Philly’s Russell helps keep Hawks winless
Saint Joseph’s was less than nine seconds from its first win of the season Sunday. That was enough time for Philadelphia native Fatts Russell to break the Hawks’ hearts.
Russell hit three free throws in those final seconds of regulation to tie the game and tallied six more points in overtime to lift Rhode Island to an 85-77 victory over Saint Joseph’s at Ryan Arena.
The 5-10 senior guard saved 13 of his team-high
20 points for the last 2:42 of regulation and overtime to keep the Hawks winless. The Imhotep product was 10-for
10 from the free throw line and also handed out eight assists, pulled down seven rebounds and made five steals.
The Hawks (0-7 overall,
0-2 Atlantic 10) had a 70-67 lead after Cameron Brown hit the back end of a two-shot foul with 8.8 seconds left. The lead wasn’t big enough. Russell was fouled by Myles Davis while attempting an off-balance 3-pointer from the right wing with 4.7 seconds to play in regulation.
Russell made all three free throws to send the game into overtime, which the Rams (5-5, 2-1) controlled from the start.
The Hawks gave Rhode Island fits despite being without starters Ryan Daly (Archbishop Carroll All-Delco) and Greg Foster Jr. Daly, SJU’s leading scorer, missed his second game with an injured left hand. Foster Jr. did not play because of personal reasons, according to a pre-game release.
Taylor Funk and Brown picked up the offensive slack. Both had career highs, but it wasn’t enough to get the Hawks in the win column. Funk finished with 29 points and Brown had 21.
Women’s Basketball
Tori Hyduke came up big off the bench to pace Drexel to a 61-34 victory over UNCWilmington.
Hyduke scored 17 points to lead four players in double figures. Hannah Nihill (Cardinal O’Hara All-Delco) added 13 points, Kayla Bacon 12 and Maura Hendrixson (O’Hara All-Delco) 11 to help the Dragons top the Seahawks for the 20th straight time.
It was a 34-25 game until the Dragons went on a
20-0 run at the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth period. Hendrixson had two straight 3-pointers to start that run. Brianne Borcky (Garnet Valley All-Delco) had all four of her points in that burst. MASSACHUSETTS 78, LA SALLE 61 » Sam Breen collected 25 points and 13 rebounds to pace UMass (6-1,
2-0). Maddie Sims pitched in with 15 points.
Claire Jacobs led the Explorers (3-5, 0-2) with 15 points and five rebounds. Molly Masciantonio (Archbishop Carroll All-Delco) had
12 points and four rebounds, while Kate Hill finished with
11 points.
Villanova men resume, women add game
After a week off due to COVID-19, fifth-ranked Villanova went back to work Sunday.
The Wildcats held their first practice since pausing team activities after two members of the program, including head coach Jay Wright, tested positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 27.
Associate head coach Kyle Neptune ran Sunday’s practice, according to a spokesman. Wright has participated in virtual team and staff meetings over the past week and is expected to rejoin the team for Tuesday’s Big East game against DePaul at Wintrust Arena (7 p.m., FS1, 95.7 Ben-FM).
The Wildcats (8-1 overall, 3-0 Big East) have not played since beating Marquette, 85-68, on Dec. 23. Villanova has won six in a row, five by double digits.
DePaul (1-2, 0-2) has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. The Blue Demons had their first four games of the season canceled or postponed and did not open the season until Dec. 27 when they defeated Western Illinois at home, 91-72. Last Saturday’s scheduled game with St. John’s was postponed due to COVID issues within the Red Storm’s program. DePaul’s last game was an 82-61 loss at Con
necticut on Dec. 30.
Meanwhile, the Villanova women’s team picked up a road game with No. 18 DePaul on Monday. The game was originally scheduled for Feb. 13 but was moved up when the Wildcats’ game last Saturday against Georgetown was postponed due to COVID contract tracing .
ip - of f for Monday’s game is 3 p.m. and is the start of a two-game road trip for the Wildcats over
three days. Villanova (7-1 overall, 2-1 Big East) visits Seton Hall on Wednesday
(1 p.m.). It would have been three games but Saturday’s game at Marquette has been postponed due to positive tests within the Golden Eagles’ program.
The Wildcats have not played since dropping a 90
52 decision to Connecticut on Dec. 22. The Blue Demons (5-3, 2-1) have been off since falling to UConn,
75-52, on Dec. 29.