University of Massachusets Athletics
Women's Hoops To Play At Fordham On Sunday
January 10, 2003 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 10, 2003
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Game Day Information
What: Massachusetts (9-4, 1-1) at Fordham (9-5, 0-2)
Where: Rose Hill Gym (3,470) * Bronx, N.Y.
When: Sunday, Jan. 12, 2003 * 2:00 p.m.
TV: None
Radio: WMUA, 91.1 FM in Amherst
Matt Sherman (play-by-play) & Strates Frangules (color)
Series Record: Massachusetts, 13-6
Last Meeting: Fordham, 71-55, Feb. 7 at Rose Hill Gym
Streak: Fordham, 1; UMass 7/10
Game Day... Massachusetts looks to get back on its winning ways as it travels to the Bronx, N.Y., for a 2:00 p.m. game against the Fordham Rams Sunday afternoon. The Minutewomen suffered a tough 68-61 homecourt loss to Saint Joseph's Wednesday night and are now 9-4 this season, 1-1 in the Atlantic 10 East. Meanwhile, the Rams enter today's match-up 9-5 overall and 0-2 in the conference following Thursday's 84-66 set-back at Richmond. UMass holds a 13-6 advantage in the series and has won three out of five and seven of the last 10 meetings. The two schools spilt the season series last year with each winning on its home floor. The Minutewomen are receiving votes (2) in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll, the only A-10 school to do so. This is the team's best start after 13 games since 1996-97, when the Minutewomen also began the season 9-4 en route to an 18-10 finish.
Impressive Beginning ... The 8-1 start for UMass Head Coach Marnie Dacko was the best start by a UMass coach in their first year at the helm. When the Minutewomen downed Sacred Heart, 74-48 on Nov. 22, Dacko became the seventh head coach out of nine in the program's history to win their first game on the UMass bench. Of the seven, five went on to win at least their next game. Jane Farr (1972-73), Carol Albert (1974-75) and Jack Leaman (1986-87) all started 3-0, while Kathy Hewelt led the Minutewomen to a 5-0 start in the 1988-89 season.
Scouting The Rams ... Fordham is 9-5 overall and 0-2 in the Atlantic 10 conference. In conference play, the Rams have suffered double-digit road losses to St. Bonaventure (80-63) and Richmond (84-66). The Rams average 65.2 points per game, while allowing the opposition to score 61.1. Fordham is the only team in the A-10 with more rebounds than the Minutewomen (42.0-41.5) and are 17th in the nation with a +8.3 rebounding margin (UMass is 20th). Mobolaji Akiode leads the Rams scoring 16.3 points per game. Caitlin Chiaramonte is second on the squad with a 10.4 average, while Beth Ann Dickinson checks in third at 10.1. Kyawn Ruff is the team's leading rebounder, pulling down 7.1 boards a contest. Fordham is shooting .406 (327-805) from the floor and is .256 (33-129) from behind the three-point line.
The Series ... This afternoon marks the 20th meeting in the series which dates back to the 1979-80 season. UMass holds a 13-6 lead, including a 5-4 mark on the road. The Minutewomen have won three of the last five meetings and seven of 10. Last season, UMass crushed Fordham, 68-44, Jan. 26, 2002, at the Mullins Center, but fell 71-55, Feb. 7, 2002, at Rose Hill Gym. This will be the first time UMass Head Coach Marnie Dacko has faced Fordham.
Last Game Against the Rams ... UMass guard Katie Nelson tied a career-high with 18 points, but Fordham defeated the Minutewomen, 71-55, Feb. 7 at Rode Hill Gym. Nelson also added three assists and three steals, while center Jen Butler had 13 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Fordham's Patty Williams led all scorers with 19 points. Twelve days earlier, UMass senior Caroline Nehls scored a career-high 16 points as the Minutewomen trounced the Rams at the Mullins Center. A complete box score from both of these games can be found at the end of this notes package.
Going to the Polls ... For the fourth consecutive week, Massachusetts is receiving votes in the Associated Press poll. UMass currently has two AP votes, good for 40th in the nation. The last time prior to this season the Minutewomen were ranked was Jan. 2, 1996, when they had 13 AP votes and one coaches poll vote. The highest a UMass team has ever been ranked is 30th in the AP poll (31 votes) and 33rd in the coaches poll (39 votes), both in the Dec. 1, 1995 releases. The 1995-96 season is the only other campaign in which a UMass team has been ranked. UMass is also ranked 34th according to the latest womenscollegehoops.com poll.
A Much Better Start ... The 8-1 start for the Minutewomen was the best beginning since the 1968-69 squad reeled off nine straight wins en route to a 13-2 record. At this point last season, UMass was 2-10. It was Feb. 21 before the Minutewomen posted their ninth win, a 60-46 triumph over A-10 foe St. Bonaventure at the Mullins Center. Dating back to the end of last season, UMass has now won 13 of its last 18 games, including seven in a row at home until Wednesday's loss to the Hawks. The 9-4 mark is the best start after 13 games since since 1996-97, when the Minutewomen began the season 9-4 en route to an 18-10 finish.
Next Up For 1,000 ... Senior Nekole Smith is currently on pace to be the 14th Minutewoman to eclipse the 1,000-point plateau. Classmate Jen Butler scored her 1,000th point in the final game of the 2001-02 season, a 67-61 overtime loss to Temple in the semifinal of the Atlantic 10 Tournament. Smith currently has 956 points, just 44 shy of the record. She is second on the team and 14th in the A-10 averaging 13.2 points per game. At this rate, the Ann Arbor, Mich., native will break the barrier Jan. 24 at Xavier.
