Women's Basketball Travels To #16/11 West Virginia, Wednesday
1/26/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
WED., JAN. 27, 2010 - MORGANTOWN, W. VA. - WVU COLISEUM - 7:00 PM
SETON HALL (8-12, 0-7)
vs.
#16/11 WEST VIRGINIA (18-2, 5-1)
TV: WVPBS AUDIO: 89.5 FM WSOU
SERIES HISTORY
FIRST MEETING 01/29/83
RESULT SHU, 66-52
SERIES RECORD SHU, 12-9
CURRENT STREAK SHU, W1
RECORD AT WVU SHU, 5-4
A LOOK AT THE MOUNTAINEERS
Head Coach Mike Carey
Record at WVU (Years) 168-103 (9)
Career Record (Years) 456-205 (23)
Conference BIG EAST
Current Streak L1
Last Five 4-1
Leading Scorer Liz Repella (14.7)
Leading Rebounder Korinne Campbell (7.9)
Last Season 18-15, 5-11
Picked ninth in the BIG EAST, West Virginia has been one of the nation's biggest surprises. The Mountaineers soared up the polls on the strength of a 16-game winning streak that was snapped in their last outing, a tough 74-66 loss at #4/5 Notre Dame. West Virginia boasts a stingy defense that allows just 50.8 points per game while forcing 20.2 turnovers.
VISITING WEST VIRGINIA
For the second straight season, the Pirates make the trip to Morgantown to take on West Virginia. A year ago, the Hall battled to a 55-47 win behind 12 points from Kandice Green, 11 from Nicole Emery and 10 from Ebonie Williams. This season, West Virginia is ranked 16th in the AP Top 25; the Pirates are 8-110 all-time against teams in the poll. The last win over a ranked squad came on Feb. 20, 2007, when the Hall knocked off #19 Marquette, 63-58. The Pirates are still seeking their first BIG EAST win of the year and are winless through seven conference games for the first time in school history.
WILLIAMS HITS 1,000 POINTS
With her 14 points against Cincinnati, junior Ebonie Williams became the 19th player in program history to reach the 1,000-point plateau. She is in 18th place on the Hall's career scoring list with 1,010 points. Williams leads the Pirates in scoring this season with 13.8 points per game; she was also the team's top scorer as a freshman and sophomore. Ozelina Gorham ('78-82) is the only player in school history to lead the team in scoring all four seasons of her career. Williams is also the top free throw shooter in Pirates' history with a career mark of 83.8 percent.
HIT 'EM WITH TRIPS
Ebonie WIlliams has hit at least three three-pointers in 12 of the Pirates 20 games this season, helping her to a season total of 53. Her 2.7 three-pointers per game are second in the BIG EAST.
SO AMBITIOUS
In 2009-10, Ebonie Williams is making a run at the school records for both three-pointers in a career and in a single season. With her two three-pointers against Cincinnati, Williams brings her career total to 140, good for second place at Seton Hall. Williams is just 16 back of Jodi Brooks for the all-time school mark. She has 53 trifectas through 20 games this year; Brooks holds the single-season mark with 56 in 1993-94.
EMERY ENTERS TOP 10 IN BLOCKS
After blocking three shots against DePaul, senior Nicole Emery moved into the Seton Hall all-time top 10 in rejections. She is now tied with Susan Murray for ninth place with 84 blocks.
GREEN FROM 15'
Sophomore Kandice Green has made a living at the free throw line this season, hitting 106-of-141 in 19 games played to account for 40.5 percent of her points. Amazingly, she has more makes at the line than Villanova has as a team. The Wildcats are 104-for-144 from the stripe in 18 contests.
DOUBLING UP
Sophomore Kandice Green is second in the BIG EAST with eight double-doubles thus far, surpassing her total of six from a season ago. Seton Hall is 5-3 on the year when she records a double-double.
GREEN GOES OFF
Sophomore forward Kandice Green enjoyed a monster day at Providence, tying her career-high with 24 points and grabbing a new personal-best 19 rebounds. Green's nine offensive boards were also a new high, and she tied her top mark by sinking 12 free throws.
