Northeast Conference Notebook:
Three Storylines on the Top Three
Sacred Heart, Saint Francis (PA), and Central Connecticut State were the top three seeds in last year's NEC Tournament and now stand as the top three ranked teams in the NEC Preseason Coaches Poll. Below are three things you should know about the trio heading into the 2009-10 campaign.
Pioneers Put a Pair of Streaks on the Line
Sacred Heart, which has never finished lower than third in the NEC standings, has won 21 consecutive games against conference opponents. The Pioneers put a 12-game home win streak on the line when they host Villanova on November 16.
Blue Devils Welcome Back All But One from WNIT Team
Central Connecticut State returns all five starters from a team that produced the NCAA's top turnaround last season. Improving by 12.5 games from the previous year, the Blue Devils set a Division I program record for wins (18) and earned their first-ever Postseason WNIT bid.
Red Flash Return Keys to Renaissance
Saint Francis (PA) returns four players who averaged at least 11.0 points per game during its renaissance season of a year ago. In their second season under former Wade Trophy winner Susan Robinson Fruchtl, the Red Flash experienced a 7.5-game turnaround and made a league-record 12th NEC Championship Game appearance.
Monmouth Set to Open MAC
Monmouth will host Lafayette in the first-ever women's basketball game at the Hawks' brand-new, $57 million Multi-Purpose Activity Center (MAC) on Monday night (Nov. 16). The Monmouth women certainly wouldn't mind a season-opening result similar to that of the Monmouth men who lifted the lid off the MAC by thumping Florida International, and its former NBA head coach Isiah Thomas, on Friday evening (Nov. 13). The Hawks have faced Lafayette on one prior occasion during the 2007-08 season, suffering a one-point road loss at the hands of the Leopards.
Overtime Doesn't Pay for Long Island and Wagner
Two of the Northeast Conference's three New York City rivals dropped their season openers in overtime. Long Island saw a 20-point lead fade away before falling to LaSalle (Nov. 15), 77-73, in the extra session at the Wellness Center in Downtown Brooklyn. Two nights prior, Wagner fell, 74-70, on the road at West Point. The Seahawks were up by two points with 13 seconds to go, but never led again after Army's Erin Anthony tied the game at 64-64 with a layup.
Mount "Hazz" a Successful Season Opener
Mount St. Mary's outlasted perennial Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title contender Canisius, 55-51, behind a complete performance from senior guard Hassanah Oliver (Hillside, NJ/Hillside). The 5-foot-8 Oliver totaled 13 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in helping the Mount defeat a team that won 24 games a season ago and was selected third in the MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll. The Mountaineers, who now hold a 3-2 series edge over Canisius, had not defeated the Golden Griffins since an 82-77 victory in 2002. Mount St. Mary's will try for a second victory over a MAAC member later this month when it hosts intrastate rival Loyola (MD) at Knott Arena on November 28.
Palmer's Sophomore Season Opener No Surprise
Long Island sophomore Ashley Palmer's (Oxford, PA/Oxford Area) season-opening double-double (18 pts., 11 reb.) against LaSalle should not have taken anyone by surprise. The 2009 NEC Rookie of the Year had at least 10 points and 10 rebounds in 13 games as a freshman, a mark that ranked second overall in the NEC. Nearly averaging a double-double last season, Palmer was the NEC's fourth-leading scorer (17.1 ppg) and second-best rebounder (9.3 rpg).
Callan Can Play
Sacred Heart sophomore forward Callan Taylor (Overland, Park/KS/Blue Valley North) was responsible for the Northeast Conference's top single-game scoring performance thus far. A NEC All-Rookie honoree last year, Taylor opened the season by pouring in 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting in a setback to Columbia (Nov. 13). The Pioneers' 6-foot forward averaged 12.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game as a freshman and was also a member of the 2009 NEC All-Tournament Team.
