Here's another in the series previewing conference teams.
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IONA WOMEN
2012-13 RECORD: 13-5 in the MAAC, 20-13 overall.
KEY LOSSES: Forward Diana Hubbard (3.2, 0.9).
KEY NEWCOMERS: 5-9 redshirt freshman forward Christina Rubin.
EARLY STARTERS: 5-7 junior guard Damika Martinez (18.1 points, 5.2 rebounds last season), 5-11 sophomore forward Joy Adams (13.0, 10.7), 5-6 junior guard Aleesha Powell (9.8, 3.7), 5-6 senior guard Haley D'Angelo (4.6, 2.0, 3.6 assists), 6-3 senior center Sabrina Jeridore (4.4, 4.8, 3.1 blocks).
NOTABLE: Second-best team in the league last year to Marist, and went to the WNIT. Afterwards, head coach Tony Bozzella moved on to Seton Hall. The transition to new coach Billi Godsey, formerly an assistant at Virginia Tech, seems to be going well ... The Gaels are currently 6-2 with the losses by a point to strong mid-major Bowling Green and to St. John's ... Martinez is as dynamic a scorer as the conference has ever seen. Two years ago she became the first freshman to lead the MAAC in scoring, duplicated that last season and added Player of the Year accolades. She's even better this year. Her 26.7 ppg. average so far far outdistances any other conference player and ranks third nationally. Her 42 points in a recent game set an Iona record (formerly held by Maria Johnson, 38, in the 1978-79 season), and was the sixth-best single-game total nationally this season ... The program's entire starting five fron a year ago returns, as does its top two reserves ... Every starter has made strides since a year ago. Besides Martinez's huge jump in scoring, her rebounding (6.3) is also up. Adams, the MAAC's Rookie of the Year last season, is averaging 17.0 points and 12.9 rebounds per game thus far ... Powell's 9.5, 3.3 averages are about the same as a year ago, but her assists (3.6) are up. D'Angelo's assists are also up, to 5.1 thus far and she has an astronomically good 41 assists to just 11 turnovers thus far. And, Jeridore's rebound average is up dramatically (7.3 so far), and she is the nation's leading shot-blocker (4.8 per contest) ... The top reserves are Aaliyah Robinson (5.9, 1.9), a 5-9 sophomore guard; 5-11 sophomore forward Cassidee Ranger (2.0) and 5-9 freshman guard/forward Christina Rubin (4.0, 1.7), who sat out last season with an injury ... The Gaels are shooting 44.8 percent from the field, 42nd-best nationally.
STRENGTHS: Scoring, experience, rebounding, depth. Pretty much everything is in place.
WEAKNESSES: An entirely new staff that's not as familiar with the conference as the previous staff.
REASONABLE EXPECTATION: League coaches, in their preseason poll, picked Iona to finish second, as did your blogger. We'll believe someone other than Marist wins the regular-season title when it does someday happen. But, Iona is probably as close to being able to do that this year as any team in recent memory. Quinnipiac also looks strong, so a finish somewhere in the top three looks like Iona's fate.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Preview: Iona Men Reloaded For Another Title Run
Here's another in the series previewing conference teams.
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IONA MEN
2012-13 RECORD: 11-7 in the MAAC, 20-14 overall.
KEY LOSSES: Guard Momo Jones (22.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists last season), forward Taaj Ridley (8.2, 5.6), guard Dennis Curtis (3.8, 1.4).
KEY NEWCOMERS: Senior 6-foot-6 swingman Mike Poole, transfer from Rutgers, 6-7 sophomore guard Isaiah Williams, transfer from State College of Florida Manatee junior college.
EARLY STARTERS: 6-9 junior forward David Laury (13.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, last year's totals), 6-5 senior guard Sean Armand (16.6, 5.1), 6-5 senior guard Trey Bowman (8.3, 3.80, 6-4 sophomore guard A.J. Williams (7.0, 2.5), 6-7 sophomore guard Williams.
NOTABLE: The Gaels suffered through a 1-6 mid-season slide last season before winning their last two regular-season games and, then, all three MAAC tournament games to represent the league in the NCAA Tournament. There, they got a tough draw, a very good Ohio State squad, which knocked off Iona, 95-70 ... Any time a program loses a player the caliber of Momo Jones, the league's Player of the Year, there's usually a dropoff. But, this is the program that also lost the previous season's Player of the Year in Scott Machado after the 2011-12 season and barely skipped a beat last season ... Looks like more of the same for Iona, which just reloads, albeit in non-traditional style. Five of the team's top seven players in terms of playing time thus far began their college careers elsewhere. Two of them are newcomers Poole and Williams ... Jones' scoring load has been picked up by Armand, who is averaging 22.1 ppg. thus far ... Laury has also increased his scoring average (15.1 ppg.) by two points per game, Bowma (12.3) by four points pr game and English (13.1) by 6.1 ppg. ... English, an exciting, athletic sophomore, missed the second half of last season with an injury but has come back at 100 percent and looks to be an emerging standout who should develop into one of the MAAC's best players, possibly a worthy successor to the guard assembly line that, of late, has included Machado, Jones and, now, Armand ... Ridley never averaged double figures for Iona, but his 5. rebounds per game will be missed ... Currently the Gaels are getting outrebounded by 1.9 per game ... The team's two losses came to a strong Cleveland State team (by four points) and national powerhouse Kansas (by 10) ... Iona led the country in points per game last season at 80.4 .... It's not quite there this year, but it's not far off at 79.4 ppg. Still, scoring is up this year and that average only ranks 60th nationally ... But, bigger totals are coming. Iona is averaging 87.3 ppg. in its last four contests ... The team's field goal percentage is a commendable 47.2 so far, 78th best nationally ... And, the Gaels continue to take care of the ball, committing fewer than 12 turnovers per game and have 112 assists vs. 82 turnovers so far, a surprising positive ratio considering the team's preferred up-tempo style of play.