EMERY ELECTRIFIES
Senior forward Nicole Emery was also on point offensively at Providence, scoring a season-high 22 points, just one shy of her career-high. Emery connected on 10 field goals, the highest total of her career.
COLD SHOOTING
The start of conference play found the Pirates in an offensive funk. Through the first four games, Seton Hall averaged just 36.5 points per game against BIG EAST foes while shooting 24.9 percent (54-of-217) from the floor and 21.5 percent (14-of-65) from three-point range.
ROAD TRIP WRAP
The Pirates recently completed a stretch of three road games in seven days, a rarity as of late. On Jan. 10, the Hall lost at Marquette, followed by a defeat at St. John's on Jan. 12 and at Providence on Jan. 16. It marked the first time that SHU has played three straight conference road games since Feb. 2001, when the Pirates went 0-3 at Boston College, Syracuse and Rutgers.
FIRST AND 15TH
Senior Nicole Emery scored the first 15 points for Seton Hall against Syracuse, keeping the Pirates close in the early going. Her string came to an end with 6:35 remaining in the first half when freshman Brittany Morris sank a three-pointer. Emery finished the game as the Hall's top scorer with 19 points.
BIG EAST OPENERS
The Pirates are 10-15 under head coach Phyllis Mangina in BIG EAST openers after falling to Connecticut this year. In conference home openers, the Pirates are now 11-14 under Mangina.
FACING #1
Seton Hall is now 0-14 all-time when facing the top ranked team in the Associated Press Poll. In each case, that team has been Connecticut. The closest of the 14 games was an 84-62 Huskies' win at Walsh Gymnasium on Feb. 12, 1995. Overall, the Hall is 8-110 against teams ranked in the AP Poll.
THE ROCK IS THE BUILDING
The Pirates are 3-1 all-time at Prudential Center after Connecticut took a 91-24 win on Jan. 2, 2010. It was the final appearance at "The Rock" this season for the women's program.
EMERY LEADS THE WAY
Nicole Emery scored a season-high 19 points to pace the Pirates in their 68-57 loss at N.C. State. It was the first game this season in which someone other than Kandice Green or Ebonie Williams was the Hall's high scorer.
GREEN BLOCKS THE PACK
Kandice Green recorded a career-high three blocks in the Pirates' loss at N.C. State.
WILLIAMS HONORED BY BIG EAST
Ebonie Williams earned a spot on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for the first time as a Pirate after her 23-point performance against UC Davis in which she sank a career-high six three-pointers.
EB3
Junior Ebonie Williams' three-point shooting continued to be the story of the season in the Hall's win over UC Davis. Williams sank a career-high six shots from beyond the arc in 10 attempts on her way to a season-best 23 points. In the win, she went over the 900-point mark for her career.
GREEN TO THE HONOR ROLL
After her career-high 24 points and 12 rebounds against Saint Peter's, sophomore Kandice Green was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for the first time in her career. She was the first Pirate to pick up a conference honor this season.
CAREER DAY FOR KANDICE
Sophomore Kandice Green exploded for a career-high 24 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Pirates to victory against Saint Peter's. She was 12-of-14 from the free throw line, setting new-personal bests in those categories as well.
EARNING IT AT THE STRIPE
Despite shooting a then-season low 30.0 percent against Saint Peter's, the Hall managed a victory behind a great day at the free throw stripe. In addition to Kandice Green's career-highs at the line, junior Ebonie Williams tied her personal mark with seven made in a new-high eight attempts. The Pirates were 22-of-28 overall compared to the Peahen's 9-of-15.
MANGINA MILESTONES
Seton Hall head coach Phyllis Mangina won her 350th career game when the Pirates beat Saint Peter's, 54-52, on Dec. 19. She coached her 700th game at the helm of the Hall in their 74-50 win over Delaware State on Dec. 12.
