Women's Basketball Heads North In Search Of Best Start In School History As 11th-Ranked And Unbeaten Skyhawks Tangle With Second Place Saint Michael's In Northeast-10 Clash

January 13, 2006

2005-2006 Stonehill College Women's Basketball

1:30 p.m. EST

THE GAME: Stonehill heads North in search of its best start ever this afternoon as the 11th-ranked Skyhawks tangle with the Saint Michael's Purple Knights in a Northeast-10 Conference clash. Stonehill enters today's match-up with its perfect record in tact after posting a 61-58 Northeast-10 Conference victory over Assumption on Tuesday evening at Merkert Gymnasium to match the 1971-72 squad's best start in school history, as the Skyhawks rallied from a seven-point second half deficit and held off a furious Greyhound charge in the final two minutes of action. Junior Alisha Collins (Port Chester, N.Y./Trinity Catholic) led the way with 20 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in the triumph for Stonehill, which also received 11 points and seven assists from sophomore Erika Stupinski (Topsham, Maine/Mount Ararat), who iced matters for the hosts with a pair of free throws in the final second of play. Junior Kim Morast (Bridgewater, Mass./Bridgewater-Raynham) added nine points as well for the Skyhawks, who also received six rebounds from freshman Kelsey Simonds (Bridgewater, Mass./Cardinal Spellman), five points and a game-high nine rebounds from junior Caitlin Kennedy (Baldwin, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) and five points, five rebounds and five steals from junior Tiffany Huggins (Stoughton, Mass.). Stonehill, which has already matched its entire win total of last season and clinched its 35th straight winning campaign, brings the third longest winning streak in school history into today's action. Saint Michael's enters today's contest after posting a 57-55 Northeast-10 triumph over Southern New Hampshire on Tuesday evening here at the Ross Sports Center.

PLAYER AND FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK: Freshman Kelsey Simonds (Bridgewater, Mass./Cardinal Spellman) was named on Monday as the Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Week for the first time in her career and as the Northeast-10 Conference Freshman of the Week for the fourth time this season for her efforts in a pair of Stonehill victories last week. Simonds averaged 17 points, nine rebounds, 4.5 blocks and 1.5 steals on the week, including a career-high 25 points, nine rebounds and three blocks in a 92-80 triumph at Bryant to go with nine points, nine rebounds and a career-high tying six blocks in a 59-54 victory over 13th-ranked American International. Simonds shot 86 percent (12-14) from the foul line for the week.

HONOR ROLL HONOREE: Junior Kim Morast (Bridgewater, Mass./Bridgewater-Raynham) was named on Monday to the Northeast-10 Conference weekly honor roll for her efforts in a pair of Stonehill victories last week. Morast averaged 14 points and three assists in the two contests, including a career-high 21 points with four three-pointers in a 92-80 win at Bryant on Saturday.

LAST MEETING: Stonehill and Saint Michael's last met on November 27, 2005 at Merkert Gymnasium, and the Skyhawks posted a 75-66 victory over the Purple Knights. Erika Stupinski led five players in double figures with a career-high 19 points for Stonehill, which also received 15 points each from Alisha Collins and Kelsey Simonds, who also grabbed 14 rebounds.

THE SERIES: Stonehill and Saint Michael's are meeting for the 47th time this afternoon, and the Skyhawks hold a 38-8 advantage over the Purple Knights in the all-time series.

THE SKYHAWKS: Collins leads Stonehill in scoring at 17.9 ppg, while Simonds follows at 11.4 ppg and paces the Skyhawks on the boards at 8.8 caroms per contest. Stupinski is next at 9.9 ppg while adding a league-leading 6.1 assists and 3.3 steals per game, while Kennedy is averaging 9.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game for Stonehill.

THE PURPLE KNIGHTS: Junior Dani Rayner leads Saint Michael's in scoring at 13.2 ppg, while senior Brigid Hegarty follows at 10.8 ppg. Junior Jevy Rayner is also in double figures at 10.4 ppg and leads the Purple Knights on the boards at 7.7 caroms per contest.

