Women's Basketball Opens With Manhattan on Friday

GAMENOTES (.pdf) 

The Matchup...
 Seton Hall opens up the 2007-08 season with a visit from the Manhattan Jaspers of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.  The Pirates were picked to finish 10th in the BIG EAST after going 19-12 a year ago and advancing to the second round of the WNIT.
 SHU returns four starters from a year ago, including leading scorer Ela Mukosiej.  Now a senior, Mukosiej was an All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention selection a year ago after averaging 11.8 ppg.  The Pirates lost three players off last season’s squad: Monique Blake, Heta Korpivaara, and Annick Labadie.
 Manhattan was picked fifth in the MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll after finishing last year 11-20 overall.  Senior F Caitlin Flood was named to the Preseason All-MAAC Second Team.  The Jaspers return four starters from a year ago.
 Seton Hall had a perfect 18-0 record when holding teams to under 60 points in 2006-07.  The Pirates allowed only six opponents to score more than 70 points, while also holding three below 50 and one below 40.

Series Breakdown
 SHU is 8-1 all-time against Manhattan.  The two teams have not met since Dec. 22, 1990, when the Pirates took a 70-60 victory.

First Meeting 12/21/78
Result SHU 76-41
Last Meeting 12/22/90
Result SHU 70-60

SEASON OPENERS
 Seton Hall has lost two straight season-opening games heading into the Manhattan contest.  A year ago, the Pirates dropped a 64-50 decision to Kansas.  SHU is 16-6 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.