CAMBRIDGE, Mass.-- UMBC junior forward Erin Brown (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman) won the America East Player of the Week for the week ending January 30 as she was a critical component to both of the Retrievers' wins last week which lifted them into a tie for second place halfway through the conference slate. New Hampshire guard Kelsey Hogan (Nashua, N.H./Nashua North) continues to be a solid piece of the Wildcats' offense while earning her third Rookie of the Week award Monday afternoon.
Brown averaged 18.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game while shooting .368 (7-for-19) from beyond the arc, .400 (12-for-30) overall from the field, and playing all 80 possible minutes. Brown led UMBC with 19 points in a come-from-behind victory at Albany, scoring 16 points in the 16-point second-half comeback. The junior forward canned a career-high-matching five three-pointers to aid the comeback, and netted the go-ahead jumper that put UMBC up for good with 1:22 remaining.Brown followed up that effort with a game-high 18 points with five rebounds and three steals in a 65-57 victory over Stony Brook. She made all six free throws against the Seawolves, including four in the final 50 seconds to help seal the win.
Brown is second on the team this season with 13.0 ppg and leads the team with 5.5 boards per contest. She also paces the Retrievers, and is third in America East, with 2.0 made treys per game, shooting at a .310 clip.
Hogan averaged 11.0 points, 2.0 assists, 1.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game in two games in which the Wildcats split last week. She shot .353 (6-for-17) from the field, .444 (4-for-9) from three-point range, and .750 (6-for-8) from the charity stripe. In the win on the road over Maine, Hogan poured in 15 points to go along with two boards, two helpers and a steal. She shot 50 percent for the game and hit three of her five three-point attempts. Later in the week at conference-leading Boston U., Hogan tallied seven points, two assists, a rebound, a steal and a block.
For the season, Hogan is averaging 8.3 points per game. She ranks second in America East with 4.0 assists per game as well as with a .413 three-point shooting clip.
Upcoming Action
Tuesday, February 1
*Boston U. at Maine 7 p.m.
- The Terriers travel to Alfond Arena after defeating Maine, 78-40, at Case Gym on January 2. Boston U. sophomore Chantell Alford poured in 22 points during that last meeting.
- Maine freshman Shareka Maner earned her first career start last time out against Binghamton and is averaging 6.0 points and 9.5 rebounds per game over the last two contests.
- Boston U. has averaged 67.2 points per game during its nine-game win streak, which has coincided with the conference season. Three Terriers are averaging twin figures, led by Alford's 14.2 ppg.
Wednesday, February 2
*Vermont at Hartford (CTSN) 7 p.m.
- The early January matchup between the Catamounts and the Hawks in Burlington went in Hartford's favor, 62-49. Vermont senior Tonya Young came off the bench to score a game-high 18 points.
- Young is averaging 16.1 ppg and 7.3 rpg in conference play which both rank her top-10 in America East.
- Hartford sophomore Ruthanne Doherty is coming off a career performance with 23 points. She is averaging 6.6 ppg overall, but second on the team in scoring during league play with 10.7 ppg.
*UMBC at Binghamton (TWCS) 7 p.m.
- The league's leading scorer, UMBC's Michelle Kurowski with 15.8 ppg, dropped 30 points in these two teams' first meeting this year, a 55-38 Retrievers win.
- Both the Retrievers and Bearcats have matched last year's conference win total already. The teams both finished with 7-9 marks tied for fourth place.
- Binghamton junior forward Viive Rebane is among the America East top 15 in six categories, ranking first with .500 field-goal shooting.
* America East Conference Game
Recent Results
Sunday, January 30
*at Albany 53, Vermont 43
- Albany went on a 16-0 run in the second half to take a 45-31 lead with 7:39 remaining, enabling the Great Danes to beat Vermont for the first time since January 17, 2007. The losing streak had been eight games.
- Vermont held a 27-21 advantage at the break.
- Albany sophomore forward Julie Forster scored 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting and grabbed 10 boards to earn her seventh double-double of the season. Sophomore guard Ebone Henry also scored 14 points and pulled down eight rebounds for the Great Danes.
- The Catamounts were led by senior forward Tonya Young with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore guard Lauren Wheeler also grabbed 11 boards while adding six points.
Saturday, January 29
*at Boston U. 66, New Hampshire 62 (NESN)
- In a game featuring nine lead changes, the game-changing play was a steal under the Terriers' basket by Boston U.'s Kat Briggs and two converted free throws with 10 seconds left in regulation.
