St. Joseph’s women’s basketball team jokes that its international players excel when family visits—Laura Ziegler proved it true, writes Mia Messina for the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The junior forward broke a 35-year-old program record with 43 points against Loyola Chicago, earning national honors. Her family, visiting from Denmark, witnessed the historic performance.
Of her parents who met through basketball, Laura Ziegler said she just wants to make them proud.
During the 83-45 win, she wasn’t aware of her record-breaking feat until fans pointed it out. “My team said, ‘You have more points than Loyola,’” she recalled.
Ziegler’s dominance comes as St. Joe’s enters a critical stretch. The Hawks, third in the A-10, face top-seeded Richmond on Thursday. Head coach Cindy Griffin praised Ziegler’s versatility and highlighted the team’s resilience amid injuries, notably missing star Talya Brugler.
The return of senior Julia Nyström, after concussion struggles, also boosted morale. “She stepped in, scored, and looked like she hadn’t missed a beat,” Griffin said.
With key games ahead, Ziegler believes the team is peaking at the right time. “We want to play our best basketball now,” she said. If the team’s superstition holds, her family’s presence might fuel another standout performance against Richmond.
“For me, it’s just trying to get two wins. That’ll be great. That’ll really just top the whole experience with them here,” Ziegler said.
Read more about St. Joe’s forward Laura Ziegler in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
