CAMBRIDGE, Mass.-- UMBC sophomore guard Michelle Kurowski (Hicksville, N.Y./Hicksville) and University of Vermont freshman forward Kendra Seto (Oshawa, Ontario/Eastdale C.V.I.) started the 2009-10 season with strong performances, earning them the Women's Basketball Player and Rookie of the Week awards, respectively.
Kurowski averaged 21.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, one steal and one block per game last week in two games, including a tight game with 14th-ranked Virginia at the RAC Arena. The sophomore guard also shot 56 percent from the field, 50 percent from three-point land and a perfect 11-for-11 from the free-throw line. Against the Cavaliers, Kurowski scored a game-high 21 points and brought down seven rebounds. On Sunday against intrastate foe Maryland-Eastern Shore, the Long Island native notched her first double-double of the season with a game-high 22 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. She also chipped in seven assists and a steal. Kurowski shot 4-for-5 from beyond the arc against UMES. The 2009 All-Rookie selection was named the America East Player of the Game in both contests, picking up where she left off a year ago.
Seto started her collegiate career with a bang in two solid performances to help lead Vermont to the tournament title at the Sheraton Raleigh Wolfpack Classic hosted by NC State. The Canadian native averaged 12 points, six rebounds, 1.5 steals and one block per game in two contests. In her first career start, Seto tallied 15 points and five rebounds against Western Michigan, while also adding two blocks. In the championship the next day against the host Wolfpack, the rookie finished with nine points, seven rebounds and three steals.
Honor Roll
The best of the rest last week....
May Kotsopoulos, Vermont
23.5 ppg, 1.0 apg, 1.0 spg, 59.3 FG%
Erica Beverly, Hartford
16 ppg, 16 rpg, 3 apg, 3 bpg, 80 FG%
Caitlynn Moran, Boston U.
10.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.5 spg, 55 FG%
Denise Beliveau, New Hampshire
21 ppg, 9 rpg, 2 spg, 1.00 FT%
Amanda Tewksbury, Maine
20 ppg, 9 rpg, 1 spg
Kirsten Jeter, Stony Brook
13 ppg, 7 rpg, 2 apg, 2 spg, .875 FT%
Returning Champs Are Back At It
Eight months removed from their America East Championship in March, Vermont is back to doing what they've been doing best--winning. The Catamounts opened the season winning the tournament title at the Sheraton Raleigh Wolfpack Invitational hosted by NC State. UVM beat the MAC's Western Michigan by a 79-65 score Friday night, then beat host NC State, 52-47, on Saturday night. Senior guards May Kotsopoulos (Waterloo, Ontario/Waterloo Collegiate) and Courtnay Pilypaitis (Ottawa, Ontario/St. Peter's) were both named to the all-tournament team, with Kotsopoulos earning MVP honors.
Good Start
Through the first 13 games of the season, America East squads are 6-7 against a challenging schedule. Those victories includes one each over the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Atlantic-10 and Mid-American Conference, which all finished above the America East as conferences in last year's RPI. The league also picked up wins over the MEAC and the Northeast Conference over the opening weekend.
Star Tracker
Throughout the season, we will track the statistics of the five players named to the preseason all-conference team by the coaches.
Player, Team Key Stats
E. Beverly, UH 16 ppg, 16 rpg, 80 FG%
C. Pilypaitis, UVM 18 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 5.5 apg
M. Kotsopoulos, UVM 23.5 ppg, 59.3 FG%
C. Cassidy, UMBC 13.5 ppg, 3 apg, 6 3FG
D. Delva, UH 12 ppg, 4 spg, 2 bpg
Back In The Game
The 2008 Rookie of the Year Denise Beliveau (Framingham, Mass./Framingham) of University of New Hampshire is back for her sophomore season after a season-long hiatus due to injury. Out to prove that the time away from the court won't cause a sophomore slump, the 5-foot-11 forward powered the Wildcats to a season-opening win over St. Joseph's with 21 points, nine rebounds and two assists. As a rookie she averaged 10 points, 6.2 rebounds, two assists and two steals per game.