HEAD COACH TRISHA BROWN: Trisha Brown is in her fifth season as Head Women's Basketball Coach at Stonehill College. A 1987 graduate of Harvard, Brown is just the third head coach in the 35-year history of varsity women's basketball at Stonehill, as she has posted an 86-44 (.662) mark during her tenure and led the Skyhawks to back-to-back NCAA appearances in 2003 and 2004. Brown, who helped lead Harvard to one of the biggest upsets in college basketball history when the Crimson knocked off top-seeded Stanford in the 1998 NCAA Division I first round, is assisted by Kelly Thompson (Springfield '02) and former Skyhawk standout Kaitlyn O'Malley (Stonehill '04). Brown, who collected her 75th career victory in Stonehill's 69-54 triumph over Adelphi on November 19th, is 6-1 during her career against Saint Michael's.

HEAD COACH JENNIFER NIEBLING: Jennifer Niebling is in her third season as Head Women's Basketball Coach at Saint Michael's College. A 1993 graduate of Vermont, Niebling has compiled an overall mark of 30-36 (.455) during her tenure with the Purple Knights, and she is assisted by Kristen Shaeffer. Niebling is 0-4 during her career against Stonehill.

FABULOUS FOURTEEN: Stonehill has matched the best start in program history with its 14-0 mark to date, as the Skyhawks also began the year at 14-0 during the program's inaugural campaign in 1971-72.

NINE IS JUST FINE: Stonehill's 9-0 Northeast-10 start is its best since the 1996-97 season, as the Skyhawks started conference play at 11-0 during that campaign en route to claiming the 1997 Northeast-10 tournament title.

THEY CALL IT THE STREAK: Stonehill's current 14-game winning streak matches the third longest skein in school history. The Skyhawks posted a school record 17-game winning streak during the 1994-95 Final Four campaign and added a 15-game winning streak during the 1986-87 season en route to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.

MATCH GAME: Stonehill has already matched its entire win total of last season with its 14 triumphs to date, as the Skyhawks posted an even 14-14 slate in 2004-2005.

PULLING RANK: The January 5th victory over 13th-ranked American International was Stonehill's second of the year against a nationally-ranked opponent, as the Skyhawks bested then 11th-ranked Bentley by a 101-59 margin back on November 22nd.

RANK AND FILE: Stonehill moved up six spots in the USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Division II National Poll this week, as after cracking the rankings at the #25 spot on December 20th, the Skyhawks are ranked 11th nationally, their highest spot since being ranked fourth in the poll in March 1995. Here is the USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Division II Top 25 as of January 10th:

RankInstitution (First Place Votes)Last Week's RankRecordPoints

1.Washburn University (Kan.) (22)114-0598

2.University of North Dakota - Grand Forks (2)218-0576

3.Emporia State University (Kan.)315-0554

4.Drury University (Mo.)412-1514

5.Saint Cloud State University (Minn.)615-0496

6.Glenville State College (W.Va.)710-0466

7.University Of Charleston (W.Va)511-1447

8.Henderson State University (Ark.)813-1436

9.Western Washington University 911-1415

10.Rollins College (Fla.)1111-0386

11.Stonehill College (Mass.)1713-0297

12.California State University - Chico129-2288

13.American International College (Mass.)1312-1283

14.Lake Superior State University (Mich.)1511-2273

15.Florida Gulf Coast University 1615-1261

16.Grand Valley State University (Mich.)1012-3243

17.West Texas A&M University1410-2222

18.Delta State University (Miss.)1812-1174

19.California State University - Bakersfield2310-1161

20.University Of Minnesota-Duluth 2013-3122

21.Angelo State University (Texas)2210-2117

22.Valdosta State University (Ga.)2110-4102

23.Clayton State University (Ga.)NR11-161

24.Saint Augustine's College (N.C.)199-261

25.Fairmont State University (W.Va.)2410-260

Dropped Out: Seattle Pacific University (Wash.).

Others Receiving Votes: North Carolina Central University - 41; Missouri Western State - 27; Presbyterian College - 24; Seattle Pacific University - 18; Southern Conn. St. University - 15; Fort Valley State University - 13; Wingate University - 13; Wayne State College - 10; Michigan Tech. University - 8; Shaw University - 6; Northern Kentucky University - 3; Regis University - 3; Concordia University - 2; University Of Missouri - 2; North Georgia College & State University - 1; University Of California-San Diego - 1.