CCSU's Frontcourt Production
Central Connecticut State forward Leanne Crockett (Manchester, CT/Manchester) notched a double-double (16 pts., 11 reb.) in the first game of her junior season, a 61-58 setback to Maine. In the same contest, her 6-foot-3 freshman teammate Kirsten Daamen (Merrimac, MA/Pentucket Regional) earned her first career start at center. Daamen's debut yielded six points, seven rebounds, and three steals in 30 minutes of action.
Bobcat Shows She's Back
Quinnipiac junior center Courtney Kaminski (Dudley, MA/Sheperd Hill) returned to game action for the first time since the 2007-08 season. Making her first start since missing the entire 2008-09 campaign due to injury, Kaminski totaled eight points and six rebounds in a season-opening setback to cross-state rival Hartford (Nov. 14). The 6-foot-3 Bobcat shot a perfect 4-for-4 from the field.
Olsen Opens with Double-Double
Tipping off her third season with her hometown team, Staten Island native Ashley Olsen (Staten Island, NY/Notre Dame Academy) tallied a double-double (20 pts., 14 reb.) in Wagner's setback at Army (Nov. 13). Olsen was Wagner's second-leading scorer (8.5 ppg) as a sophomore.
Sacred Heart Headlines NEC Preseason Poll
Having won 21 consecutive games against Northeast Conference (NEC) opponents, Sacred Heart stands as the preseason favorite to capture the 2009-10 NEC women’s basketball crown. The defending champion Pioneers received a total of nine first-place votes in a poll of the league’s 12 head coaches. The NEC announced both the poll results and its five-member Preseason All-Conference Team during a media teleconference, which served as a prelude to the league’s 24th season of women’s hoops.
Saint Francis (PA), which fell to Sacred Heart in the 2009 NEC Championship Game, garnered two first-place votes to finish second in the poll, one spot ahead of Central Connecticut State (third).
Robert Morris, last year’s preseason favorite, claimed the lone remaining first-place nod and took fourth. Quinnpiac finished in fifth place followed by two Garden State rivals - Fairleigh Dickinson (sixth) and Monmouth (seventh). Mount St. Mary’s claimed the eighth spot in front of Long Island (ninth) and NEC newcomer Bryant (tenth). Wagner (eleventh) and St. Francis (NY) (twelfth) round out the results of the annual preseason survey, which does not permit coaches to rank their own teams.
The Northeast Conference preseason poll last correctly predicted the league’s champion in 2005 when Saint Francis (PA) won a fourth consecutive crown.
Sacred Heart has owned the moniker of NEC preseason favorite on one prior occasion. The Pioneers won their first-ever conference crown in 2006 and were the coaches’ pick to repeat during the subsequent season only to fall two points short of Robert Morris in the 2007 NEC Tournament final.
How the Preseason All-NEC Fared in Their Season Openers
Alisa Apo (SHU, Jr., G): 8 pts., 5 asst., 2 reb., 42.8% shooting (at Columbia)
Kerrianne Dugan (CCSU, Jr., G/F): 6 pts., 4 asst., 3 reb., 33.3% shooting (at Maine)
Samantha Leach (SFPA, Jr., G): 6 pts., 5 reb., 3 asst., 27.2% shooting (at Marquette)
Ashley Palmer (LIU, So., G/F): 18 pts., 11 reb., 47.1% shooting (vs. LaSalle)
Callan Taylor (SHU, So., F): 21 pts., 4 asst., 3 reb., 57.1% shooting (at Columbia)
Team-by-Team Notes
Bryant (0-1, 0-0 NEC)
This Week’s Schedule: vs. Holy Cross (Nov. 18); vs. Lafayette (Nov. 21)
Last Week's Results: L, 57-47 at Dartmouth (Nov. 14)
After falling behind by a score of 12-0 just four minutes into the 2009-10 season, Bryant battled back before falling, 57-47, at defending Ivy League Champion Dartmouth (Nov. 14). … The Bulldogs, who are in their first season as a Northeast Conference member, posted an 11-18 overall record during the 2008-09 season, their first against strictly Division I competition. … Bryant, which shot 16.7 percent from the field in the opening half, pulled within five points of Dartmouth midway through the second half as sophomore guard Lekia Cowen (Hopedale, MA/Hopedale) hit three three-pointers over a four-minute span, but could get no closer. Cowen finished with 11 points. ... Bryant faces a pair of Patriot League members this week , hosting Holy Cross (Nov. 18) and Lafayette (Nov. 21).