STRENGTHS: As always, it seems, terrific outside shooting. Armand is already the program's all-time leader in made three pointers and has 24 through seven games thus far. English and Williams also average at least two treys per contest. Laury is among the best big men in the conference and is also extremely versatile. He's as good a passer as he is a scorer/rebounder.
WEAKNESSES: Rebounding. Laury averages 8.7 per game, and Williams is next at 4.9. While Williams is listed as 6-foot-7, he's basically a perimeter player. Iona has four guards on the court most of the time, but all four are 6-4 or taller.
REASONABLE EXPECTATION: League coaches, in their preseason poll, tabbed Iona for second. Your blogger agreed in preseason predictions. There's no change here now after early results. We'll still go with Manhattan as the favorite to capture the regular-season crown, but Iona isn't far off. It would be a bit of a surprise if Iona doesn't finish in one of the top two spots.
Up now ...
IONA MEN
2012-13 RECORD: 11-7 in the MAAC, 20-14 overall.
KEY LOSSES: Guard Momo Jones (22.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists last season), forward Taaj Ridley (8.2, 5.6), guard Dennis Curtis (3.8, 1.4).
KEY NEWCOMERS: Senior 6-foot-6 swingman Mike Poole, transfer from Rutgers, 6-7 sophomore guard Isaiah Williams, transfer from State College of Florida Manatee junior college.
EARLY STARTERS: 6-9 junior forward David Laury (13.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, last year's totals), 6-5 senior guard Sean Armand (16.6, 5.1), 6-5 senior guard Trey Bowman (8.3, 3.80, 6-4 sophomore guard A.J. Williams (7.0, 2.5), 6-7 sophomore guard Williams.
NOTABLE: The Gaels suffered through a 1-6 mid-season slide last season before winning their last two regular-season games and, then, all three MAAC tournament games to represent the league in the NCAA Tournament. There, they got a tough draw, a very good Ohio State squad, which knocked off Iona, 95-70 ... Any time a program loses a player the caliber of Momo Jones, the league's Player of the Year, there's usually a dropoff. But, this is the program that also lost the previous season's Player of the Year in Scott Machado after the 2011-12 season and barely skipped a beat last season ... Looks like more of the same for Iona, which just reloads, albeit in non-traditional style. Five of the team's top seven players in terms of playing time thus far began their college careers elsewhere. Two of them are newcomers Poole and Williams ... Jones' scoring load has been picked up by Armand, who is averaging 22.1 ppg. thus far ... Laury has also increased his scoring average (15.1 ppg.) by two points per game, Bowma (12.3) by four points pr game and English (13.1) by 6.1 ppg. ... English, an exciting, athletic sophomore, missed the second half of last season with an injury but has come back at 100 percent and looks to be an emerging standout who should develop into one of the MAAC's best players, possibly a worthy successor to the guard assembly line that, of late, has included Machado, Jones and, now, Armand ... Ridley never averaged double figures for Iona, but his 5. rebounds per game will be missed ... Currently the Gaels are getting outrebounded by 1.9 per game ... The team's two losses came to a strong Cleveland State team (by four points) and national powerhouse Kansas (by 10) ... Iona led the country in points per game last season at 80.4 .... It's not quite there this year, but it's not far off at 79.4 ppg. Still, scoring is up this year and that average only ranks 60th nationally ... But, bigger totals are coming. Iona is averaging 87.3 ppg. in its last four contests ... The team's field goal percentage is a commendable 47.2 so far, 78th best nationally ... And, the Gaels continue to take care of the ball, committing fewer than 12 turnovers per game and have 112 assists vs. 82 turnovers so far, a surprising positive ratio considering the team's preferred up-tempo style of play.
STRENGTHS: As always, it seems, terrific outside shooting. Armand is already the program's all-time leader in made three pointers and has 24 through seven games thus far. English and Williams also average at least two treys per contest. Laury is among the best big men in the conference and is also extremely versatile. He's as good a passer as he is a scorer/rebounder.