- Guards Alex Young and Chantell Alford each notched a team-high 16 points for the Terriers, while teammate Mo Moran dished out 10 helpers and accumulated four of Boston U.'s 13 steals.
- For her seventh double-double of the season, UNH junior forward Denise Beliveau tallied a game-high 24 points and 10 boards, along with four assists.
*at UMBC 65, Stony Brook 57
- The Retrievers' win gave Phil Stern his 200th career coaching victory. UMBC has now matched last year's overall and conference win totals, 13 and seven, respectively.
- After the teams were tied, 27-27, at intermission, the Retrievers shot at a .520 clip in the second half.
- UMBC's Erin Brown netted a game-high 18 points along with three steals, while Michelle Kurowski tallied 15 points and six rebounds.
- Stony Brook senior Kirsten Jeter completed a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while also recording three steals and two assists.
*at Binghamton 70, Maine 43
- The Bearcats continued their dominance at the Events Center as they are now 8-0 this season at home.
- Binghamton senior guard Jackie Ward poured in a season-high 20 points to lead the Bearcats. She also finished with seven rebounds and five assists. Jasbriell Swain and Viive Rebane tore down 14 and 11 boards, respectively.
- Maine freshman Ashleigh Roberts was the only Black Bear in twin figures, finishing with 14 points. Forward Shareka Maner pulled in a team-high 13 rebounds.
* America East Conference Game
(Winning) More With Less (Games)
Last week marked the halfway point of the conference season and several teams matched or exceeded last year's overall and conference win totals already. Binghamton and UMBC are both in the midst of its best start since joining America East, while Albany has matched its best start.
2009-10 2010-11
Binghamton 11-19 (7-9) 14-8 (7-2)
UMBC 13-17 (7-9) 13-9 (7-2)
Albany 11-19 (4-12) 12-9 (5-3)
Preseason Picks Looking Good
Boston U., who was the preseason favorite of the coaches, has so far proved the head coaches right. The Terriers are the only undefeated team remaining with a 9-0 record. Boston U. is plowing through league foes by a +16.0 scoring margin and are averaging a league-best 67.2 ppg while limiting opponents to just 51.2 ppg. The last two America East regular season champions, Hartford in 2010 and Boston U. in 2009, have gone 16-0 in league play.
Tune In
Three games this week will be televised in local markets. Both of Wednesday's games can be found by tuning into regional networks. Time Warner Cable Sports (TWCS) will cover UMBC at Binghamton beginning at 7p in a clash between second-place teams. Also that same night at 7p, Connecticut Sports Network (CTSN) will broadcast the 2010 America East title game rematch between Vermont and Hartford from Chase Arena. Rounding out the week, Albany's Big Purple Growl will be televised Saturday afternoon at 4:30p on Time Warner when the Great Danes host Hartford.
Block Party
With 30 blocked shots this season, University of New Hampshire's Jill McDonald (Middlebury, Vt./Middlebury) now has 147 for her career. McDonald has surpassed Boston U.'s Kasey Devine (2004-08) for sole possession of ninth all time in America East history. She needs five more rejections to pass former Great Dane Gia Sanders (2004-08) who totaled 151 career blocks for eighth place. McDonald ranks third in America East this season with 1.4 blocks per game.
200 Strong
UMBC's Phil Stern coached his 200th career victory in the Retrievers' 65-57 win over Stony Brook on Saturday, January 29. He joins Boston U. Head Coach Kelly Greenberg as the two America East coaches to reach that milestone this year. Greenberg earned her 200th career victory in the Terriers' 72-59 win over Albany on January 15. She now has 205 career victories. The only other active coach in America East with as many wins is Hartford Head Coach Jennifer Rizzotti with 226 under her belt.
Long Time Coming
The conference has seen some surprises this season as well as some long losing streaks against other league opponents snapped. Below is a list of losing streaks one team has had against another league foe and snapped this year. The longest wait for any team who snapped a skid this year was Albany who until this year hadn't defeated Hartford since 2005, a period that spanned 13 games. The Great Danes had also been held winless against the Hawks at Chase Arena even longer, since March 2004 in the quarterfinals of the America East Championship.
