Game #11: Le Moyne (1-9, 0-0 NEC) at Saint Joseph's (6-3, 0-1 A-10)
Info: Saturday, Dec. 20 | 12:00 P.M. | Philadelphia, Pa. | Hagan Arena
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: The Voice 106.3 FM/1540 AM
Live Stats: https://sjuhawks.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
St. Joe's Links: Schedule | Roster | News

Game #12: Le Moyne (1-9, 0-0 NEC) vs. Akron (2-8, 0-0 MAC) / Delaware (5-4, 0-0 CUSA)
Info: Sunday, Dec. 21 | 12:00 P.M. | Philadelphia, Pa. | Hagan Arena
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: FOX Sports 92.5 FM/1490 AM
Live Stats: https://sjuhawks.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
Akron's Links: Schedule | Roster | News
Delaware's Links: Schedule | Roster | News

Philadelphia, Pa. – The Le Moyne College women's basketball team will take part in the 30th annual Hawk Classic hosted by Saint Joseph's this weekend, on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 20-21. The Dolphins will open the tournament with a matchup against the Hawks at noon on Saturday before taking on either Akron or Delaware based on seeding at the same time the following day.

Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+ and FOX Sports 92.5 FM/1490 AM from Hagan Arena. 

Season Summary:
The Dolphins are 1-9 through their first nine non-conference games of the 2025-26 season, with eight coming on the road and two taking place at home at Ted Grant Court. 

They opened the season against St. John's on Nov. 3 and dropped the matchup, 68-53, before downing Lafayette, 82-79, in overtime in their lone win of the season thus far on the following Sunday, Nov. 9. Le Moyne then fell to seventh-ranked Baylor, 99-43, in Waco, T.X. on Sunday, Nov. 16 before traveling to Pitt and coming away with a 87-65 defeat on Tuesday, Nov. 18. 

To finish out November, the Dolphins dropped their home-opener to Cornell, 52-51, in overtime at Ted Grant Court on Saturday, Nov. 22 and a road matchup at Bucknell, 65-41, on Tuesday, Nov. 25 before dropping another road meeting against Illinois, 100-28, on Sunday, Nov. 30.

Since the beginning of the month, Le Moyne has dropped three matchups with the first coming at home against St. Bonaventure on Saturday, Dec. 6 as the Bonnies came out on top, 66-57. The Dolphins then went on a two game road trip and fell in both games this past week at Marquette (89-42) on Sunday and Bowling Green (74-46) on Tuesday. 

Stat Leaders:
Sophomore guard Eli Clark leads the 'Phins in scoring with 9.1 points per game on a .345 rate from the field and a 29.8% mark from three-point range. She also sits atop the stat sheet with both 30.6 minutes per game and 29 assists while ranking third with 3.1 rebounds per contest. 

Clark is currently 17-19 (.895) from the free-throw line, as well, ranking first among all players with more than six attempts this season. 

Clark currently ranks third in the NEC in assists, 12th in minutes played, 12th in three-pointers made per game (1.4), and 19th in scoring.

Junior forward Ashley Buragas (8.8), senior guard Sierra Linnin (7.2), and freshman guards Peyton Dincher (6.9) and Kayden Clark sit behind E. Clark in scoring for Le Moyne. Buragas, K. Clark, and Dincher also sit first-third on the team in field goal percentage as Buragas is shooting at a .506 clip, K. Clark at .441, and Dincher at .421. 

Buragas leads all 'Phins with 6.4 rebounds per game on average while Linnin and Dincher sit atop the stat sheet with 20 and 19 made threes, respectively.

Buragas currently ranks seventh in the NEC in rebounding and 23rd in scoring while Linnin (fifth) and Dincher (sixth) rank among the three-pointers made per game list. 

Last Time Out:
Le Moyne finished out their two-game road trip with a matchup with the Bowling Green Falcons on Tuesday, Dec. 16. The Falcons handed the Dolphins a 74-46 loss, sending them to 1-9 overall on the season. 

Ashley Buragas led Le Moyne with 13 points on a 60% mark from the field while also adding a team-high eight rebounds with one assist, one block, and one steal in 21 minutes of action.

