Women's Basketball Hosts Fairleigh Dickinson on Monday Night

GAMENOTES (.pdf) 

THE MATCHUP

Seton Hall seeks its first 2-0 start since the 2003-04 season tonight as it takes on in-state rival Fairleigh Dickinson.  The Pirates won their season-opener on Friday night when Shantel Brown buried a last-second three-pointer that sent Manhattan to a 61-60 defeat.

Senior forward Amber Harris started the season in fine fashion, scoring 16 points and grabbing 11 rebounds for her second career double-double.  Senior guard Ela Mukosiej had a solid all-around performance with 13 points, six rebounds, and five assists.

Fairleigh Dickinson is 0-1 after starting its season with a 58-49 loss to Saint Peter’s.  Senior forward Jennifer Walkling led the Knights with 16 points and eight boards, while freshman guard Jasmyra Saunders added 10 points off the bench.

Seton Hall has now won seven straight home games dating back to last season.  The Pirates last loss at Walsh Gymnasium came on Jan. 13, 2007 against Rutgers.

SERIES BREAKDOWN

SHU is 12-2 all-time against Fairleigh Dickinson.  The teams last met on Nov. 22, 2002, a 69-56 win for the Pirates.

First Meeting     1974-75

Result               SHU 83-33

Last Meeting     11/22/07

Result               SHU 69-56

A LOOK AT THE KNIGHTS

Head Coach: Peter Cinella

Record: 0-1

Fairleigh Dickinson, 0-1 in 2007-08, returns four starters off last year’s squad that went 11-18 overall and 8-10 in the Northeast Conference.

Leading the returning starters is senior forward Jennifer Walkling, who has 16 points and eight rebounds in the season-opener against Saint Peter’s.  Sophomore guard Jordan Sykes averaged 11.0 ppg as a rookie but will likely take a medical redshirt this season.    

Head coach Peter Cinella is in his first season at the helm for Fairleigh Dickinson.  He posted a 291-122 record in 14 seasons at Division II American International.

 

WHAT A START!

Sophomore guard Shantel Brown provided an electric start to the 2007-08 season for Seton Hall, burying a desperation three-pointer from 30-feet out to knock off Manhattan, 61-60.  It was the first game in almost a year for Brown, who missed all but five games last year due to injury.

HUGE DAY FOR HARRIS

Senior forward Amber Harris was dominant inside against Manhattan, scoring a career-high 16 points and grabbing 11 rebounds for the second double-double of her career.

PIRATES FIRE FROM DOWNTOWN

Seton Hall was 7-of-11 from three-point territory against Manhattan, surpassing its highest single-game total of made attempts from all of last season.  The Pirates had not connected on seven three-pointers since Jan. 6, 2006 at Notre Dame.

RHODIN ON TARGET

Junior guard Jadis Rhodin hit a career-high four three-poiners in five attempts against Manhattan.

SHU vs. NEC

The Hall faces its first NEC opponent in FDU since defeating St. Francis (N.Y.) on Nov. 20, 2005, 68-50.  The Pirates could face Quinnipiac in the San Diego Surf N Slam in December.

SEASON OPENERS

Seton Hall had lost two straight season-opening games before defeating Manhattan.  SHU is now 17-6 in season debuts under head coach Phyllis Mangina.

MAAC FOES

The Pirates went 2-0 last season against opponents from the MAAC, defeating Iona and Saint Peter’s.  SHU again finds a pair of MAAC schools on the schedule - the Manhattan game and a rematch with the Iona Gaels.

MESSINA OUT INDEFINITELY

Junior guard Brittney Messina is out indefinitely due to a back injury.

CAPTAINS OF THE SHIP

Seton Hall announced its captains for the 2007-08 season - senior forward Amber Harris, senior guard Ela Mukosiej and redshirt senior Amber Harris.

A NEW FACE ON THE BENCH

Brian Stanchak joins the Seton Hall women’s basketball coaching staff for the 2007-08 season after two seasons at Fairleigh Dickinson.

THE NEW KIDS

Three freshmen and a junior transfer join the Seton Hall roster for the 2007-08 season.  Guard Ebonie Williams of Hagerstown, Md. was the 47th-ranked prospect by the Collegiate Girls Basketball Report.  Gretchen Gaskin of Oralnd Park, Ill. and Kashmere Joseph of London, England complete the freshman class.  Eligible at midseason will be junior Letitia Curry, who transferred from American University midway through last season.

SETON HALL TABBED 10th

The Seton Hall women’s basketball team was picked 10th in the Preseason BIG EAST Women’s Basketball Coaches Poll. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team or players. Connecticut topped the poll with 225 points while earning 15 of 16 first-place votes. The top 12 teams in the conference standings qualify for the conference championship in Hartford, Conn., March 8-11.

MUST SEE TV

Seton Hall will play a minimum of four televised games in the 2007-08 campaign.  On Dec. 6, the Pirates will face Northwestern on the Big Ten Network live from Evanston, Ill.  Seton Hall and St. John’s square off in a nationally-televised game from Walsh Gymnasium on Jan. 29.  On Feb. 9, CPTV will carry Connecticut’s visit to SHU, while SNY will televise the Pirates’ trip to Marquette on Feb. 16.

IMPROVEMENT IN 2006-07

Seton Hall tied for the fourth-best improvement in the nation in 2006-07 according to NCAA statistics.  The Pirates had an overall improvement of 11.0 games; Oklahoma State topped the list with a 12.5 game improvement.

A CHANGE IN 2009

Beginning next season, all 16 teams on both the men’s and women’s side will qualify for the BIG EAST Championship Tournament.