WEAKNESSES: Rebounding. Laury averages 8.7 per game, and Williams is next at 4.9. While Williams is listed as 6-foot-7, he's basically a perimeter player. Iona has four guards on the court most of the time, but all four are 6-4 or taller.
REASONABLE EXPECTATION: League coaches, in their preseason poll, tabbed Iona for second. Your blogger agreed in preseason predictions. There's no change here now after early results. We'll still go with Manhattan as the favorite to capture the regular-season crown, but Iona isn't far off. It would be a bit of a surprise if Iona doesn't finish in one of the top two spots.
Monday, December 9, 2013
Preview: Time For Canisius Women To Move Forward
Here's another in the series previewing conference teams.
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CANISIUS WOMEN
2012-13 RECORD: 8-10 in the MAAC, 12-8 overall.
KEY LOSSES: Guard Ashley Durham (11.7 points, 3.6 rebounds per game), forward Ashley Wilkes (8.2, 6.4), forward Allison Braun (4.0, 4.2).
KEY ADDITION: 5-11 freshman forward Lauren D'Hont.
EARLY STARTERS: 6-3 senior forward Jamie Ruttle (8.8 points, 4.7 rebounds last season), 5-7 senior guard Kayla Hoohuli (6.8, 3.4), 5-9 senior guard Jen Morabito (5.5, 2.0), 5-5 sophomore guard Tiahana Mills (4.1, 3.2, 2.6 assists), 5-10 senior forward Crystal Porter.
NOTABLE: Off to a 4-4 start thus far. This was supposed to be the culmination of one of the program's better recruiting class. Current seniors Ruttle, Morabito, 6-3 Jen Lennox and redshirt junior 6-1 Courtney VandeBovenkamp all captured MAAC Rookie of the Week awards as freshmen in the 2010-11 season. And, then, none has truly made the step to become the requisite star at this level ... The program has languished since a 24-9 finish in 2008-09 that included a berth in the MAAC title game and, ultimately, a national post-season appearance in the WNIT ...Ruttle, despite being one of the MAAC's taller players, only averaged 4.7 rebounds last year and is at 3.9 (and a team-best 11.0 ppg.) this year ...Lennox, an effective shot-blocker (87 for her career) comes off the bench. VandeBovenkamp was knocked out last season by injury, and has been slow to regain her form, although she moved into the starting lineup of late when Porter missed a game with an ankle injury ... Morabito is still a deadly long-range shooter (19 treys thus far and an 8.5 ppg. average), but has never become a double-digit scorer it looked like she'd become ... Porter has stepped up nicely after limited minutes as a freshman. She was averaging 6.1 points and 4.4 rebounds before her ankle injury ... Mills (8.0, 5.0 and 4.8 assists) has become one of the league's better point guards as a sophomore ... The Golden Griffins always seem to have terrific long-range shooting, and it's no different this year with Morabito, Hoohuli (10.0 points ppg., 13 treys so far) and sophomore Emily Weber (5.1, 1.3) ... Since that 24-9 season the Griffs have gone 12-19, 11-20, 12-18 and 12-19 ... Freshman Lauren D'Hont (4.1, 2.0) has been contributing off the bench. With three seniors and two juniors among the key players, this should be the year the program turns things around.
REASONABLE EXPECTATION: League coaches picked Canisius, in their preseason poll, to finish 6th, and that's probably an insightful pick. Still, there's height, experience, outside shooting and a very good point guard in place. It wouldn't be a reach to think the Griffs could get as high as fourth if everything comes together.
Up now ...
CANISIUS WOMEN
2012-13 RECORD: 8-10 in the MAAC, 12-8 overall.
KEY LOSSES: Guard Ashley Durham (11.7 points, 3.6 rebounds per game), forward Ashley Wilkes (8.2, 6.4), forward Allison Braun (4.0, 4.2).
KEY ADDITION: 5-11 freshman forward Lauren D'Hont.
EARLY STARTERS: 6-3 senior forward Jamie Ruttle (8.8 points, 4.7 rebounds last season), 5-7 senior guard Kayla Hoohuli (6.8, 3.4), 5-9 senior guard Jen Morabito (5.5, 2.0), 5-5 sophomore guard Tiahana Mills (4.1, 3.2, 2.6 assists), 5-10 senior forward Crystal Porter.