TEN ON THE BOARD
In one of its most balanced scoring games of the season, 10 of 11 Pirates scored in the victory over Delaware State. Junior Ebonie Williams led the way with 12 points, followed by sophomore Kandice Green with 11 and senior Nicole Emery with 10. Freshman Brittany Morris set a new career-high with six points, while classmate Alexandra Maseko scored her first collegiate basket.
A MILLION WAYS TO GET IT
The Hall collected its 74 points in every manner possible against Delaware State. The Pirates got season-highs in points off the bench (35), points off turnovers (29) and second chance points (25). The team also hit a season-best six three-pointers while tying its top mark with 16 made free throws.
KASHMERE THOUGHTS
Junior Kashmere Joseph turned in her most effective performance of the season against Delaware State, scoring a season-high eight points and tying her then-top effort with five boards.
WOOD ON THE GLASS
Sophomore Whitney Wood set a new career-high with nine rebounds in the Hall's win over New Hampshire, one game after grabbing a personal-best of six against Brown.
BROOKLYN'S FINEST
Junior Ebonie Williams was named to the LIU Turkey Classic All-Tournament team after leading the Pirates to a third place finish. She averaged 14.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals and hit three three-pointers in each contest.
COMING OF AGE
Sophomore Shanai Heber played her best all-around game as a Pirate against Georgia Tech, recording her first double-double at Seton Hall. Heber set career-highs by grabbing 12 rebounds and handing out 10 assists in 36 minutes. She is the only player in the BIG EAST this season to post a rebound-assist double-double.
BLUE MAGIC
Seton Hall tied a school-record against Rhode Island by hitting a flawless 10-of-10 from the free throw line. The only other perfect performance with at least 10 attempts in Pirates' history came on Jan. 18, 2003, when the Hall went 13-of-13 against Villanova.
ON TO THE NEXT ONE
The Pirates came back strong in the consolation game of the Anaconda Sports "The Rock" SHU Classic, thrashing Arkansas State, 76-52. Freshmen Alexandra Maseko and Brittany Morris made their collegiate debuts in the contest, with Morris netting four points.
A STAR IS BORN
Sophomore Kandice Green made the SHU Classic All-Tournament team with a strong two-day performance that included a pair of double-doubles. After setting a career-high with 16 rebounds to go along with 14 points against Morgan State, Green notched 16 points, 11 boards and a career-high four steals against Arkansas State.
ALREADY HOME
For the first time since losing to Florida in the 2005-06 season, Seton Hall fell in its home opener when Morgan State escaped with a 58-55 win at Walsh Gymnasium in the opening round of the Anaconda Sports "The Rock" SHU Classic. The Pirates wasted little time in reclaiming their turf, disposing of Arkansas State easily in the consolation round, 76-52.
TOURNAMENT STREAK ENDS AT FOUR
Seton Hall had won its last four in-season tournaments, including the last two SHU Classics, before falling to Morgan State in the opening round this year. The Pirates are now 14-4 all-time in the Classic with five tournament titles.
CLUTCH COMEBACK
Facing a four-point deficit in the final minute and having never led in the game, Seton Hall's Ebonie Williams took over. After cutting the deficit to two with a jumper with 58 seconds to go, Williams drained a step-back three-pointer with 14 seconds to go to put the Pirates in front, 53-52. One more defensive stop sealed the dramatic victory.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE DOUBLE
Senior Nicole Emery totaled 16 points and 12 rebounds, while sophomore Kandice Green had 11 points and 13 rebounds, giving Seton Hall two players with double-doubles. The Pirates last accomplished the feat in last year's regular season finale, when Green and Noteisha Womack both doubled up.
EMERY BOARDS
Senior Nicole Emery set a new career-high with 12 rebounds at Marshall on her way to her first double-double as a Pirate.
TWO FOR THE ROAD
The Pirates started the season with two true road games for the first time since 1999-00. That year, as it did this year as well, the Hall won both contests, defeating Richmond and DePaul.
SEASON OPENERS
Seton Hall is 28-9 all-time in season openers, with an 19-6 mark under the leadership of Phyllis Mangina after defeating Rider to begin the 2009-10 season. The Pirates have won their last three opening games.