Sierra Linnin and Kayden Clark each sat just behind with six points apiece while Eli Clark added five points, as well. 

In total, 11 different 'Phins registered at least two points against Bowling Green. 

Le Moyne shot 17-49 (34.7%) from the field and 9-10 (90.0%) from the line while tallying 22 points in the paint with 13 bench points in the loss.

Series History:
Le Moyne has not met any of the three teams competing in this year's Hawk Classic in program history.

Common Opponents:
The Dolphins and Hawks have one common opponent this season in St. Bonaventure University.

Le Moyne hosted the Bonnies on Saturday, Dec. 6 and dropped the matchup, 66-57, while St. Joe's will travel to St. Bonaventure in an A-10 showdown on Wednesday, Jan. 14. 

The Dolphins and Zips have one common opponent, as well, in Bowling Green. The Falcons downed Le Moyne, 74-46, in their most recent game while Akron will travel to Stroh Center on Wednesday, Jan. 28 for a MAC contest.

Le Moyne hosted the Bonnies on Saturday, Dec. 6 and dropped the matchup, 66-57, while St. Joe's will travel to St. Bonaventure in an A-10 showdown on Wednesday, Jan. 14. 

The Dolphins and Blue Hens have no common opponents this season.

Year #3:
Le Moyne is in its third year transitioning to the Division I level and is the only institution in the nation in its transition "class." The Dolphins went 18-15 in their first season at the Division I level in 2023-24, including 14-2 in NEC action to earn the second seed in the postseason tournament before advancing to the conference title game. The team then posted a 7-24 overall record last season, including going 6-10 in conference play, en route to their second straight NEC tournament, this time as the fifth seed. 

Returners:
The 2025-26 Dolphins will feature six returners; senior guards Sierra Linnin (Valley Cottage, N.Y. / Albertus Magnus) and Michelina Lombardi (Wynantskill, N.Y. / Averill Park), juniors guard Jessica Wangolo (Ottawa, O.N. / Capital Courts Academy / Buffalo) and forward Sydney Postell (Churchville, N.Y. / Churchville-Chili), sophomore guard Eli Clark (Oakhurst, N.J. / Ocean Township), and redshirt sophomore guard Amya McLeod (Rome, N.Y. / Rome Free Academy / Youngstown State).

Newcomers:
The Dolphins welcomed eight new players to the program this year, including six freshman, one sophomore, and one junior. Guards Peyton Dincher (Jersey Shore, Pa. / Jersey Shore), Ava Lucarotti (Erie, Pa. / Cathedral Prep), and Kayden Clark (Oakhurst, N.J. / Manasquan) join forwards Ava Johnson (Richmond, Va. / The Steward School), Rachel Lynch (Cork, Ireland / Putnam Science Academy (Conn.)), and Praise Matthews (Red Lion, Pa. / Dallastown) as 'Phins freshmen this season. Junior forward Ashley Buragas (Hopewell Junction, N.Y. / John Jay / Mineral Area College) joins Le Moyne's program after a two-year stint at NJCAA Mineral Area College in Park Hills, M.O. while sophomore guard Sophia Bonnell (Horseheads, N.Y. / Horseheads / SUNY New Paltz) played one season in NCAA Division-III for the New Paltz Hawks.

Of NEC programs, only New Haven (8) and CCSU (7) recruited more freshmen while FDU also added seven to their roster.

Atleast one freshman has started in every game for the Dolphins so far for this season, with Kayden Clark and Peyton Dincher getting the call, and the 'Phins first-years have contributed over 30% of all minutes played during the 2025-26 season.

Non-Conference Gauntlet:
Le Moyne opens the 2025-26 season with a 12-game non-conference slate that includes opponents from 8-9 different conferences, based on the TBD matchup on Dec. 21 at St. Joe's Hawk Classic. 

The Dolphins play against three members of the Power Four Conferences, Baylor (BIG 12), Pitt (ACC), and Illinois (BIG 10) while also taking on members of the BIG EAST, Ivy League, Patriot League, A-10, MAC, and possibly CUSA (Delware; Hawk Classic).

This number ties them for second-most in the NEC with FDU and Mercyhurst while Chicago State will take on four members in the P4; Notre Dame, Pitt, Arizona, and Clemson this season.  