NOTABLE: Off to a 4-4 start thus far. This was supposed to be the culmination of one of the program's better recruiting class. Current seniors Ruttle, Morabito, 6-3 Jen Lennox and redshirt junior 6-1 Courtney VandeBovenkamp all captured MAAC Rookie of the Week awards as freshmen in the 2010-11 season. And, then, none has truly made the step to become the requisite star at this level ... The program has languished since a 24-9 finish in 2008-09 that included a berth in the MAAC title game and, ultimately, a national post-season appearance in the WNIT ...Ruttle, despite being one of the MAAC's taller players, only averaged 4.7 rebounds last year and is at 3.9 (and a team-best 11.0 ppg.) this year ...Lennox, an effective shot-blocker (87 for her career) comes off the bench. VandeBovenkamp was knocked out last season by injury, and has been slow to regain her form, although she moved into the starting lineup of late when Porter missed a game with an ankle injury ... Morabito is still a deadly long-range shooter (19 treys thus far and an 8.5 ppg. average), but has never become a double-digit scorer it looked like she'd become ... Porter has stepped up nicely after limited minutes as a freshman. She was averaging 6.1 points and 4.4 rebounds before her ankle injury ... Mills (8.0, 5.0 and 4.8 assists) has become one of the league's better point guards as a sophomore ... The Golden Griffins always seem to have terrific long-range shooting, and it's no different this year with Morabito, Hoohuli (10.0 points ppg., 13 treys so far) and sophomore Emily Weber (5.1, 1.3) ... Since that 24-9 season the Griffs have gone 12-19, 11-20, 12-18 and 12-19 ... Freshman Lauren D'Hont (4.1, 2.0) has been contributing off the bench. With three seniors and two juniors among the key players, this should be the year the program turns things around.
REASONABLE EXPECTATION: League coaches picked Canisius, in their preseason poll, to finish 6th, and that's probably an insightful pick. Still, there's height, experience, outside shooting and a very good point guard in place. It wouldn't be a reach to think the Griffs could get as high as fourth if everything comes together.
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Preview: Canisius Men Succeeding Despite Changes
Here's another in the series previewing conference teams.
Up now ...
CANISIUS MEN
2012-13 RECORD: 11-7 in MAAC play, 20-14 overall.
KEY LOSSES: Guards Harold Washington (13.8, 2.6), Isaac Sosa (11.6, 2.0), Alshwan Hymes (7.1, 2.1).
KEY NEWCOMES: 6-3 senior guard Chris Perez, transfer from Stetson; 6-7 redshirt freshman forward Phil Valenti, 6-3 freshman guard Zach Lewis, 5-11 junior guard Jeremiah Williams, transfer from Vincennes Junior College, 6-4 sophomore guard Dominique Raney, transfer from Navarro College.
EARLY STARTERS: 6-2 senior guard Billy Baron (17.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.0 assists last season), 6-2 senior guard Chris Perez, 6-10 senior center Jordan Heath (9.2, 5.9), 6-6 senior forward Chris Manhertz (7.6, 8.7), 6-4 sophomore guard Dominique Raney.
NOTABLE: Off to a 4-3 start thus far. Last season's 20 wins marked a 15-victory improvement over the previous year, the greatest one-season jump in program history and third-best nationally over the previous season. It was also the first time the program won 20 games since the 2000-01 season ... Probably no coincidence that well-respected veteran coach Jim Baron came aboard last season, and brought his son, Billy, along as a transfer from Rhode Island ... Since then, there have been considerable losses, almost all on the perimeter where double-digit scorers Washington and Sosa both graduated. They were the team's top long-range threats, with Sosa hitting 96 treys and Washington 59. Hymes, an effective reserve guard, also opted to leave the program early ... Replacements came in the form of senior Chris Perez, a transfer from Stetson, who is averaging 11.9 ppg. and 3.3 rebound so far and sophomore transfer Dominique Raney (6.6, 2.1). True freshman Zach Lewis (6.4) has been the first perimeter sub so far, while junior Jeremiah Williams, a JC transfer (2.9) has been getting minutes as the back-up point guard ... The one perimeter returnee, though, is a good one in senior Billy Baron, who is averaging 19.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.4 points per game. He was picked as the league's preseason Player of the Year and has done nothing to discourage that sentiment. His scoring is up 2.5 ppg. over a year ago, while his assists are down ... Canisius did return two good front-court players in 6-10 senior Jordan Heath and 6-6, 235-pounder Christ Manhertz. Heath is averaging 10.9/5.1, and recently had a 28-point, 10-rebound game against Saint Peter's in the league opener for both teams. Manhertz (7.4, 5.0) was inch-for-inch the league best rebounder last season (8.7) but his rebound stats are down this season ... Phil Valenti, a 6-7 redshirt freshman who sat out last season to add some strength, is off to a good start off the bench (4.1, 3.9) ... This year's roster has 14 players and 10 of them did not play a minute last season; few MAAC programs have had such turnover ... Only 10 players have seen court action this year. Baron traditionally finds a playing group early and sticks to it.
REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS: League coaches, in their preseason poll, predicted a third-place finish for Canisius, as did your blogger. The MAAC, thus far, looks like a two-team race for the top between Manhattan and Iona. After that, Canisius, Rider, Fairfield and Quinnipiac look bunched in the next group. The guess here is Canisius will finish somewhere as high as third and as low as sixth.
Up now ...
CANISIUS MEN
2012-13 RECORD: 11-7 in MAAC play, 20-14 overall.
KEY LOSSES: Guards Harold Washington (13.8, 2.6), Isaac Sosa (11.6, 2.0), Alshwan Hymes (7.1, 2.1).