Central Connecticut State (0-1, 0-0 NEC)
This Week’s Schedule: vs. Holy Cross (Nov. 16); vs. Fordham (Nov. 18); at Brown (Nov. 21)
Last Week's Results: L, 61-58 at Maine (Nov. 13)
Central Connecticut opened the season on the road, falling to Maine (Nov. 13) by a 61-58 count. score of 61-58. The Black Bears hit a game-winning three-pointer with five seconds remaining in regulation, 22 seconds after CCSU sophomore Gabrielle Oglesby (Hamden, CT/Career) hit a three of her own to tie the game at 58-58. … Junior forward Leanne Crockett (Manchester, CT/Manchester) led CCSU with 16 points and 11 rebounds in the Blue Devils' only game of the week. The junior hit two three-pointers and didn't miss from the free throw line (4-4). Crockett, who led CCSU with three double-doubles last season, was the only player to record at least 10 rebounds in the contest. … Sophomore Shontice Simmons (Fort Washington, MD/Academy of Holy Cross) set a CCSU freshman record with 23 double-digit scoring performances last year. Simmons led the Blue Devils with 16 points, including three three-point field goals, in the season opener. … Junior forward Kerrianne Dugan (Waterford, CT/Waterford) led the Blue Devils in assists (4) against the Black Bears. She tallied at least four assists in 12 games as a sophomore. … CCSU has lost its last 10 season openers.
Fairleigh Dickinson (0-1, 0-0 NEC)
This Week’s Schedule: vs. Howard (Nov. 16); at Lehigh (Nov. 18); at Rider (Nov. 22)
Last Week's Results: L, 65-45 at Syracuse (Nov. 13)
Fairleigh Dickinson fell to Syracuse (Nov. 13), 65-45, in its season opener. … FDU junior Alyssa Mayrose (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) and sophomore Mariyah Laury (Orange, NJ/Orange), the NEC's third-best amongst returning scoring duos, combined for 32 points. The latter scored a game-high 19 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the field in 28 minutes of floor time. … The Knights will play three games this upcoming week, the last of which will be at Garden State rival Rider (Nov. 22).
Long Island (0-1, 0-0 NEC)
This Week’s Schedule: vs. Columbia (Nov. 18); at Howard (Nov. 21)
Last Week's Results: L, 77-73 vs. La Salle (Nov. 15)
Long Island squandered a 20-point first-half lead and saw La Salle come from behind to take a 77-73 overtime win away from the Blackbirds on opening night at the Wellness Center (Nov. 15). … Four Blackbirds scored in double-figures, led by senior Connie James (Galloway, NJ/Absegami) and her 20 points. James nailed a game-tying three-pointer with 5.5 seconds remaining in regulation to force OT. … Coming off her NEC Rookie of the Year campaign, sophomore Ashley Palmer (Oxford, PA/Oxford Area) turned in a double-double (18 pts., 11 reb.). … Sophomore transfer Kiara Evans (Norcross, GA/Louisville), who came to Downtown Brooklyn from Louisville, opened her LIU career by tallying 10 points and 11 assists. … Junior Chelsi Johnson (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/Holy Spirit) rounded out the Blackbirds' double-digit quartet with 11 points of her own.
Monmouth (0-0, 0-0 NEC)
This Week’s Schedule: vs. Lafayette (Nov. 16); at Rider (Nov. 19); vs. Pacific (Nov. 22).
Last Week's Results: Idle
Monmouth is set to open its season by facing Lafayette in the first-ever women’s basketball game at the Hawks’ new $57 million Multi-Purpose Activity Center (MAC). ... Set for their second season under head coach Stephanie V. Gaitley, the Hawks welcome nine newcomers to town. ... No team in the NCAA Division I ranks lost more of its scoring output from a year ago than the 87.6 % Monmouth lost.