Raining Three's
Vermont's Courtnay Pilypaitis is well on her way to etching her name all over the Vermont and America East record books, and Friday night was no exception. Pilypaitis became the school's all-time leader in three-pointers, surpassing Lori Taylor '98 with three made three's against Western Michigan. The senior guard also surpassed Taylor for seventh all-time in America East history. With 195, she is just two away from tying former Albany standout Jen Schumacher '06 for sixth on that list.
Class Act
Vermont's May Kotsopoulos, a chemical engineering major with a GPA of 3.67, was named one of 30 candidates for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Women's Basketball Award. She is the two-time Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete and was the team MVP for the America East champion Catamounts. Kotosopoulos is the second straight Catamount to be selected as a candidate for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Women's Basketball Award. Former standout Amy Rosenkrantz '09 earned the honor last season.
Wooden Award
University of Hartford's Erica Beverly (Bridgeport, Conn./Kolbe Cathedral) was named a preseason candidate for the John R. Wooden Award, the most prestigious award in college basketball. Beverly was one of 31 candidates announced over the summer. These players and others who excel throughout the season will be evaluated and considered for December’s midseason list and the official ballot released in March. She finished her junior year averaging 11.1 ppg and led the team at 7.2 rpg, while being named to the America East All-Conference First Team and to the All-Defensive Team. She also led the team in blocked shots with 61, on the way becoming the school’s all-time shot blocker. Beverly also finished second on the team with 68 assists.
Good Things Come In TV Packages
During the regular season, America East, in partnership with ESPN Regional Television, will produce 14 games, which will be distributed among regional sports networks and local carriers. Eric Frede returns as the play-by-play announcer for America East basketball. Frank Sullivan, who coached in the ranks for 33 years, returns for his third season as men’s basketball color analyst. Leah Secondo, a veteran of America East television productions, is the color analyst for women’s basketball games.
The conference television slate begins Jan. 2 when Stony Brook battles Boston University on MSG and NESN at Case Gym, site of last year’s four-overtime thriller between the two schools. In women’s action, Vermont will host Hartford on Jan. 26 on NESN in a rematch of a 2009 semifinal game.
Both America East Championship games will be aired live on Saturday, March 13. The men’s title bout will take place at 12 p.m. on ESPN2, marking the 23nd straight year the conference championship has been nationally televised. The women’s championship contest will be televised on Comcast Sports Net at 8 p.m. All four semifinal contests will be aired regionally on Sunday, March 7 from Hartford’s Chase Arena, site of the 2010 America East Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship Presented by Newman's Own.
As result of a partnership with Pack Network, each of the conference-produced games will also be streamed and available for free at AmericaEast.tv, the league’s new home for live webcasts. First-round and quarterfinal action from the America East Men’s & Women’s Championship will also be aired on the new site.
Coming To A TV Near You
America East will produce four episodes of America East On Campus, a 30-minute magazine show devoted to showcasing the conference’s best and brightest student-athletes. The fifth-year show, which will air on regional sports networks including NESN beginning in January, is hosted by Frede, who produces the show along with his Cod Rock Media Productions partner, Dan Hannigan.
A Return To Familiar Ground
For the first time in the league’s history, the 2010 America East Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships will be held in a combined tournament format at the University of Hartford’s 3,508-seat Chase Arena in West Hartford, Conn. March 4-7, 2010. The first, quarterfinal and semifinal rounds for both the men and women will be held at the combined tournament, while the title games will both be held the following weekend at the site of highest seeds remaining.
Both first round games will be held Thursday, March 4, while the women’s quarterfinals will follow on Friday, March 5. The men’s quarterfinals will be scheduled for Saturday, March 6 and both the men’s and women’s semifinal tilts will take place Sunday, March 7. The highest seeds remaining in both the men’s and women’s tournament will host the championship games on Saturday, March 13.