KEY NEWCOMES: 6-3 senior guard Chris Perez, transfer from Stetson; 6-7 redshirt freshman forward Phil Valenti, 6-3 freshman guard Zach Lewis, 5-11 junior guard Jeremiah Williams, transfer from Vincennes Junior College, 6-4 sophomore guard Dominique Raney, transfer from Navarro College.
EARLY STARTERS: 6-2 senior guard Billy Baron (17.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.0 assists last season), 6-2 senior guard Chris Perez, 6-10 senior center Jordan Heath (9.2, 5.9), 6-6 senior forward Chris Manhertz (7.6, 8.7), 6-4 sophomore guard Dominique Raney.
NOTABLE: Off to a 4-3 start thus far. Last season's 20 wins marked a 15-victory improvement over the previous year, the greatest one-season jump in program history and third-best nationally over the previous season. It was also the first time the program won 20 games since the 2000-01 season ... Probably no coincidence that well-respected veteran coach Jim Baron came aboard last season, and brought his son, Billy, along as a transfer from Rhode Island ... Since then, there have been considerable losses, almost all on the perimeter where double-digit scorers Washington and Sosa both graduated. They were the team's top long-range threats, with Sosa hitting 96 treys and Washington 59. Hymes, an effective reserve guard, also opted to leave the program early ... Replacements came in the form of senior Chris Perez, a transfer from Stetson, who is averaging 11.9 ppg. and 3.3 rebound so far and sophomore transfer Dominique Raney (6.6, 2.1). True freshman Zach Lewis (6.4) has been the first perimeter sub so far, while junior Jeremiah Williams, a JC transfer (2.9) has been getting minutes as the back-up point guard ... The one perimeter returnee, though, is a good one in senior Billy Baron, who is averaging 19.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.4 points per game. He was picked as the league's preseason Player of the Year and has done nothing to discourage that sentiment. His scoring is up 2.5 ppg. over a year ago, while his assists are down ... Canisius did return two good front-court players in 6-10 senior Jordan Heath and 6-6, 235-pounder Christ Manhertz. Heath is averaging 10.9/5.1, and recently had a 28-point, 10-rebound game against Saint Peter's in the league opener for both teams. Manhertz (7.4, 5.0) was inch-for-inch the league best rebounder last season (8.7) but his rebound stats are down this season ... Phil Valenti, a 6-7 redshirt freshman who sat out last season to add some strength, is off to a good start off the bench (4.1, 3.9) ... This year's roster has 14 players and 10 of them did not play a minute last season; few MAAC programs have had such turnover ... Only 10 players have seen court action this year. Baron traditionally finds a playing group early and sticks to it.
REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS: League coaches, in their preseason poll, predicted a third-place finish for Canisius, as did your blogger. The MAAC, thus far, looks like a two-team race for the top between Manhattan and Iona. After that, Canisius, Rider, Fairfield and Quinnipiac look bunched in the next group. The guess here is Canisius will finish somewhere as high as third and as low as sixth.
Friday, December 6, 2013
Marist Women Pass Test Vs. Quinnipiac In Opener
Meet the new boss when it comes to MAAC women's basketball ....
Same as the old boss.
It's Marist, of course.
We're only one game into league play, the season opener for the Red Foxes coming Friday night.
But the schedule maker did fans of the conference a big favor by creating a big-time matchup for the curtain-raiser.
It was Marist at Quinnipiac, the meeting of the conference's two teams that went to the women's NCAA tournament a year ago, the conference's two teams that put up perfect league records in the 2012-13 season.
The Red Foxes, of course, did it by going unbeaten in MAAC play and advancing to the NCAA's as the conference's representative.
Quinnipiac did the same thing in its former league, going 16-0 in the Northeast Conference a year ago and advancing to the NCAA's before moving up to the MAAC for the current season.
Marist earned a 69-63 victory in the battle of teams picked, in the coaches' preseason poll, to finish first (Marist) and third (Quinnipiac) this season.
Your scribe got to view a good portion of the contest view the magic of the internet, and the impression is that Marist, despite height limitations (again, much like last season) is impressive again in its precision motion offense and defensive work that takes away what opponents like to do best.
Friday the Red Foxes' defense virtually took Quinnipiac's preseseason second-team pick forward Brittany McQuain out of the offense. McQuain, who entered the game averaging 13.2 points per game, got just two points on 1-of-4 shooting against Marist.
Marist continued to get offense from a variety of different sources. Friday it was sophomore guard Sydney Coffey leading the way with a career-high 19 points. Madeline Blais, another sophomore, added 11 while senior forward Emma O'Connor chipped in with 11.
Marist had a 13-point lead late in the first half before Quinnipiac rallied to within 33-27 at halftime..
The hosts then got to within a point at the 18:18 mark of the second half before an 11-0 Marist run behind five points from Coffey and four from O'Connor.
The Bobcats cut it to two once again, 56-54, with 6:27 remaining and to within one with less than four minutes to go.
And, Marist's lead was down to one again with 2:06 remaining.
O'Connor then scored for the winners and Coffey made two free throws to push the advantage to five. Quinnipiac got within three once more, but couldn't get any closer as Marist closed it out.
