DAYTON - The University of Dayton women's basketball team heads back out on the road this Friday to take on Saint Joseph's at 6 p.m. at Hagan Arena in Philadelphia.

SCOUTING THE FLYERS
Dayton enters the weekend with an 8-1 record overall and a perfect 7-0 mark in Atlantic 10 play, putting them in first in the conference standings. The Flyers have also won seven games in a row dating back to Jan. 1.

Head coach Shauna Green is in her fifth season in charge of the Flyers and was named Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year last season, her second time at UD.

As a team, the Flyers are averaging 64.7 points per game and holding opponents to 53.4 points each contest. Dayton is shooting 42.3 percent overall, 31.5 percent from three point range, and 67.9 percent from the free throw line. UD is also outrebounding opponents by +9.7 margin.

Dayton is led by redshirt senior Erin Whalen with 13.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while fellow senior Jenna Giacone is adding 12.4 points each contest, including back-to-back 20-point games in her last two outings.

SCOUTING SAINT JOSEPH'S
Saint Joseph's hosts the Flyers with a 5-2 record on the season and a 3-2 A-10 mark. The Hawks have gone undefeated at home, going 4-0 this year.

Head coach Cindy Griffin has been at SJU for 20 seasons and has 11 postseason appearances with the Hawks.

This year, the Hawks are scoring 67.1 points each outing and allowing just 59.0 points to opposing squads. Saint Joseph's is shooting 41.8 percent from the field, 36.1 percent from behind the arc, and 75.2 percent from the charity stripe. The Hawks are outrebounding opponents and committing fewer turnovers.

Leading Saint Joes is Alayna Gribble with 13.4 points per game and shooting 42.1 percent from three. Gabby Smalls is contributing 11.0 points and 8.8 rebounds each outing as well.

LAST TIME OUT
Dayton traveled to Saint Louis Tuesday for a make-up game and took a 59-52 overtime victory in a back-and-forth affair. Three Flyers scored in double digits in the effort.

Saint Joseph's also went into overtime in their last game, but came up on the losing end 50-48 at Rhode Island Sunday. The Hawks fell despite holding the Rams to just three points in the fourth quartter and were led by Gabby Small's 11 points.

THE SERIES
Dayton and Saint Joseph's have played 32 times previously with the Flyers winning 19 times and the Hawks winning 13 times. The Flyers have won eight in a row in the series including last year's meeting on Feb. 2, 59-44, in Philadelphia.

STATISTICAL RANKINGS
This season the Flyers rank sixth nationally in field goal percentage defense and 10th in scoring defense. UD is also 17th in blocked shots per game and 21st in rebound margin. Individually, Tenin Magassa is 10th in the country in blocked shots per game while Araion Bradshaw is 26th in assist to turnover ratio.

PRESEASON POLL
Dayton was picked to finish second in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll behind conference favorites VCU and ahead of Saint Louis, Davidson, Duquesne, and Fordham. The Flyers received two first-place votes.

PRESEASON HONORS
The Atlantic 10 released its preseason all-conference teams and recognized a trio of Flyers. Redshirt senior Erin Whalen earned First Team honors while fellow redshirt senior Araion Bradshaw was named Third Team and All-Defensive Team. Junior Kyla Whitehead joined Bradshaw on the Third Team as well.

UP NEXT
The Flyers remain in Philadelphia to take on La Salle Sunday at 12 p.m.