Newman's Own Signs Title Sponsorship
The America East Conference, the University of Hartford and Newman's Own, Inc. announced at this year's Media Day that Newman's Own, Inc. will serve as the title sponsor of the 2010 America East Men's and Women's Basketball Championship. The Championship trio of America East, University of Hartford and Newman's Own, Inc. will announce a plan later this year that will further cultivate the principles of community service, education and leadership among students from the nine conference campuses.
ALBANY GREAT DANES (0-1, 0-0 AE)
UAlbany dropped its season opener at Fordham by a 76-56 score on Friday, Nov. 13 at the Rose Hill Gymnasium … The duration of the game was a seesaw battle with nine ties and nine lead changes … However, the Rams broke a 49-49 deadlock with 8:25 left by going on a 27-7 run the rest of the way … The Great Danes, who had a 5-11 record when leading or tied at halftime last season, held a 32-31 lead at the break and were winning with under 10 minutes remaining before the finish … UAlbany, which only brings 20 points per game back from last year’s team, got 31 points from three newcomers who came off the bench … Junior Melia Basavand (Glendale, Calif./Glendale/Pasadena City) netted a team-high 13 points, while freshman Ebone Henry (San Diego, Calif./Mater Dei Catholic) contributed 10 points and a team-best eight rebounds … Freshman Julie Forster (Huntington, N.Y./Huntington) added eight points off the bench, and senior team captain Charity Iromuanya (Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Northeast) finished with nine points and four steals … The Great Danes return seven letterwinners and have brought in six newcomers who are expected to contribute immediately … The squad is extremely young with 10 of the 13 players in the freshman and sophomore class … Highlighted by Keyana Williams (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston), the incoming class was ranked the best among the nine America East Conference schools by All-Star Girls Report … UAlbany travels to face NJIT on Thursday, Nov. 19 in its only game this week.
BINGHAMTON BEARCATS (0-1, 0-0 AE)
Binghamton opened up its ninth season as a NCAA Division I program with its game against St. Bonaventure on Friday night at the Events Center ... Senior guard Erica Carter (Naperville, Ill./Naperville) netted a game-high 14 points in the game against St. Bonaventure. In the process, she moved into 20th place all time in school history with 776 career points. She moved ahead of Stephanie Rom (1994-98), who had 768 career points. Carter has now reached double figures in scoring 40 times during her career ... Playing in her first game since transferring from Gardner-Webb two years ago, sophomore center Emma Cronk (Ontario, Canada/Gardner Webb) had six points and a career-high three blocks in the game against St. Bonaventure ... Sophomore point guard Andrea Holmes (Memphis, Tenn./Mitchell) had six points, four rebounds and five assists against the Bonnies. She now has 11 career games with at least five assists.
BOSTON UNIVERSITY TERRIERS (0-2, 0-0 AE)
The Boston University women’s basketball team kicked off its 2009-10 campaign at Kentucky on Friday morning in the nation’s first women’s college basketball game of the season. While the Terriers dropped a 92-58 decision, the freshman class had impressive debuts as rookies Kristen Sims (Richmond, Va./Clover Hill) and Caitlynn Moran (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) scored 14 and 10 points, respectively. Moran also brought down seven boards in the contest. Sophomore Caroline Stewart (Topsfield, Mass./Masconomet Regional) also recorded a career high for points after pouring in 14. Two short days later, the Terriers traveled to in-state rival UMass and in a heartbreaking loss, dropped a 79-73 overtime contest to the Minutewomen. Again, Moran put up impressive numbers as came away with the team’s first 20-point performance of the season to go along with three steals and two assists. Senior Aly Hinton (Richboro, Pa./Council Rock) recorded the Terriers’ first double-double of the season as she posted 13 points and brought down 10 boards. Boston U. will host its home opener on Wednesday night when it welcomes Rhode Island to Case Gym for a 7 p.m. contest. The game will be aired live on NESN.
