Women's Basketball

Women's #AEHoops Preview: Jan. 29-31

BOSTON – Two of the top three teams in the league face off on Thursday, as Vermont plays at UMBC, while Bryant looks to snap a three-game losing skid against first place Binghamton.  Read the preview below to catch up on all the action.
 
Binghamton (6-1) at Bryant (4-3) – 6 PM
  • The Bearcats looks to stay in first when the place at Bryant. Four of the team’s six wins have been by five points or less, including a 62-57 win over Maine on Saturday. Bryant, meanwhile, has lost three straight after starting league play 4-0. They are 3-1 at home, but fell 78-65 most recently to NJIT at home.
  • Bryant has won five straight games against Binghamton. The teams faced off three times last year, highlighted by a 66-63 quarterfinal win by the Bulldogs at home.
  • In conference action Bryant ranks 3rd in scoring defense (57.3) while sitting at 5th in scoring (62.0). The Bearcats, meanwhile, are 4th in both scoring (65.6) and scoring defense (59.1), but rank 2nd in scoring margin (6.4).
 
UAlbany (1-6) at NJIT (4-3) – 6 PM
  • NJIT is coming off a loss have two straight wins. The Highlanders fell 52-51 to UMBC as they gave up a 10-point lead in the 4th quarter. UAlbany has dropped five straight games, with three decided by five points or less. They’re 1-0 when they score 62+ in league play and 0-6 when they fail to do so.
  • UAlbany has won 12 straight games against NJIT, dating back to 2013. Four of the last five have been decided by 15+ points, with the lone an exception a 38-36 win two years ago.
  • NJIT is the 2nd best offense in #AEHoops play at 69.1 ppg, but is 8th in scoring defense (67.4) and 6th in scoring margin. The Great Danes are 7th in both scoring offense (58.0) and defense (62.9)
 
New Hampshire (1-6) at UMass Lowell (0-7) – 6 PM
  • The Wildcats earned their first conference win on Saturday, taking down UAlbany 56-51. They’ve scored 60+ points in just one conference game, but held 3 of 4 opponents to under 60 points. The River Hawks have dropped six straight league games by double digits and will try to score 60+ for the first time in three weeks against the UNH defense.
  • UMass Lowell and New Hampshire split their season series each of the past three seasons. Last year the River Hawks won 56-54 on the road and then fell 62-55 at home.
  • In league action, UMass Lowell ranks last in scoring defense (76.0) and 8th in scoring (53.1). The Wildcats are 9th in scoring (49.3), but 5th in scoring defense (59.7).
 
Vermont (6-1) at UMBC (5-3) – 6:30 PM
  • The Retrievers have won a league-best five straight games and over their last four games, they rank second in the league in scoring defense (52.0) with teams shooting just 13.9% from three. Conversely, UVM is averaging 69.3 ppg over that same span while making 41.3% of its threes. Both marks lead the league.
  • UVM has won eight straight games against UMBC, all by double digits. Last year the Catamounts won 70-39 and 70-59, though the Retrievers haven’t given up 60 points in their last six league games.
  • In conference play, Vermont leads all teams in scoring offense (69.7), scoring defense (54.9) and scoring margin (14.9). UMBC, meanwhile, is 2nd in scoring defense (56.1) and 6th in scoring (60.3).
 
Saturday, Jan. 31
  • Vermont at NJIT – 12 PM
  • Bryant at New Hampshire – 1 PM
  • UMass Lowell at Maine – 1 PM
  • UAlbany at UMBC – 1 PM
 
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Founded in 1979, the America East Conference is an elite NCAA Division I athletic conference that fosters an environment for student-athletes to become champions. Comprised of academically renowned, like-minded member institutions located in the Northeast region of the United States, America East is committed to broad-based excellence and progressive in its approach to supporting its more than 3,500 student-athletes across 18 sponsored sports. For more information, visit www.AmericaEast.com and follow the America East Conference and its social media channels, @AmericaEast.
 
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