THIRTY-FIVE IN A ROW, LOOK AT EM GO: With Tuesday's triumph over Assumption, Stonehill has now posted 35 straight winning campaigns, a streak that dates back to the program's inception in 1971. The Skyhawks recorded 25 of those winning seasons during current Director of Athletics Paula Sullivan's tenure as head coach, and former Stonehill mentor Kelly Hart carried that streak to 30 seasons before Trisha Brown took over in 2001.

DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE, DOUBLE YOUR FUN: The December 19th win over Saginaw Valley State enabled Stonehill to reach the double-digit plateau in the victory column for the 29th straight season. The Skyhawks reached the 10-win mark before the turn of the New Year for the first time since December 1994.

THE DEFENSE NEVER RESTS: Stonehill is now 55-1 in its last 56 contests when holding an opponent to 59 or fewer points after Tuesday's victory over Assumption, a streak that dates back to February 2001.

CONFERENCE RANK AND FILE: In statistics through games of January 9th, Stonehill leads the Northeast-10 in scoring offense (76.1 ppg), field goal percentage (.463), assists (17.54 apg) and three-point field goals made (6.62 3fgpg) while ranking second in rebounding margin (+ 7.2), blocked shots (4.85 bpg) and steals (10.69 spg). Alisha Collins ranks second in the conference in scoring at 17.8 ppg, while Erika Stupinski leads the league in assists (6.00 apg), steals (3.46 spg) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.90). Kelsey Simonds leads the Northeast-10 in defensive rebounds (6.31 drpg) while ranking second in rebounding (9.0 rpg) and blocked shots (2.31 bpg).

NCAA RANK AND FILE: Stonehill fares well in several NCAA Division II national team and individual statistics categories in games played through January 1st. The Skyhawks were tied for first in won-lost percentage, sixth in field goal percentage, 22nd in rebounding margin, 27th in scoring margin, 30th in scoring offense, 36th in three-point field goal percentage and 43rd in both free throw percentage and three-point field goals made per game. Alisha Collins ranked 30th in points per game and 47th in field goal percentage, while Erika Stupinski was ranked 17th in assists per game and 21st in steals per game. Kelsey Simonds was ranked 32nd nationally in blocks per game as of New Year's Day.

COACH OF THE MONTH: Stonehill Head Coach Trisha Brown was recognized by Division II Women's Bulletin as the Division II Coach of the Month for her efforts in guiding the Skyhawks to a 6-0 start this season. Included in those six triumphs was a 101-59 victory over then 11th-ranked Bentley, as Stonehill has won 19 of 20 games played during the month of November under Brown's tutelage dating back to 2001.

NON-CONFERENCE NUMBERS: Stonehill is 22-2 (.917) in non-conference play during Trisha Brown's five-year tenure as head coach, including a 5-0 mark this season.

THE CENTURY MARK: The November 22nd 101-point effort in the win over Bentley marked the first time that Stonehill had scored 100 or more points in a game since January 24, 1995 when the Skyhawks notched a school-record 109 points in a 109-45 victory at Assumption.

BEHIND THE BENTLEY NUMBERS: Stonehill's 58-first half points in the November 22nd win over Bentley ranks as the second highest first-half total in school history, topped only by a 61-point effort in the opening 20 minutes against Springfield during the 1992-93 season. The Skyhawks' 15 three-pointers also ranks as the second highest single-game total in school history, as Stonehill has canned 17 three-pointers on two occasions.

MILESTONE VICTORIES: The November 18th 69-60 victory over Molloy was the 650th win in the 35-year history of Stonehill women's basketball, as the Skyhawks have amassed an overall mark of 662-252 (.724) since the program's varsity inception in 1971. The November 19th 69-54 win over Adelphi was the 75th career triumph for Head Coach Trisha Brown.

AYE, AYE CAPTAINS: Seniors Bethany Roderigue (Winslow, Maine/Winslow) and Barbara Dauplaise (Brockton, Mass./Brockton) have been named as co-captains for the 2005-2006 edition of Stonehill Women's Basketball. Roderigue averaged 4.4 points per game and led the Skyhawks with 28 three-pointers last season, while Dauplaise averaged 2.2 points per game and chipped in with 11 three-pointers.