Team Opponent # of Games
Albany Hartford 13
Binghamton Hartford 12
New Hampshire Vermont 11
Albany Vermont 8
UMBC Vermont 6
UMBC Hartford 6
Maine UMBC 5
Binghamton Vermont 5
New Members Of 1,000-Point Club
Binghamton junior guard Andrea Holmes (Memphis, Tenn./Mitchell) and UMBC junior guard Michelle Kurowski (Hicksville, N.Y./Hicksville) have both reached the 1,000 career point milesone, with Holmes achieving the mark most recently as part of a 26-point performance in the Bearcats' overtime win over Vermont on January 23. Kurowski accomplished the feat with a 19-point performance in the Retrievers' win at Stony Brook on January 3. The two guards join Stony Brook's Kirsten Jeter as the only three active members of the elite group of 101 America East 1,000-point scorers.
Who's Next?
Two more juniors are next in line to follow Kurowski and Holmes into the 1,000 point club. New Hampshire forward Denise Beliveau (Framingham, Mass./Framingham) and Boston U. guard Alex Young (Hickory, N.C./ St. Stephen's) are neck and neck with 859 and 844 points, respectively.
Scheduling Strong
According to Collegiate Basketball News' RPIratings.com, America East squads have played the 13th-toughest non-conference schedule out of the 33 conferences. Hartford has had the most grueling schedule, ranked the 34th toughest in the country, while Vermont's non-league schedule is ranked 44th in strength with seven meetings against top-100 foes.
Reporting In
Collegiate Basketball News ranked America East 28th out of 33 conferences in the weekly RPI Report, holding steady from the previous week. Boston U. soared 20 spots from last week's standing to become the conference's top-ranked team at 173. UMBC also improved, 13 spots to 188 for second among America East teams. Albany (201), Binghamton (206) and Hartford (219) round out the top five from the conference.
ALBANY GREAT DANES (12-9, 5-3 AE)
Albany surpassed last year's win total with a 53-43 victory over Vermont on Sunday... The Great Danes also fell to UMBC, 59-53, earlier in the week... The game against the Retrievers was Albany's 5th Annual Commitment to Education Day, and the Great Danes welcomed over 800 students from 15 local elementary and middle schools to SEFCU Arena... Sophomore forward Julie Forster (Huntington, N.Y./Huntington) led Albany in the two games last week, averaging 14.5 points and 9.0 rebounds... Forster recorded her league-leading eighth double-double of the season in the win over Vermont, scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, while also recording four steals, two blocks and an assist... Sophomore guard Ebone Henry (San Diego, Calif./Mater Dei Catholic) averaged a team-best 18.5 points per game for the week, netting a game-high 23 against UMBC and adding 14 versus Vermont... Henry hit all four of the Great Danes' three-pointers against UMBC, and went 5-of-6 from the free throw line against Vermont... The Great Danes will return to action on Thursday at New Hampshire before hosting Hartford for the Big Purple Growl on Saturday.
BINGHAMTON BEARCATS (14-8, 7-2 AE)
Binghamton is off to its best start in America East Conference play since joining the league for the 2001-02 season. In addition, the Bearcats' home record of 8-0 represents its best start since moving into the Events Center during the 2003-04 campaign... Junior point guard Andrea Holmes (Memphis, Tenn./Mitchell), who is now averaging a career-high 14.8 points per game, now has 1,035 career points and moves into 11th place all-time in program history. Against Maine, she passed Helene Thomas (1981-85), who had 1,018 points and Jen Blues (2002-06) who finished with 1,019 points... Freshman guard Jasbriell Swain (Memphis, Tenn./Horn Lake) grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds in Binghamton's game against Maine on Saturday... In the latest America East statistics, Binghamton has three of the top 10 rebounders in the conference. Sophomore forward Kara Elofson (Minneapolis, Minn./Hopkins) is sixth with 7.6 rebounds, junior forward Viive Rebane (Talinn, Estonia) is seventh (7.6 rpg.) and Swain is eighth with 7.3 rebounds per contest. Rebane also leads the America East with a .500 field goal percentage (99-of-198)... As a team, the Bearcats lead the America East in rebounding offense, rebounding defense and rebounding margin.
