory over Saint Louis in an Atlantic 10 women’s basketball game Saturday at Chaifetz Arena. The Hawks used a decisive 22-6 third-quarter run to pull away after trailing by two at halftime. The Billikens shot just 28.8% from the floor and 12.5% from three-point range in the loss. Gabby Casey added 16 points for Saint Joseph’s, which improved to 19-8. Alyssa Koerkenmeier posted a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds for Saint Louis, which fell to 11-18. Attendance was 1,374.

ST. LOUIS (Interstat) — The Saint Joseph’s Hawks used a dominant third-quarter surge to pull away from the Saint Louis Billikens and secure a 65-54 victory in an Atlantic 10 women’s basketball game Saturday at Chaifetz Arena. The game’s decisive stretch came immediately after halftime. Leading by just a single point, 26-25, the Hawks erupted for a 22-point third quarter while holding the Billikens to a mere six points. That 16-minute span effectively decided the contest, transforming a tight defensive battle into a comfortable lead for the visitors. Saint Joseph’s guard Aleah Snead, a junior from Philadelphia, orchestrated the victory with a game-high 18 points and seven assists. Her playmaking was pivotal during the third-quarter run, finding teammates for open looks and creating her own offense. Gabby Casey added 16 points for the Hawks, who improved to 19-8 overall. Saint Louis, which fell to 11-18, was led by Alyssa Koerkenmeier’s 14 points and 12 rebounds. Zya Nugent also scored 14 points and grabbed eight boards for the Billikens. The first half was a grind defined by poor shooting. Both teams combined to make just 2 of 20 attempts from three-point range before the break, and Saint Louis struggled to a 17-for-59 shooting performance for the game. The Billikens’ offensive woes were encapsulated in the third quarter, where they managed only two field goals. Despite being outrebounded 19-4 on the offensive glass, Saint Joseph’s compensated with superior efficiency. The Hawks shot 53.2% from the field and connected on 7 of 18 three-pointers. Their defense forced 16 turnovers, converting them into 15 points. Saint Louis stayed close early by attacking the paint and getting to the free-throw line, where they made 18 of 21 attempts. The Billikens led 16-14 after a back-and-forth first quarter, but a cold second period in which they scored only nine points allowed Saint Joseph’s to creep ahead. Any momentum for Saint Louis was extinguished after halftime. The Hawks opened the third quarter with a 13-2 run, fueled by a three-pointer from Casey and consecutive baskets from Snead. Saint Joseph’s lead ballooned to 48-31 by the end of the period, and the Billikens never threatened in the fourth, despite outscoring the Hawks 23-17 in the final frame. The Hawks’ defensive intensity in the third quarter was the cornerstone of the win. They held Saint Louis to 2-of-13 shooting in the period and forced five turnovers, stifling any rhythm the Billikens tried to establish. Saint Joseph’s, which entered the game with an 80.2% win probability according to National Statistical’s ELO system, has now won three straight games and four of its last five. Saint Louis has lost four of its last five. The announced attendance was 1,374. Saint Joseph’s next plays at George Mason on Wednesday. Saint Louis will host Duquesne on Wednesday.

ST. LOUIS (Interstat) — A surging Saint Joseph’s squad looks to continue its push near the top of the Atlantic 10 standings when it visits a struggling Saint Louis team on Saturday at Chaifetz Arena. The Hawks (18-8, 10-3 A-10) enter on a three-game winning streak following a 61-46 victory over Duquesne on Wednesday. Saint Joseph’s has won seven of its last nine, solidifying its position in the conference’s upper tier. The Billikens (11-17, 4-9), meanwhile, seek to halt a six-game skid. Their most recent outing was a narrow 65-63 loss at Dayton on Feb. 14. Saint Joseph’s is powered by guard Gabby Casey, who has been a consistent offensive force. She is coming off a 19-point performance against Duquesne and has averaged 18.6 points over her last eight games, including a 29-point, 7-rebound effort in a close loss to Dayton on Feb. 7. Her versatility was on full display in a Jan. 24 win at Duquesne, where she posted 26 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. For Saint Louis, guard Jahda Denis will be a key factor. She scored a season-high 23 points in the loss to Dayton but has been inconsistent during the team’s prolonged slump. The Billikens have struggled offensively, failing to reach 45 points in three of their last five games, including a 39-42 home loss to Fordham on Feb. 11. The Hawks have dominated the recent series, winning the last five meetings. In their first matchup this season on Jan. 7, Saint Joseph’s defeated Saint Louis 71-56 in Philadelphia. Casey led the Hawks with 17 points in that contest. Saint Louis will aim to leverage its home court, where it last won on Jan. 18 against Dayton. Saint Joseph’s, with an eye on securing a high seed for the upcoming conference tournament, views this as a crucial game to avoid a letdown against a lower-ranked opponent. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. EST Saturday. Saint Joseph’s visits George Mason next on Feb. 25, while Saint Louis hosts Duquesne the same night.