THE ALL-TIME VICTORIES LIST: Stonehill ranks 10th among all NCAA Division II women's basketball programs in both all-time victories and all-time winning percentage. The Skyhawks entered the 2005-2006 campaign with 648 wins and a .720 winning percentage. Here is the list of the top 10 Division II women's basketball programs of all-time:

TOTAL VICTORIESWINNING PERCENTAGE

1.Delta State8321.Bentley.812

2.Cal Poly Pomona7432.Arkansas Tech.797

3.Bentley7403.Pitt-Johnstown.795

4.Arkansas Tech7064.Delta State.789

5.Central Missouri State7035.Cal Poly Pomona.779

6.East Stroudsburg6936.West Texas A&M.766

7.Northern State6787.Northern State.759

8.Lincoln Memorial6588.Central Missouri State.725

9.Francis Marion6569.North Dakota.724

10.STONEHILL 64810.STONEHILL .720

TWENTY-TWENTY VISION: Stonehill reached the 20-win plateau for the second time in Trisha Brown's three-year tenure as head coach and for the 17th time in the program's illustrious 34-year history in 2003-2004. The Skyhawks have won 20 or more games on nine occasions since 1991, including a school-record 30 victories during the 1994-95 campaign. Brown and former Stonehill mentor Kelly Hart have each recorded a pair of 20-win seasons on the bench, as Skyhawk Director of Athletics Paula Sullivan won 20 or more games on 15 occasions during her 25-year tenure as Stonehill's head coach.

HOME SWEET HOME: Merkert Gymnasium has certainly provided a distinct home court advantage for Stonehill, as the Skyhawks amassed an incredible mark of 114-18 (.864) at home during the 1990's. Over the last 11 seasons alone, Stonehill is 141-35 (.801) at Merkert Gymnasium.

THE .700 (PLUS) CLUB: Stonehill has posted a 71-30 mark in its last 101 outings dating back to November 2002 for a winning percentage over that time span of .703.

IN GOOD COMPANY: Stonehill has the distinction of being one of two schools nationally to have both its women's and men's basketball teams ranked in the top 11 nationally in Division II, as the Skyhawk men cracked the top 10 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches rankings on Tuesday afternoon for the first time in school history, advancing 14 spots to the #10 position in the poll. Stonehill and Western Washington are the only two Division II schools that can claim both its women's and men's teams in the top 11.

SKYHAWK TALK: Tuesday's win over Assumption was Stonehill's 40th in 54 series meetings with the GreyhoundsLast Saturday's triumph at Bryant was Stonehill's 42nd in 58 series meetings with the BulldogsLast Thursday's victory over 13th-ranked American International was Stonehill's 44th in 58 series meetings with the Yellow Jackets and ended a nine-game AIC win streak in the series that dated back to the 1999-2000 seasonThe January 2nd triumph at Merrimack was Stonehill's 49th win in 56 all-time series meetings with the Warriors The December 5th win at LIU-C.W. Post improved Stonehill's all-time mark against New York Collegiate Athletic Conference foes to 34-5 (.872), as the Skyhawks have also bested NYCAC foes Molloy (69-60) and Adelphi (69-54) this season Collins became the first Skyhawk to score 30 points in a game in the win over Bentley since Kristen McDonnell turned the trick on January 20, 2003 at PaceAfter scoring 55 points for the game in the last meeting between the two teams last January, Stonehill tallied 58 points in the opening half of the November 22nd triumph over BentleyThe Skyhawks became the third team ever to reach the 100-point plateau against the Falcons The November 19th win over Adelphi was the Skyhawks' eighth triumph in as many meetings with the PanthersStonehill has won all five of its season openers under Brown's tutelage Stonehill has posted 3-0 starts in each of its five campaigns under Brown, who has compiled an 19-1 (.950) mark during the month of November.

SKYHAWKS ON THE WEB: For the second straight season, Stonehill basketball can be accessed on the world wide web through Free Teamline, a service of TRZ Sports of Kent, Ohio. A total of 16 Skyhawk regular season women's basketball broadcasts will be available throughout the 2005-2006 season via Free Teamline by accessing the official Stonehill Athletics website at www.stonehillskyhawks.com, powered by Presto Sports. Returning to call all of action of Stonehill basketball once again this winter is the tandem of Charlie Bergeron and Brian Buckley, who have served as the voices of Skyhawk Basketball since 1998.

WHO'S NEXT: Stonehill returns home on Monday, January 16th to entertain Saint Anselm in a Northeast-10 affair at Merkert Gymnasium that begins at 5:30 p.m. EST.