Hawks flying high with Brugler, Casey
Talya Brugler committed to Saint Joseph’s University during a down time for the women’s basketball team.
Playing a pivotal part in the program’s turnaround has allowed her to enjoy the Hawks’ recent highs as much as anyone.
Brugler, a Nazareth High graduate and the 2021 Morning Call girls basketball player of the year, continued her splendid season Sunday in SJU’s rout of La Salle. The junior forward scored a team-high 16 points, dished out a team-best five assists and added seven rebounds as the Hawks rolled to a 60-29 win.
Another local player, Quakertown native Gabby Casey, had three points, one rebound, and one blocked shot off the bench. Brugler and Casey’s contributions helped the Hawks (24-2 overall) extend their winning streak to 11 games and improve to 13-0 on the road.
While Casey, a Lansdale Catholic graduate and freshman guard, joined a Hawks program coming off a 20-win season, Brugler started at SJU in 2021-22 with the Hawks suffering three straight losing seasons. They have improved each year during her career, going from 13 wins in 2021-22 to 20 in 2022-23 to 24 and counting this season.
“It’s been really rewarding for me and the other girls in my class the past two years,” Brugler said by phone Monday. “Coming in, we weren’t doing as well. Then just kind of flipping the culture of the team and the narrative of what it was like here, getting back to the brand of Saint Joseph’s basketball, has been really important for us.
“We’re reaching new heights. We’re getting there. So, it’s really fun.”
Brugler has been instrumental in helping the Hawks soar to the best start in program history. She leads SJU in scoring (16.7 points per game) and field-goal percentage (55.8% . Both of those numbers rank second in the Atlantic 10.
Brugler also tops SJU in assists (71) and minutes (33.2 per game) while ranking second in steals (21) and blocks (17). She has remained efficient despite seeing increased defensive attention.
“She’s going to get the best defender on her most games, or they’re going to doubleand triple-team her,” SJU coach Cindy Griffin said. “Just being able to recognize those double-teams and reposition herself to score or pass the ball back out, she’s done an unbelievable job with that.
“And then she’s done a really good job passing the ball. Her and Laura [Ziegler], our two post players, are almost like guards distributing the ball, which has been nice to see.”
While Casey has handled a smaller role than Brugler, she’s been a crucial contributor in her first year on Hawk Hill. Casey came to SJU as the 2023 Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year after guiding Lansdale Catholic to the PIAA Class 4A title in 2022-23. She had 28 points and 16 rebounds in the 2023 4A state final against Blackhawk.
Casey is averaging 12.9 minutes per game, secondmost among SJU’s reserves, while playing in all 26 games. She is averaging 3.8 points and 2.2 rebounds per game.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Casey said. “Every day, everybody wants to come in and compete at practice. We’re led by two great leaders in Talya and Laura, and they just push us to be the best we can.
“It’s really prevailed on the court. Everybody’s there for you and they support you. It’s just been a great time so far.”
It took Casey time to adjust to playing fewer minutes than she did in high school. She has embraced her role as an energizer off the bench.
“Talk about tenacity — she brings a lot of intensity when she comes on the court,” Griffin said. “She does change the trajectory of the game, whether it be a made 3 or a great pass or a rebound or a steal. She’s really just been steady for us and learning the game, and helping us wherever we need to be helped.”
Saint Joseph’ success has led to increased attention around the program, whether from media outlets or students on campus. Brugler, Casey and the rest of the Hawks are intent on finishing strong by staying in the moment.
Saint Joseph’s and Richmond are tied for the top spot in the Atlantic 10 at 13-1. Both teams have four regular-season games left.
The Hawks play three of the league’s top six teams to close the regular season. They’ll need to earn the A-10 title they covet.
“The next four games are all really important for us as far as the standings go,” Brugler said. “We need to just focus on each opponent that we have, and give it our best every game.”
Added Casey: “The biggest goal for us right now is to win the A-10 tournament. I think that’s very doable. But we just have to keep doing what we’re doing, coming into practice and taking everything seriously, and keeping our foot on the gas and taking no breaks.”
High honors
The Lehigh Valley Small College Basketball Organization announced its 202324 men’s and women’s teams of the year Thursday.
ESU redshirt junior Lakeem McAliley received the Pete Nevins Men’s Player of the Year Award. He leads the Warriors (21-3 overall) in scoring (17.4 points per game), rebounding (6.3 boards per game) and steals (54).
DeSales graduate student Megan Bealer received the Pete Nevins Women’s Player of the Year Award. She is averaging 13.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and a team-best 3.04 steals per game for the Bulldogs, who finished the regular season 23-2 overall.
DeSales’ Mason Barnes, Kutztown’s Amir Cunningham, Moravian’s Marquis Ratcliff, and Muhlenberg’s Giovanni Rubino joined McAliley on the men’s team of the year.
ESU’s Emily Chmiel, Muhlenberg’s Ava Connolly, Moravian’s Brielle Guarente, Cedar Crest’s Caylie Long and Kutztown’s Naia Pulliam joined Bealer on the women’s team of the year.
Home cooking
The DeSales women and men both completed undefeated runs through the MAC Freedom Conference regular season, earning home-court advantage for their respective conference tournaments.
The DeSales women (23-2 overall, 14-0 MAC Freedom Conference) will carry a 16-game winning streak into their Wednesday semifinal against No. 4 seed Stevens (6 p.m., Billera Hall). The Bulldogs beat Stevens by 20 and 22 points in two regular-season meetings.
The DeSales men (23-2, 14-0) will ride a 20-game winning streak into their semifinal against No. 4 Misericordia ( 8 p.m., Billera Hall). The Bulldogs beat Misericordia by two and 13 points during the regular season.
If the DeSales women and men both win Wednesday, Billera Hall will host a championship doubleheader Saturday.