Same as the old boss.
It's Marist, of course.
We're only one game into league play, the season opener for the Red Foxes coming Friday night.
But the schedule maker did fans of the conference a big favor by creating a big-time matchup for the curtain-raiser.
It was Marist at Quinnipiac, the meeting of the conference's two teams that went to the women's NCAA tournament a year ago, the conference's two teams that put up perfect league records in the 2012-13 season.
The Red Foxes, of course, did it by going unbeaten in MAAC play and advancing to the NCAA's as the conference's representative.
Quinnipiac did the same thing in its former league, going 16-0 in the Northeast Conference a year ago and advancing to the NCAA's before moving up to the MAAC for the current season.
Marist earned a 69-63 victory in the battle of teams picked, in the coaches' preseason poll, to finish first (Marist) and third (Quinnipiac) this season.
Your scribe got to view a good portion of the contest view the magic of the internet, and the impression is that Marist, despite height limitations (again, much like last season) is impressive again in its precision motion offense and defensive work that takes away what opponents like to do best.
Friday the Red Foxes' defense virtually took Quinnipiac's preseseason second-team pick forward Brittany McQuain out of the offense. McQuain, who entered the game averaging 13.2 points per game, got just two points on 1-of-4 shooting against Marist.
Marist continued to get offense from a variety of different sources. Friday it was sophomore guard Sydney Coffey leading the way with a career-high 19 points. Madeline Blais, another sophomore, added 11 while senior forward Emma O'Connor chipped in with 11.
Marist had a 13-point lead late in the first half before Quinnipiac rallied to within 33-27 at halftime..
The hosts then got to within a point at the 18:18 mark of the second half before an 11-0 Marist run behind five points from Coffey and four from O'Connor.
The Bobcats cut it to two once again, 56-54, with 6:27 remaining and to within one with less than four minutes to go.
And, Marist's lead was down to one again with 2:06 remaining.
O'Connor then scored for the winners and Coffey made two free throws to push the advantage to five. Quinnipiac got within three once more, but couldn't get any closer as Marist closed it out.
Preview: Rider Women Need Rebounds, Assists
Here's another in the series previewing conference teams.
Up now ...
RIDER WOMEN
2012-13 RECORD: 10-8 in the MAAC, 15-15 overall.
KEY LOSSES: Guard Sironda Chambers (13.0 points, 3.9 rebounds), forward Caitlin Bopp (9.9, 9.1), forward Carleigh Brown (4.0, 3.4).
KEY NEWCOMERS: 5-9 freshman guard Stephanie Mason, 5-10 junior guard Lashay Banks, transfer from Cincinnati.
EARLY STARTERS: 6-0 senior swingperson MyNeshia McKenzie (14.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, last season's statistics), 5-8 sophomore guard Mikel Johnson (5.6, 1.6), 5-7 sophomore guard Manon Pellet (1.7, 0.7), 6-3 junior forward Marritt Gillcrease (0.7, 1.6), 5-10 junior guard Lashay Banks.
NOTABLE: The Broncs are off to a 2-5 start, but they also started 7-10 last year before an 8-5 finish that resulted in the 15-15 overall record. It was the program's first non-losing season since 1994-95 ... It might be hard to better that this year, though, after some key losses, particularly guard Sironda Chambers and forward Caitlin Bopp, the team's second and third-leading scorers from last season ... Still, though, there's much talent in place led by 6-0 senior swingperson MyNeshia McKenzie, who averages 17.9 points and 10.7 rebounds per game thus far. She was a first-team preseason all-MAAC selection by league coaches, and has been one of the league's top players for some time ...the loss of Chambers is offset by Cincinnati transfer Lashay Banks, who is averaging 12.6 points and 4.7 rebounds thus far. She played sparringly at Cincy (2.4 ppg. two seasons ago), but was a 1,000-point scorer on the high school level ... There's no replacement for Bopp, but 6-3 Gillcrease, who rarely played the past two seasons, has stepped up to help out inside, averaging 4.9 points and 5.7 rebounds per game thus far ... Emily Fazzini, a 5-10 junior guard who was averaging 9.8 points through four games, is out of action right now with no timetable for her return ... It leaves Johnson as the best long-range shooting threat (37 treys last season and 14 so far this year) ... freshman guard Mason, though, has also exhibited a nice shooting touch (9 treys so far), and she had a career-high 15 points in a recent victory over UMBC. Gilcrease had 10 points and 8 rebounds in that contest ... Johnson had a career-high 20 points in the Broncs' last game, a loss to Navy ...What the program lacks for the second straight season is a prototypical point guard. Last year no player averaged more than 1.7 assists per game, and right now McKenzie and Konelij Valiskyte, a reserve guard, are the assist leaders at 1.6 per contest ... Shereen Lightbourne, a budding star early in her career, has returned after missing the last two seasons with knee injuries. Yet while her return as a graduate student is a feel-good story, she probably won't regain her early form and is playing lightly, just 17 total minutes through the first seven games.