BOSTON UNIVERSITY TERRIERS (12-9, 9-0 AE)
The Boston University women's basketball team escaped with two close victories last week to remain undefeated in America East action... To begin the week, Boston U. defeated Binghamton, 65-60, as sophomore Chantell Alford (West Haven, Conn./Wilbur Cross) and senior Kerry Cashman (Newfields, N.H./Exeter) each posted 13 points... The Bearcats drew to within one point with 1:38 remaining, but Cashman drove to the basket with 34 seconds left to push the lead to three points and sophomore Mo Moran (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) sunk both of her free throws with one tick left on the scoreboard to seal the victory... Two days later, senior Kat Briggs (Georgetown, Texas/Georgetown) provided the heroics against New Hampshire in the Terriers' 66-62 triumph. With 10 seconds left and Boston U. up by just two points, Briggs stole the ball under the Boston U. basket and then converted on two free throws to secure the squad's ninth straight victory... Alford was the team's leading scorer last week with 14.5 ppg, while Cashman nearly averaged a double-double with 10.5 ppg and 9.5 rpg... This week, the Terriers take on Maine on Tuesday (Feb. 1) at 1 p.m. in Orono.
HARTFORD HAWKS (7-14, 4-4 AE)
The Hawks set out to break a three-game skid last week and did so with a pair of impressive performances by Ruthanne Doherty (Richmond, Va./L.C. Bird) and Mary Silvia (Reading, Mass./Reading) who led the Hawks to a 67-57 home win over Stony Brook on Wednesday night... Doherty led all players in the game as she compiled a career-high 23 points, just the second time this season a Hawk has scored 20 or more points. Doherty’s career-high performance came courtesy of 8-of-15 shooting from the field and 7-of-9 at the free throw line... Overall, the Hawks finished the game shooting 50 percent from the floor (25-of-50)... Silvia added a season-high 19 points, one shy of her career high, while Nikkia Smith (Montville, Conn./Montville) added 10 points to the Hawks' total... Silvia also had an impressive night from the field, finishing 7-of-13 overall, while going 5-of-9 from beyond the arc... Senior Jackie Smith (Westfield, Mass./Holyoke) led the Hawks to a total of 19 team assists, tying the season high for Hartford, while sporting a career-high nine… The Hawks held the Seawolves to 30 percent shooting (19-of-63), while also holding them to just 18 first-half points, when the Seawolves shot just 26 percent (7-of-27) in the half... The Seawolves did win the battle of the boards by a 39-36 advantage, thanks in large part to a 20-8 margin on the offensive glass... Doherty and Silvia led the Hawks' rebounding efforts with six boards a piece… the Hawks will play a pair of games this coming week, the first at home before heading on the road. Hartford welcomes Vermont to the Chase Family Arena to begin the second half of the conference season on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Hawks will then travel to Albany on Saturday (4:30 p.m.) to take part in the Great Danes' Purple Growl, a doubleheader with the men’s team.
MAINE BLACK BEARS (3-18, 1-8 AE)
Maine dropped a pair of America East contests over the week. The Black Bears lost a 67-47 decision to New Hampshire before falling at Binghamton, 70-43, on Saturday afternoon... Tanna Ross (Newburgh, Maine) led Maine against UNH as she notched 18 points on 6-for-9 shooting from behind the arc... Ashleigh Roberts' (Wilmington, Del.) streak of 11 straight games scoring in double-figures came to a close when she was held to six points against UNH... Shareka Maner (Spring Hill, Fla.) came off the bench for Maine and set career highs in points (6), offensive boards (3) and steals (1). Maner had another career game against Binghamton as she played 23 minutes with a career-high 13 boards... After her streak came to an end against UNH, Roberts bounced back with a team-high 14-point effort at Binghamton, her 14th game this season scoring in double-figures... As a unit, Maine continues to lead the league in blocks, averaging 3.9 per game... Roberts' 10.7 points per game is tops in the league amongst rookie scorers... Maine welcomes Boston U. to Orono Tuesday at 7 p.m. before traveling to UMBC on Saturday.
UMBC RETRIEVERS (13-9, 7-2 AE)
UMBC extended its winning streak to four games with a pair of America East victories last week and sits in second place in the conference standings… The Retrievers have matched last season’s overall and conference win totals with 13 and seven, respectively. The seven America East victories also match their most ever in eight seasons in the league… The Retrievers overcame a 16-point second-half deficit to defeat Albany, 59-53, on the road on Wednesday. UMBC outscored the Great Danes, 40-18, over the final 16:14 of action… Junior forward Erin Brown (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman) and junior guard Michelle Kurowski (Hicksville, N.Y./Hicksville) each scored 16 points in the second half to lead the rally… Brown finished with 19 points on five three-pointers, matching her career high, while Kurowski tallied 18 points to go along with five assists and three steals… The pair combined with junior center Topé Obajolu (Randallstown, Md./Archbishop Carroll) to score 40 of UMBC’s 42 second-half points… Senior forward Meghan Colabella (Upper Montclair, N.J./Montclair) pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds… The Retrievers defeated Stony Brook, 65-57, at home on Saturday, their eighth straight win at the RAC and head coach Phil Stern’s 200th career victory… Brown scored 18 points while Kurowski netted 15 to lead four Retrievers in double figures for the second time this season… UMBC’s trio of juniors – Kurowski, Brown and Obajolu – have accounted for 68.9 percent of the team’s scoring this season… Kurowski ranks ninth all-time at UMBC with 1,144 career points. She is the America East’s leading scorer with 15.8 ppg, including 18.1 ppg against league opponents… The Retrievers visit America East rival Binghamton on Wednesday, then host league foe Maine on Saturday.