DEJA VU
For the second straight season and fourth time overall, the Pirates opened their campaign with a game against Rider. Seton Hall has won each contest and is 7-0 all-time against the Broncs. For the third consecutive year, the Pirates faced an opponent from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in their season opener, with Manhattan kicking things off in 2007-08. Seton Hall has won seven straight against teams from the MAAC.
STARTING ON THE ROAD
Seton Hall played its season opener away from home for the first time since the 2006-07 campaign, when it fell to Kansas in the WBCA/Metrosports Classic, 64-50, in Kansas City, Mo. Prior to that game, the last opener on the road came in the 1999-00 season when the Pirates defeated Richmond, 83-81. The Hall has played just seven season openers away from home under Phyllis Mangina.
CURRY RETURNS
After missing the 2008-09 season due to injury, senior Letitia Curry returns to the Pirates' lineup for her final year of eligibility.
COMING BACK
The Pirates return 62.0 percent of their scoring and 58.3 percent of their rebounding from last season's squad. Junior guard Ebonie Williams, the team's leading scorer in each of her first two years, is back after posting 13.2 points per night last season. Sophomore Kandice Green, a member of the BIG EAST All-Freshman team in 2008-09, is the top returning rebounder after grabbing 6.6 per game in her rookie campaign.
A NEW CREW ON THE SHIP
Jasmine Crew has joined the women's basketball program after playing her first two years at Northeastern. Crew will sit out the 2009-10 season in accordance with NCAA transfer regulations. She was a Second Team All-Colonial selection as a sophomore after leading the Huskies with 13.9 points and 3.2 assists.
GRACE ADDED TO STAFF
There is one new member on Phyllis Mangina's coaching staff this season, as Ty Grace enters her first year with the Pirates. Grace comes to South Orange after a successful three-year run at Army. She has also served as an assistant at Fairleigh Dickinson as well as the head coach at Ramapo College.
PIRATES TABBED 14TH
For the second straight season, Seton Hall was picked to finish 14th in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches Poll. Connecticut was the unanimous choice to take the league title, led by Preseason Player of the Year Maya Moore. Skylar Diggins of Notre Dame was chosen as the Preseason Freshman of the Year.
PIRATES SIGN FIVE FOR 2010-11
Head coach Phyllis Mangina has inked five student-athletes to national letters of intent for next season, including a pair of top-60 recruits. Elaine Swaby (Paterson, N.J.), a 6-1 forward from John F. Kennedy High School, is ranked 43rd overall and sixth among power forwards in the ESPNU HoopGurlz 100. Ka-Deidre Simmons (Newark, N.J.), a 5-8 point guard from Malcolm X. Shabazz High School, is the 53rd ranked player overall and 16th at her position. Nicosia Henry (Bolingbrook, Ill.), a 6-0 small forward from Bolingbrook High School, is the 20th ranked wing player by HoopGurlz. Jazzmine Johnson (Glen Dale, Md.), a 5-8 guard from Riverdale Baptist High School, checks in as the 69th ranked shooting guard. Tiffani Blackman (Toledo, Ohio), a 5-11 guard from Toledo Central Catholic, is ranked 112th among shooting guards in the class of 2010.
TELEVISION SCHEDULE
The Pirates will play in a pair of televised games as part of the BIG EAST's ever-growing package. On Jan. 12, the Hall's contest with St. John's will be aired live on CBS College Sports. The Jan. 30 game at Villanova will be shown on tape delay on SNY.
FOLLOW THE PIRATES!
New this season, all home Seton Hall women's basketball games will be streamed live on Hall Pass at SHUPirates.com. In addition to the video component, Jon Schaeffer will call all the action in his first year as a member of the Hall's broadcast family.
2010 BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP
The 2010 BIG EAST Women's Basketball Championship will once again be held at the XL Center in Hartford, Conn., on March 5-9. For the second straight year, all 16 teams will be invited.