HARTFORD HAWKS (1-0, 0-0 AE)
Four Hartford players finished in double figures in the Hawks' season-opening victory over Quinnipiac, all four of which were Connecticut born student-athletes … Leading the way for Hartford was senior Erica Beverly (Bridgeport, Conn./Kolbe Cathedral) who led all players with her 24th career double double, finishing with 16 points and 16 rebounds … Joining her in the double figure ranks was Diana Delva and Ilicia Mathis who each added 12 points, and Daphne Elliott finished with 11 points in her collegiate debut … Hartford will play three games in the next week, the first at home when they welcome the national runner-up Louisville Cardinals to Chase Arena at the Reich Family Pavilion on Tuesday at 7 p.m. … The Hawks will then play their first road games at Providence (November 20, 7 p.m.) and at Dartmouth (November 22, 2 p.m.).
MAINE BLACK BEARS (1-0, 0-0 AE)
Maine picked up its first win of the 2009-10 season on Friday night, knocking off Central Connecticut State, 61-58…Player of the Game Amanda Tewksbury (Clinton, N.J./North Hunterdon) led the Black Bears with 20 points, including the three pointer for the win she knocked down with five-seconds remaining…Freshman Katelyn Vanderhoff (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) got her first start for the Black Bears and assisted the Black Bears with eight points and five assists in her first regular season action…With the win the Black Bears start the season 1-0 for the first time since the 2006-2007 season…Senior Katia Bratishko (Annandale, Va./Flint Hill) pulled down her 100th career rebound against Central Connecticut State…Senior Kristin Baker (Bingham, Maine) ranked 93rd in the nation last season in assists, averaging 4.23 assists per game, as she fueled the Black Bears’ offense and she picked right up where she left off last season as she dished out five assists against Central Connecticut State…Baker needs just two more field goals to reach 100 for her career, 13 more points for 300 in her career and six more assists to reach 200 as a Black Bear…After very successful freshman campaigns, sophomores Samantha Baranowski (Stanhope, N.J./Lenape Valley Regional) and Samantha Wheeler (Derry, N.H./Timberlane Regional) are both closing in on career milestones…Baranowski needs just 10 more points to reach 200 total in her career and five more boards to get to 100 while Wheeler needs just five more boards to get her 100th of her career.
UMBC RETRIEVERS (1-1, 0-0 AE)
UMBC split a pair of home games on opening weekend, falling to 14th-ranked Virginia, 68-57, on Friday before taking down UMES, 102-65, on Sunday… The Retrievers gave the Cavaliers all they could handle, as the game was tied at halftime, and the Retrievers led with 7:52 remaining… Sophomore guard Michelle Kurowski (Hicksville, N.Y./Hicksville) led all scorers with 21 points and added seven rebounds… She scored 17 points in the first half alone… Sophomore forward Meghan Colabella (Upper Montclair, N.J./Montclair) notched a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds… The Retrievers set a school Division I record for points scored against UMES, tallying 100 points for the first time since November 1985… UMBC also set records for assists (28) and points in a half (59 in the second) while tying the 3-point mark (14)… Five Retrievers scored in double figures for the first time since November 2006… Kurowski finished three assists shy of a triple-double, as she led the Retrievers with 22 points, a career-high 14 rebounds and a career-best seven helpers… Colabella notched her second double-double in as many games with 15 points and 10 boards, giving the Retrievers a pair of double-doubles in the same game for the first time since December 2006… Senior guard Carlee Cassidy (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill) added 18… The trio combined to make 12 three-pointers… UMBC shot a sizzling 60 percent in the second half and finished at 55.7 percent for the game… The 37-point margin of victory was UMBC’s largest since January 1991… Cassidy now ranks sixth all-time at UMBC with 1,255 points… Kurowski has made 11 straight foul shots to start the season, moving into second place on UMBC’s career list at .833… The Retrievers hit the road for the first time on Saturday when they travel to St. Joseph’s.