NEW HAMPSHIRE (6-15, 3-6 AE)
University of New Hampshire finished its most recent week of action 1-1... The Wildcats fell to Boston University (Jan. 29) in their most recent outing, 66-62, at Case Gymnasium... Earlier in the week the 'Cats earned a 67-47 win over Maine (Jan. 26) at Alfond Arena... Junior Denise Beliveau (Framingham, Mass./Framingham) earned her seventh double-double of the season against Boston U., registering a game-high 24 points and 10 rebounds. Beliveau was tabbed the America East Player of the Game for New Hampshire earning her 11th double-double of her career in the contest. She scored 23 of her 24 points in the second half on 7-of-14 shooting from the floor, 4-of-6 shooting from three and 6-of-7 shooting from the line... Jill McDonald (Middlebury, Vt./Middlebury) also scored in double-digits for the 'Cats, posting 14 points, five rebounds and two blocks. She finished 6-for-8 from the floor and 2-for-3 from the charity stripe... Against Maine, sophomore Cari Reed (Oswego, N.Y./Oswego) led three Wildcats in double-figures, netting a career-best 27 points. Reed was named the America East Player of the Game for New Hampshire, notching the highest single-game point total of any Wildcat this season. She is also the first 'Cat to notch 10 field goals in a game since Candace Williams did so against Boston U. on Jan. 17, 2009. She finished the evening 10-for-17 from the floor and 6-for-11 from beyond the arc. Her six three-point field goals are a career best and tie a UNH single-game record. Reed also added four rebounds and one assist in the win... Kelsey Hogan (Nashua, N.H./Nashua North; 15) and Kate Early (Corning, N.Y./Corning East; 11) also scored in double-digits for UNH, marking the fifth time this season three 'Cats have finished in double-figures... Early's point total was a season best and fell just one short of her career high... Beliveau chipped in with 13 rebounds and six points, while also matching a career best with six assists… The Wildcats return to action Thursday, Feb. 3 (7 p.m.) when they return home to take on the University at Albany at Lundholm Gymnasium.
STONY BROOK SEAWOLVES (4-17, 1-8 AE)
The Seawolves dropped road games to Hartford and UMBC this week... Stony Brook trailed Hartford by two just over five minutes into the second half following a four-point play from sophomore Amanda Corona (North Hollywood, Calif.), but the Hawks then put the game away with a 16-4 run... SBU held Hartford to just two field goals over the first 10:30 of the game... Junior Whitney Davis (Muskegon, Mich.) led three Seawolves in double-figures with 13 points... SBU then trailed UMBC by just one with four minutes left following a jumper from Davis, but the Retrievers answered with a 9-0 run and the Seawolves got no closer than five the rest of the way... Senior Kirsten Jeter (Elmont, N.Y.) recorded a double-double (17 points, 10 rebounds) to pace the Seawolves... Stony Brook forced UMBC into a season-high 27 turnovers... The Retrievers entered the game averaging a league-low 12.9 turnovers per game during conference play... Stony Brook will now play five of its final seven games at home.
VERMONT CATAMOUNTS (2-19, 2-6 AE)
Vermont dropped a 53-43 decision at Albany in its lone game of the week... The Catamounts held a 13-point lead in the first half, but the Great Danes used a 34-7 run wrapped around halftime to pull out the come-from-behind victory... Tonya Young (Canaan, N.H./Mascoma Valley Regional) led UVM with a game-high 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for her third career double-double versus Albany... UVM was outrebounded (40-37) for the first time in conference action by the Great Danes... Vermont travels to Hartford on Wednesday (Feb. 2) for a 7 p.m. game and Stony Brook on Saturday (Feb. 5) for a 2 p.m. game.