STRENGTHS: The requisite star in McKenzie, and a strong second fiddle scorer in Banks. Depth at the guard position.
WEAKNESSES: While McKenzie will all but certainly lead the team in rebounding for the second straight year, there's no real second option on the boards. If Fazzini, who had been the team's third-leading scorer, is out for a length of time, that's a big loss. And, there's the lack of a true point guard.
REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS: League coaches picked Rider to finish fifth, in their preseason poll, and there's no argument about that here. The likelihood is somewhere between fourth and seventh.
Up now ...
RIDER WOMEN
2012-13 RECORD: 10-8 in the MAAC, 15-15 overall.
KEY LOSSES: Guard Sironda Chambers (13.0 points, 3.9 rebounds), forward Caitlin Bopp (9.9, 9.1), forward Carleigh Brown (4.0, 3.4).
KEY NEWCOMERS: 5-9 freshman guard Stephanie Mason, 5-10 junior guard Lashay Banks, transfer from Cincinnati.
EARLY STARTERS: 6-0 senior swingperson MyNeshia McKenzie (14.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, last season's statistics), 5-8 sophomore guard Mikel Johnson (5.6, 1.6), 5-7 sophomore guard Manon Pellet (1.7, 0.7), 6-3 junior forward Marritt Gillcrease (0.7, 1.6), 5-10 junior guard Lashay Banks.
NOTABLE: The Broncs are off to a 2-5 start, but they also started 7-10 last year before an 8-5 finish that resulted in the 15-15 overall record. It was the program's first non-losing season since 1994-95 ... It might be hard to better that this year, though, after some key losses, particularly guard Sironda Chambers and forward Caitlin Bopp, the team's second and third-leading scorers from last season ... Still, though, there's much talent in place led by 6-0 senior swingperson MyNeshia McKenzie, who averages 17.9 points and 10.7 rebounds per game thus far. She was a first-team preseason all-MAAC selection by league coaches, and has been one of the league's top players for some time ...the loss of Chambers is offset by Cincinnati transfer Lashay Banks, who is averaging 12.6 points and 4.7 rebounds thus far. She played sparringly at Cincy (2.4 ppg. two seasons ago), but was a 1,000-point scorer on the high school level ... There's no replacement for Bopp, but 6-3 Gillcrease, who rarely played the past two seasons, has stepped up to help out inside, averaging 4.9 points and 5.7 rebounds per game thus far ... Emily Fazzini, a 5-10 junior guard who was averaging 9.8 points through four games, is out of action right now with no timetable for her return ... It leaves Johnson as the best long-range shooting threat (37 treys last season and 14 so far this year) ... freshman guard Mason, though, has also exhibited a nice shooting touch (9 treys so far), and she had a career-high 15 points in a recent victory over UMBC. Gilcrease had 10 points and 8 rebounds in that contest ... Johnson had a career-high 20 points in the Broncs' last game, a loss to Navy ...What the program lacks for the second straight season is a prototypical point guard. Last year no player averaged more than 1.7 assists per game, and right now McKenzie and Konelij Valiskyte, a reserve guard, are the assist leaders at 1.6 per contest ... Shereen Lightbourne, a budding star early in her career, has returned after missing the last two seasons with knee injuries. Yet while her return as a graduate student is a feel-good story, she probably won't regain her early form and is playing lightly, just 17 total minutes through the first seven games.
STRENGTHS: The requisite star in McKenzie, and a strong second fiddle scorer in Banks. Depth at the guard position.
WEAKNESSES: While McKenzie will all but certainly lead the team in rebounding for the second straight year, there's no real second option on the boards. If Fazzini, who had been the team's third-leading scorer, is out for a length of time, that's a big loss. And, there's the lack of a true point guard.
REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS: League coaches picked Rider to finish fifth, in their preseason poll, and there's no argument about that here. The likelihood is somewhere between fourth and seventh.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Around The MAAC: Points, Steals, Key Contests
As we do every season, we occasionally find some time to look around MAAC.
It's a feature we call "ATM," or Around The MAAC.
Here's the latest installment.
SCORING LEADER
In case you haven't noticed, the top two players among the Division I national scoring leaders includes one from the MAAC and another former player in the conference.
Niagara's junior guard Antoine Mason (as predicted in this blog prior to the season) is the national scoring leader, connecting on 30.0 points per game thus far.
No. 2 on the national list, at 25.5 ppg., is Dylon Cormier of Loyola, a MAAC member until this season.
If Mason retains the scoring lead through the season he would become the fourth MAAC player to win a national scoring title.
The others have been Army's Kevin Houston, 32.9 ppg. in the 1986-87 season; Niagara's Alvin Young, 25.1 ppt. in the 1998-99 season; and, Saint Peter's Keydren Clark, who did it twice, 26.7 ppg. in the 2003-04 season and 25.6 pg. in the 2004-05 season.
THIEVERY AT ITS BEST
It's usually pretty difficult for freshmen to make a mark at a mid-major level program, but frosh guard Emia Willingham of the Siena women's team has already had a break-out performance.