Of Le Moyne's first 12 games, just two will come at home at Ted Grant Court.

NEC Outlook:
Le Moyne's squad was selected to finish fourth in the regular season standings in the NEC preseason coaches' poll, just behind unanimous favorite FDU, Stonehill, and Chicago State. CCSU, Mercyhurst, Wagner, LIU, New Haven, and Saint Francis rounded out the poll behind the Dolphins. 

Eli Clark was named to the preseason All-NEC team, as well, after recording averages of 8.2 points (third on the team), 3.3 rebounds (fifth on the team) and a team-best 2.9 assists over a team-high 31.5 minutes per game as a starter in 27 of 30 games played. During NEC action, she increased her averages to 8.5 points and 3.5 assists to go with 3.1 rebounds as a starter in 12 of 15 games.

Clark Connection:
Guards Eli and Kayden Clark are the third set of sisters to share the hardwood in Dolphins' program history and first since the 1980-81 season. 

Other pairs of sisters include Deborah and Barbara Basel during the 1977-78 season and Laura and Kathleen Mahoney during the 1980-81 campaign. 

Both Clarks made an immediate impact for Le Moyne with Eli starting in 27 of 31 team games in her freshman season in 2024-25 while Kayden has started every game to kick-off her collegiate career this year.

They each earned NEC Rookie of the Week and Prime Performer honors during their freshman seasons, as well, with Eli winning ROTW on 2/10/25 and Prime Performer honors three times and Kayden claiming both honors on 11/10/25.

Eli became the first Le Moyne player to earn a spot on the NEC All-Rookie Team in 2024.

Buragas Breakout:
Junior forward Ashley Buragas recorded a 20-point, 22-rebound double-double in the 'Phins overtime victory against Lafayette on Nov. 9 (just her second regular season game with the team), tallying the second-most rebounds ever in program history and the most since Jennifer Shea registered 24 in January 1988. 

Buragas earned NEC Prime Performer honors for her total, as she became the first player in the conference to record a 20-point double-double since 2020 and registered the highest rebound total in nearly four seasons. 

Buragas' work under the glass contributed to the 'Phins out-rebounding the Leopards, 53-32, tallying more second-chance points (18-9), and scoring more points in the paint (40-30).

Linnin Climbs the Ladder:
During the team's outing at Pitt on Nov. 18, senior guard Sierra Linnin connected on five three-pointers, with the final one marking the 200th made three of her career.

The bucket made Linnin just the third Dolphin in program history to reach the 200 mark overall and the fastest to do it through just 90 games. 

One game later on Nov. 22 at home against Cornell, Linnin passed Kim Black (1989-93), who finished her career with 201 made threes, by hitting a trio of shots from deep against the BIg Red.

Linnin currently ranks behind just McKayla Roberts (2016-20) on the all-time three-point field goals made list as she totaled 297 in her career.

Hometown Breakdown:
Six of Le Moyne's 14 players on the 2025-26 roster come from New York, with three hailing from Pennsylvania, two coming from New Jersey, and Ava Johnson playing out of Virginia. 

The final two players, junior guard Jessica Wangolo and freshman forward Rachel Lynch come to Syracuse from Ontario, Canada and Cork, Ireland, respectively. 

Wangolo and senior forward Brianna Wiliams were an international pairing for the 'Phins last season, as well.

Lynch is the first Dolphin born outside North America since guard Tine Randrup-Thomsen (2015-18) came to the Heights from Aarhus, Denmark.

2025-26 NEC Weekly Award Winners & Prime Performers:
Dolphins players have earned one NEC Weekly Award and three NEC Prime Performer honors so far this season.

Weekly Award Winners: 
Rookie of the Week - Kayden Clark (Nov. 10)

Prime Performers:
Kayden Clark (Nov. 10)
Ashley Buragas (Nov. 10)
Eli Clark (Nov. 24)

Coach DiPillo:
Nick DiPillo was named the seventh head coach in Le Moyne women's basketball program history on May 23, 2024 after stints as an assistant coach at Bowling Green State University, University of Pittsburgh, Seton Hall University and with the New York Liberty, in addition to a successful head coaching stint at the University of Scranton. 