NEW HAMPSHIRE (1-0, 0-0 AE)
Last time out, the University of New Hampshire women’s basketball team earned its first win of the young season, defeating St. Joseph’s University 64-56 on Friday night at Lundholm Gymnasium ... Denise Beliveau (Framingham, Mass.) scored 21 points, one shy of her career high, and tallied nine boards and two steals in the win ... The forward was named America East Player of the Game for her impressive performance in the contest ... For the Wildcats, the win is their first against an Atlantic-10 team since Dec. 4, 2005, when they defeated Massachusetts 59-43 at Lundholm Gymnasium ... New Hampshire posted a 10-2 scoring run to close out the action, securing the victory ... Beliveau knocked down four free throws during that stretch, as she went a perfect 10-for-10 from the charity stripe on the evening, tying a career high ... Candace Williams (Norfolk, Mass.) finished off the night with 15 points and five rebounds ... Lauren Wells (West Chester, Pa.) tallied 12 points and one block ... Amy Simpson (Waterford, Conn.) chipped in with two points, six boards and five assists.
STONY BROOK SEAWOLVES (0-2, 0-0 AE)
Stony Brook opened its 2009-10 season with a pair of difficult non-conference opponents… In their first game of the season, the Seawolves were led by sophomore center Destiny Jacobs (Glen Burnie, Md.) who scored eight points while grabbing ten boards… Stony Brook played the Tigers tough in the first half, trailing by just eight at intermission… Princeton connected on four of its first five field goal attempts in the second half to build a cushion the Seawolves could not overcome… Against St. John’s, Stony Brook started flat, scoring just 14 points in the first half… Led by junior Kirsten Jeter’s (Elmont, N.Y.) 15 second-half points, the Seawolves were outscored by only three in the final 20 minutes of play… Jeter averaged 13 ppg and 7 rpg while Jacobs added 7.5 ppg and 8.0 rpg… Freshmen Taylor Burner (Port Jefferson, N.Y.) and Sam Landers (Springfield, Va.) both played well… Burner had four points and five rebounds against St. John’s… Landers scored five points and had four rebounds against Princeton.
VERMONT CATAMOUNTS (2-0, 0-0 AE)
Vermont opened the 2009-10 season with a pair of wins to take home the championship at the Sheraton Raleigh Wolfpack Invitational hosted by NC State. UVM's senior class combined for 62 of 79 points to lead the Catamounts past Western Michigan in the first round, 79-65. May Kotsopoulos (Waterloo, Ontario/Waterloo Collegiate) matched her career high with 26 points and Courtnay Pilypaitis (Ottawa, Ontario/St. Peter) was one rebound shy of her third career triple-double, posting 21 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds. Pilypaitis became the all-time leader in three-pointers at Vermont with three total in the game. She surpassed the mark of 194 career three's set by former standout Lori Taylor '98 (1994-98), who was inducted into the UVM Athletic Hall of Fame in October. Freshman Kendra Seto (Oshawa, Ontario/Eastdale C.V.I.) earned a start in the season opener and responded with 15 points and five rebounds in her debut. Kotsopoulos added a game-high 21 points to lead Vermont past NC State, 52-47, in the championship game of the Sheraton Raleigh Wolfpack Invitational and was named the tournament MVP. Pilypaitis joined Kotsopoulos on the all-tournament team. Freshman Lauren Buschmann (St. Catharines, Ontario/Governor Simcoe) made two clutch free throws in the final seconds to help the Catamounts against the Wolfpack. The victory was Vermont's second ever against an ACC opponent. UVM returns to action on Sunday (Nov. 22) when it travels to Boston College for a 2 p.m. game.