American East Conference

Messam led the Hawks to two victories last week as Hartford stretched its win streak to eight games and increased its conference-best record to 6-0. The 5-9 guard averaged 18.5 ppg, 4.5 apg and shot 59.1 percent from the field as Hawks defeated two of the top teams in the league, Binghamton and Stony Brook. She opened the week with 19 points against Binghamton and followed that up with 18 at home versus Stony Brook. Messam led the Hawks in what may have been the biggest victory of the season at Binghamton. Hartford led throughout the game before the Bearcats took a late lead, but Messam’s composure down the stretch provided key buckets and key assists for the open look. At Binghamton she finished the game 7-of-12 from the floor and was a perfect 3-for-3 from the free throw line. At home against Stony Brook she was one of three players to finish in double digits adding 18 on 6-of-10 shooting and 5-of-7 from the free throw line. With the Seawolves in town she also added five assists and five rebounds to her efforts.

Over the two-game stretch last week, Beverly averaged a double-double with 14.0 ppg and 12.5 rpg. The 6-0 forward recorded her fifth double-double of the season, setting a new career-high in scoring with 19 points and 12 rebounds at Binghamton, and then added nine points and 13 boards at home against Stony Brook. At Binghamton she finished the game 8-of-12 from the field and was 3-of-3 from the free throw line. In the home game with the Seawolves she finished 4-of-10 from the floor, while adding four blocks on the defensive end of the floor. For the week she was a force on the offensive side of the floor in terms of rebounding where 10 of her 25 total rebounds last week were offensive.

AMERICA EAST NOTES

Strong start: America East women’s basketball teams are a combined 57-40 (.588) in the 2005-06 non-conference season. As a conference, America East currently ranks 12th in the nation in The Collegiate Basketball News Women’s RPI Report, but more importantly, is fourth among I-AA conferences. Only the Colonial (eighth), Atlantic 10 (10th) and Missouri Valley (11th) are higher ranking I-AA leagues. America East has never finished 12th in the final RPI for a season and only once has it finished fourth among I-AA Conferences (2001-02). America East boasts three teams with RPIs in the top 100. Due in large part to the Seawolves win over ranked Temple, Stony Brook leads the conference teams with an RPI of 29, followed by Hartford (40) and Boston University (86).

Home sweet home: Hartford is 6-0 at home this season and the Hawks are currently riding an 11-game home win streak, which dates back to March 2, 2005. The Hawks home court advantage could loom huge come March as they play host to the America East Women’s Basketball Championship for the fifth-straight season. Hartford has won two of the four conference championships that it has hosted at Chase Arena at Reich Family Pavilion.

Terriers torch: Boston University poured in 92 points in its 92-72 victory at Vermont on Saturday afternoon. With four players in double figures, the Terriers dropped in the most points in a conference game this season. In fact, the last team to score more than 92 points in a conference game was Boston University back on February 12, 2003 as it cruised past Stony Brook 93-51.