The Dolphins earned the fifth seed in the 2024-25 NEC tournament in coach Dipillo's first season, eventually taking down #4 Saint Francis, 62-51, in the opening round before falling to #2 Stonehill, 60-41, in the semifinals. 

Scouting St. Joe's:
Saint Joseph's has earned a 6-3 overall record this season with an 0-1 mark in A-10 action early on. The 2025-26 season is head coach Cindy Griffin's 25th as leader of the program. 

The Hawks opened the season with three straight wins over West Chester (69-46), Maine (63-62), and Cincinnati (70-65) from Nov. 4-11 before falling for the first time against Penn State, 89-77, at home on Sunday, Nov. 16. 

Most recently, the team has suffered a two-game skid as they fell in the A-10 opener at home against Rhode Island, 59-52, on Wednesday, Dec. 3 and on the road against Villanova, 76-70, amid the Big 5 Classic on Sunday, Dec. 7. 

Through nine games, junior guards Gabby Casey (16.3) and Aleah Snead (13.0), along with sophomore guard Rhian Stokes (11.1) lead the team in scoring while Casey and Snead also lead with 7.0 and 6.6 rebounds per game, respectively. 

St. Joe's returns seven players from their 2024-25 roster that earned a 24-10 overall record and fell to #2 George Mason in the A-10 Championship game before ending their season in a loss against #4 Villanova in the WBIT. They are joined by four transfers and four freshmen newcomers, as well.

The Hawks were voted to finish sixth in the A-10 this season per the conference's Preseason Coaches Poll with Snead being named to the All-Conference Second Team and Defensive Team, and Casey earning third team accolades.

Akron Overview:
The Zips have played to a 2-8 overall record this season, head coach Ryan Gensler's third with the program.

Akron kicked off the 2025-26 campaign with seven losses from Nov. 3-30, including against Notre Dame (85-5), Binghamton (95-94, 2OT), and Xavier (64-57). 

The team picked up their first win at home against Heidelberg, 117-34, on Dec. 3 before falling to #6/8 Michigan, 85-59, on Dec. 13. Most recently, the team hosted and downed Geneva, 100-65, this past Tuesday. 

Through their opening 10 games, sophomore forward Ni'Rah Clark leads all players as the only Zip recording double-digit points this season with 12.4 through nine games played. Clark also leads the team with 27.4 minutes and 6.2 rebounds per game. 

Akron returns seven players from last year's team that played to a 10-21 mark overall and failed to make the MAC Tournament after going 4-14 in conference play. They are joined by three transfers and four freshmen this season, as well.

The Zips were voted to finish eighth in the MAC in the conference's Preseason Coaches Poll.

Delaware Deep Dive:
The Fightin' Blue Hens are 5-4 overall through their first nine games this season, head coach Sarah Jenkins'  fourth at the helm of the program.

Delaware began the season with a win at home over Bloomsburg, 83-59, on Nov. 3 before going 4-3 from Nov. 7-Dec. 10. The team earned wins over the likes of American University (68-57) and Colgate (70-64 OT) but fell to Navy (68-61) and George Washington (63-59) among others during that span. 

Most recently, the team dropped a meeting with La Salle, 65-48, at home this past Wednesday, Dec. 17. 

Through nine games, junior center Andre'a Cherisier (13.5), freshman guard Kailah Correa (13.0), sophomore guard Trinity Vance (11.7), and junior guard Lay Fantroy (11.2) lead the way in scoring for the Blue Hens with Fontroy sitting atop the stat sheet with 9.2 boards per contest.  

Delaware brings back seven players from last season's team that played to a 13-17 overall record and fell to #2 Charleston in the CAA Championship Quarterfinals. They are joined by five transfers and three freshmen newcomers, as well.

The Blue Hens were voted to finish 11th in the CUSA this season per the conference's Preseason Coaches Poll, with the 2025-26 season marking their first as a member of the conference.

What's Next:
Le Moyne will return home for a matchup against SUNY Geneseo at Ted Grant Court at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 30 before kicking off NEC action against Saint Francis, also at home, on Friday, Jan. 2.