BOSTON – The 2022-23 America East women’s basketball conference schedule gets underway on Thursday, Dec. 29 with four games and the four more on Jan. 1.
Four of the conference’s nine programs are coming off a victory in their final non-conference contest, led by Vermont at 8-4. The Catamounts have won seven out of their past eight games, including a dominant 64-34 victory over a talented Holy Cross program. Also entering the week with a winning record is Binghamton, who is 7-6 and has had four of its last five games decided by five points or less.
Thursday, Dec. 29
Maine (4-8) at Bryant (5-7) – 1 PM
Vermont (8-4) at UAlbany (6-8) – 7 PM
New Hampshire (5-7) at NJIT (5-7) – 7 PM
Binghamton (7-6) at UMBC (3-8) – 7 PM
Sunday, Jan. 1
UMBC (3-8) at Vermont (8-4) – 2 PM
UAlbany (6-8) at New Hampshire (5-7) – 2 PM
Bryant (5-7) at Binghamton (7-6) – 2 PM
NJIT (5-7) at UMass Lowell (1-9) – 2 PM
Vermont (8-4)
- The Catamounts rank second in the league in scoring (63.7) and first in field goal percentage (.436) while ranking tenth nationally in three-point percentage (39.5). They also have the league’s stingiest defense, giving up 55.8 points per game.
- UVM has won 7 of 8 overall, with five of those wins by 20 or more points.
- Emma Utterback is averaging 14.9 points, 5.0 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game, while Catherine Gilwee has put up 13.0 points per game and leads the conference in threes (38) and three-point percentage (.481).
Binghamton (7-6)
- The Bearcats have won 3 of 5 and are coming off a 70-34 victory against Hartford. The team is 6-0 at home this year but just 1-5 on the road.
- Binghamton ranks third in the conference in scoring (60.2 pts/game) and is second in scoring defense at 59.8 points per game.
- Denai Bowman leads the team in scoring (12.4) while filling up the stat sheet with 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game. Genevieve Coleman is also in double figures with 10.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
UAlbany (6-8)
- The Great Danes are 2-3 over their last five games, but all three losses were to Power 5 schools (Boston College, Ohio State & Syracuse).
- UAlbany is eighth in the conference in scoring, averaging just 55.9 points per game this year but third in scoring defense at 59.8 points per contest.
- Helene Haegerstrand has claimed Player of the Week honors two straight weeks and averaged 16.4 points and 4.3 rebounds over the team's last five games. For the year, Ellen Hahn leads the team with 14.9 points 5.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.
Bryant (5-7)
- Bryant is 5-7 entering its first season in the America East and has won two of its past three contests.
- The Bulldogs are averaging 68.3 points per game this season while giving up 64.5. Mariona Planes Fortuny leads the conference averaging 16.7 points per game, to go along with 4.9 rebounds and 1.0 block per contest.
- The team has nine different players averaging at least 10.0 minutes per game and eight averaging at least 5.0 points per game.
New Hampshire (5-7)
- The Wildcats have won three of five, including a 63-60 victory at Merrimack to conclude conference play.
- UNH ranks sixth in the conference in scoring (56.3) and fourth in scoring defense, allowing 61.8 points per contest.
- Freshman Avery O’Connor is leading the team in scoring this year, averaging 12.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game to go along with 26 three-point field goals. Brooke Kane is also in double figures with 10.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per contest.
NJIT (5-7)
- NJIT is just 1-5 over its past six games and has surpassed 60 points in two of those contests, after starting the season 4-2.
- The Highlanders are fourth in the league at 58.8 points per game and are fifth in scoring defense (63.0).
- Trinity Williams and Lyzi Litwinko have paced the offense this year, with Williams averaging 10.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game while Litwinko is also at 10.1 points along with 5.7 rebounds per game.
Maine (4-8)
- The Black Bears have played one of the toughest schedules in the nation among mid major programs. This year the team is 4-0 when they surpass 60 points and 0-8 when they fail to do so.
- Maine is putting up just 56.3 points per game, seventh in the league, but rank fifth in field goal percentage (.409) and third in three-point percentage (.338).
- Adrianna Smith had led the team this season with 10.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game while reigning America East Player of the Year Anne Simon is averaging 9.5 points per game, though she missed eight games due to injury.
UMBC (3-8)
- UMBC snapped a five-game losing streak with a 76-52 victory over Hartford, their second-highest scoring game of the year and second time with 70 or more points this year.
- The Retrievers rank fifth in the conference in scoring (57.1) but are eighth in scoring defense, giving up 68.6 points per game.
- Kiara Bell has led the team this year with 10.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. KK White is also in double figures at 10.4 points per game.
UMass Lowell (1-9)
- The Riverhawks have dropped their past two contests, but took a strong Holy Cross squad to the limit, falling 62-57.
- UMass Lowell is averaging 51.3 points per game while allowing 69.8 overall, though they haven’t given up more than 66 points in the past four games.
- Kaylen Banwareesingh does a bit of everything for the team, with 9.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game. Meanwhile, Ivory Finley is putting up 8.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.7 steals per contest.
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