Mount St. Mary’s (1-0, 0-0 NEC)
This Week’s Schedule: at Duquesne (Nov. 18); at Radford (Nov. 21)
Last Week's Results: W, 55-51 vs. Canisius (Nov. 14)
Mount St. Mary's opened the season with a win for the second consecutive year. The Mountaineers, now 2-1 in season openers under Bryan Whitten, defeated Canisius (Nov. 14), 55-51. It was the first season-opening win at Knott Arena since the 1992-92 campaign. … Sophomore G Sandra Andresson (Tallinn, Estonia) matched her career-high with 13 points against the Golden Griffins, including the go-ahead basket with 2:36 remaining. The sophomore also scored 13 points in last year's meeting against Canisius in Buffalo on Dec. 30, 2008. … Senior G Hassanah Oliver (Hillside, NJ/Hillside) registered 13 points, seven rebounds, and five assists while junior F Leah Westbrooks (Dublin, Ireland) tallied four points, eight rebounds, and five steals. … Sophomore F Courtney Nyce (Schwenksville, PA/Perkiomen Valley) scored five of her career-high seven points in the squad's decisive 13-6 run that spanned the final four minutes of the contest. … Freshmen G Selina Mann (Gainesville, VA/Battlefield) and F Jamie Halloran (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights) each made her collegiate debut in the against Canisius. Mann, who nailed a 3-pointer on her first collegiate field goal attempt to hand Mount St. Mary's an 11-5 lead early in the first half, finished the game with five points in 20 minutes. Halloran grabbed one rebound in three minutes of floor time.
Quinnipiac (0-1, 0-0 NEC)
This Week’s Schedule: Idle - Next Game: at Providence (Nov. 24)
Last Week's Results: L, 71-53 at Hartford (Nov. 14)
The Bobcats opened the 2009-10 season with an 18-point loss at Hartford in a game that was seen live on the New England Sports Network (NESN). Quinnipiac had won its last three season openers prior to the setback. … Sophomore Jacinda Dunbar (Edison, NJ/Cardinal McCarrick) led the Bobcats with 12 points in the game. Senior Kathleen Neyens (Jaffrey, NH/Conant) was the top Quinnipiac rebounder with seven in the game, including five on the defensive end of the floor. … Junior Courtney Kaminski (Dudley, MA/Shepherd Hill) was 4-of-4 shooting from the floor in her first game back after missing all of the 2008-09 season recovering from an injury. She finished with eight points and six boards.
Robert Morris (0-1, 0-0 NEC)
This Week’s Schedule: vs. Akron (Nov. 19); vs. Stony Brook (Nov. 21)
Last Week's Results: L, 62-57 vs. Kent State (Nov. 13)
Robert Morris lost its season opener, 62-57, to Kent State (Nov. 13) as the Colonials let a 12-point second-half lead slip away. Kent State did not hold a lead in the game until 1:20 remained in regulation. ... The Colonials (7-7) are now .500 all-time in home season openers. They have lost their last three lid-lifters. ... Senior guard Angela Pace (Westchester, NY/ Monroe College), who missed much of last season due to injury, flirted with a triple double. She tallied 13 points, seven boards, and eight assists to lead the team in all three categories. ... Junior guard Bianca Hooten (Canton, OH/Canton-McKinley), who transferred from Bowling Green, scored 12 points on 3-of-4 shooting in her RMU debut. ... Robert Morris opens the season with three home games for the first time since the 1983-84 season. The Colonials went 23-5 that season following a 2-1 start. The Colonials continue their three-game homestand by hosting Akron (Nov. 19) ... Of the nine players who touched the floor on Friday, only four had played for RMU prior to the game.