Willingham, a quick 5-foot-6 guard, had 10 steals in a recent game against Sacred Heart.
That total is the single-game high nationally thus far this season, tied Siena's school record for single-game swipes by either men's or women's players, and is second all-time for a game played by a MAAC player.
Only former Manhattan standout Gina Somma, who had 12 steals in a game during the 1993-94 season.
WELCOME ADDITION
The new conference team expected to be the most-competitive in terms of regular-season championship contention is the Quinnipiac women's squad.
The Bobcats are currently 3-4 in non-league play, but are highly regarded enough to rank 24th nationally in the collegeinsiders.com poll of mid-major level programs from 23 different conferences.
Quinnipiac's losses thus far have been to Louisville (No. 5 nationally at the time of the game), 6-1 St. Joseph's 5-1 St. John's and 5-3 Tennessee-Martin, the three-time defending Ohio Valley Conference's representative to the NCAA tournament.
And, now, we'll really get a look at how good Quinnipiac can be this season.
The Bobcats have back-to-back games coming up against two other teams rated in the mid-major poll.
They host Marist on Friday at 6 p.m., the first MAAC game of the season and it's a good one. The teams were picked in the coaches' preseason poll to finish first (Marist) and third, respectively, in conference play this season.
Marist is currently ranked No. 18 in the mid-major poll.
Both programs are coming off NCAA appearances and perfect records in league play from the 2012-13 season. Marist was 18-0 in the MAAC, and Quinnipiac was 16-0 iin its former affiliation, the Northeast Conference.
And, then, the Bobcats play another non-league contest on December 15 at UAlbany (2 p.m.).
UAlbany checks in at No. 8 in the mid-major poll. And, once again, it's a meeting of teams that went to the NCAA's last year after perfect league records. The Great Danes were 16-0 in America East play in 2012-13.
Your blogger plans on attending the Dec. 15 Quinnipiac at UAlbany game to get a first-hand look at the Bobcats, and will provide a post-game report.
It's a feature we call "ATM," or Around The MAAC.
Here's the latest installment.
SCORING LEADER
In case you haven't noticed, the top two players among the Division I national scoring leaders includes one from the MAAC and another former player in the conference.
Niagara's junior guard Antoine Mason (as predicted in this blog prior to the season) is the national scoring leader, connecting on 30.0 points per game thus far.
No. 2 on the national list, at 25.5 ppg., is Dylon Cormier of Loyola, a MAAC member until this season.
If Mason retains the scoring lead through the season he would become the fourth MAAC player to win a national scoring title.
The others have been Army's Kevin Houston, 32.9 ppg. in the 1986-87 season; Niagara's Alvin Young, 25.1 ppt. in the 1998-99 season; and, Saint Peter's Keydren Clark, who did it twice, 26.7 ppg. in the 2003-04 season and 25.6 pg. in the 2004-05 season.
THIEVERY AT ITS BEST
It's usually pretty difficult for freshmen to make a mark at a mid-major level program, but frosh guard Emia Willingham of the Siena women's team has already had a break-out performance.
Willingham, a quick 5-foot-6 guard, had 10 steals in a recent game against Sacred Heart.
That total is the single-game high nationally thus far this season, tied Siena's school record for single-game swipes by either men's or women's players, and is second all-time for a game played by a MAAC player.
Only former Manhattan standout Gina Somma, who had 12 steals in a game during the 1993-94 season.
WELCOME ADDITION
The new conference team expected to be the most-competitive in terms of regular-season championship contention is the Quinnipiac women's squad.
The Bobcats are currently 3-4 in non-league play, but are highly regarded enough to rank 24th nationally in the collegeinsiders.com poll of mid-major level programs from 23 different conferences.
Quinnipiac's losses thus far have been to Louisville (No. 5 nationally at the time of the game), 6-1 St. Joseph's 5-1 St. John's and 5-3 Tennessee-Martin, the three-time defending Ohio Valley Conference's representative to the NCAA tournament.
And, now, we'll really get a look at how good Quinnipiac can be this season.
The Bobcats have back-to-back games coming up against two other teams rated in the mid-major poll.
They host Marist on Friday at 6 p.m., the first MAAC game of the season and it's a good one. The teams were picked in the coaches' preseason poll to finish first (Marist) and third, respectively, in conference play this season.
Marist is currently ranked No. 18 in the mid-major poll.
Both programs are coming off NCAA appearances and perfect records in league play from the 2012-13 season. Marist was 18-0 in the MAAC, and Quinnipiac was 16-0 iin its former affiliation, the Northeast Conference.
And, then, the Bobcats play another non-league contest on December 15 at UAlbany (2 p.m.).
UAlbany checks in at No. 8 in the mid-major poll. And, once again, it's a meeting of teams that went to the NCAA's last year after perfect league records. The Great Danes were 16-0 in America East play in 2012-13.
Your blogger plans on attending the Dec. 15 Quinnipiac at UAlbany game to get a first-hand look at the Bobcats, and will provide a post-game report.
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