Sacred Heart (0-1, 0-0 NEC)
This Week’s Schedule: vs. Villanova (Nov. 16); vs. Harvard (Nov. 21)
Last Week's Results: L, 79-55 at Columbia (Nov. 13)
For the ninth time in SHU's 11 years in Division I the Pioneers opened their season on the road, falling to Columbia (Nov. 13), 79-55. SHU is 4-7 in season openers since becoming a member of the NEC in 1999-2000. The Pioneers have lost their last four season openers. The last SHU win to open a campaign was a 65-49 triumph over Providence to in 2005-06. … The Pioneers attempt to rebound when they host the Villanova Wildcats (Nov. 16) in their home opener at the Pitt Center. SHU is 9-3 in home openers since the on-campus facility opened its doors in time for the 1997-98 season. SHU puts a 12-game home winning streak on the line against the Wildcats. … The 2009-10 schedule features 11 non-conference games against schools from the likes of the Big East, Ivy League, America East and Metro Atlantic Athletic Conferences. … Columbia held reigning NEC Player of the Year Alisa Apo (Freehold, NJ/St. John Vianney) to eight points and five assists in the opener. … Sophomore Callan Taylor (Overland Park, KS/Blue Valley North), a preseason all-NEC pick, led the Pios with 21 points. … Sacred Heart's trio of freshmen - Kiley Evans (Cazenovia, NY/Cazenovia), Amie Toner (Willimantic, CT/Windham) and Morgan Merriman (Seattle, WA/Lakeside) - all saw their first collegiate action and scored their first points in the loss.
St. Francis (NY) (0-1, 0-0 NEC)
This Week’s Schedule: vs. Hofstra (Nov. 18)
Last Week's Results: L, 71-34 at Manhattan (Nov. 13)
St. Francis (NY) fell at cross-town rival Manhattan (Nov. 13) in the season opener for both teams. … The Terriers were only able to muster up nine first-half points, one more than program-low for one half of play. … The Terriers found their rhythm late in the contest, as they strung the final 12 points of the game. … Freshman forward Autumn Lau (Mt. Wolf, PA/Northeastern) was a bright spot, tallying a double-double (16 pts., 12 reb.) in her collegiate debut.
Saint Francis (PA) (0-1, 0-0 NEC)
This Week’s Schedule: vs. Delaware (Nov. 17); at Lehigh (Nov. 20)
Last Week's Results: L, 74-38 at Marquette (Nov. 14)
The Red Flash got off to a slow start and fell at Marquette, 74-38, in their season opener (Nov. 14). … Senior guard Britney Hodges (Dayton, OH/Mount de Chantal) led the team with eight points. The senior gis now just 30 points shy of her 1,000 for her career. … Junior guard Samantha Leach (Mount Sterling, OH/Miami Trace), a preseason all-NEC selection, tallied six points and eight rebounds. … The Flash played made only 26 percent of their shots and were outrebounded by 45-35 margin. … Freshman Shene Fleming (Dayton, OH/ Chaminade-Julienne) had four steals in her collegiate debut.
Wagner (0-1, 0-0 NEC)
This Week’s Schedule: at New Jersey Tech (Nov. 17); at Colgate (Nov. 21)
Last Week's Results: L, 74-70 at Army (Nov. 16)
Wagner dropped its season opener on the road at Army (Nov. 13), 74-70, in overtime. The Seahawks are now 19-21 all-time in season-openers. … The only time the Green & White needed overtime in a previous season opener was on Nov. 24, 2002 when Wagner dropped a double-overtime decision at Colgate. … The game against the Black Knights was the first of four against the Patriot League for Wagner this year. … Junior Ashley Olsen (Staten Island, NY/Notre Dame Academy) led four double-digit scorers with her second career double-double. She scored a career-best 20 points while pulling down a career- and game-high 14 rebounds. … Freshman Marie-Laurence Archambault (Montreal, Quebec/Montmorency) was second on the squad with 12 points while grabbing six rebounds and hitting on 3-5 from long range. … Senior Andrea Reed (Pocomoke City, MD/Pocomoke) turned in another solid game, recording 11 points, eight rebounds and five assists in 43 minutes. … Sophomore Kelly Clark (Neptune, NJ/St. Rose) narrowly missed her second career double-double with nine points and 12 rebounds, all of which came after halftime. … Wagner lost despite shooting 9-of-17 from beyond the arc and out-rebounding Army by a 53-47 margin.