Oh What A Night ... Despite the heart-breaking 78-70 double-overtime loss to host-school Florida in the first round of the State Farm Classic Dec. 28, senior center Jen Butler enjoyed a dream game. The All-American candidate tied a career-high with 30 points and hauled in a school-record 30 rebounds. Her rebounding tally was the fifth-best in NCAA Division I history and most by an Atlantic 10 player. In addition, it was the most rebounds by a Florida opponent and also established a new Stephen C. O'Connell Center individual record (men or women) for boards. She sits higher on the list than Charles Barkley (Auburn) and Shaquille O'Neal (Louisiana State). Butler finished with 42 rebounds in the two-day tournament, the most in the events' history en route to an All-Tournament team selection. Butler was also recognized as the A-10 Player of the Week and Dinn Brothers/UMass co-Athlete of the Week. The 30 rebounds are also the highest single-game output in the nation this season and most since New Orleans' Kayone Hankins grabbed 30 boards Nov. 26, 1994, against Nicholls State.
Shattering Records ... In addition to all of Butler's individual records vs. Florida, there were several team records established throughout the night. Massachusetts attempted a school-record 92 field goals, 34 three-point field goals and hauled in a school-best 64 rebounds. Senior Ebony Pegues set a new individual record with 28 field goal attempts and 16 three-point field goals attempted.
Floor General ... Sophomore guard Katie Nelson has started in each of her 43 career games since arriving in Amherst last fall. The Ellicott City, Md., native averages 38.2 minutes this year and was the only member of either team to play in all 50 minutes of the Minutewomen's 78-70 double-overtime loss to Florida in the State Farm Classic last month. Nelson, whose father William is the head men's basketball coach at Johns Hopkins (Md.) University, is just about halfway through her second season and has already cracked the top five in three-point field goals made and attempted. Nelson currently ranks third all-time in school history with 259 attempts, while her 79 trifectas are good for fifth. Nelson also ranks 10th with a .305 percentage from behind the arc.
A Look Back At Saint Joseph's ... The University of Massachusetts women's basketball team fell to Saint Joseph's University, 68-61, Jan. 8 in Atlantic 10 action at the Mullins Center. The Minutewomen fell to 9-4 overall and 1-1 in A-10 play, while the Hawks are now 6-6 overall, 2-0 in the A-10. Massachusetts opened up the second half on a 7-1 run, erasing a four-point deficit and taking its first lead since 3-2 early in the first half. A three-pointer by senior Ebony Pegues gave the Minutewomen a 41-40 lead, but Erin Brady scored a basket on the other end to give SJU the lead again. On the ensuing possession, UMass senior Jen Butler made one of two free throws to tie the game at 42, but a field goal by the Hawks' Irina Krasnoshiok gave them the lead back for good. UMass played good defense the remainder of the second half, but made just five field goals over the last 16:19 and shot just .280 (7-25) in the half. After SJU built a six-point lead at the 11:56 mark (52-46), the Minutewomen cut it to one a minute later. UMass had two chances to retake the lead but were unable to record a field goal. The Hawks used a quick 6-0 spurt to go back up by seven (58-51) and UMass was unable to get any closer than five the rest of the way. UMass had four players reach double-figures, led by Butler's 16. She also pulled down 16 boards for her 11th double-double of the season and dished out four assists. Sophomore Katie Nelson added 12 points and four assists with no turnovers, while Pegues had 14 points and five assists. Senior Nekole Smith chipped in with 10 points. Saint Joseph's was led by Erin Brady with 26 points. Amra Mehmedic scored 15 on 5-of-10 shooting from three-point range, while Stephanie Graff and Krasnoshiok each added 11. The Hawks shot .490 (25-51) from the field, including a .500 (10-20) clip from behind the arc. They used a 38-point first half on 13-of-21 (.619) shooting to dig a hole for the Minutewomen early. Massachusetts shot .373 (22-59) from the floor and was out-rebounded, 35-34. UMass did have good ball movement, recording 18 assists on its 22 field goals.
Injury Update ... Senior forward Siiri Liivandi suffered an injury during the road trip to Michigan and Toledo last November. Due to the Health Information Privacy Act (HIPA), the University of Massachusetts does not reveal injury information about its student-athletes. The Rapla, Estonia native returned Wednesday against Saint Joseph's and played three minutes. Head Coach Marnie Dacko plans to gradually work her back into the line-up. Liivandi scored seven points and pulled down 10 rebounds in the Minutewomen's first two games against Sacred Heart and Saint Peter's before getting injured in a practice prior to the Michigan game, Nov. 29.
1,000 / 1,000 Club ... When Jen Butler grabbed her sixth rebound in the Dec. 9, 2002 win over Rhode Island, she became the first Minutewoman to score 1,000 points and pull down 1,000 rebounds. Butler scored her 1,000th point in Massachusetts' 67-61 overtime loss to Temple in the Atlantic 10 Tournament semifinal last season and now has 1,228 points in her career. The preseason first team All-Conference selection now has a UMass record 1,109 boards in her illustrious career. She is the 13th player in A-10 history to join the 1,000/1,000 club. She currently leads the nation, pulling down 14.8 boards a game. This afternoon marks the 100th career game for Butler.
RPI/Strength of Schedule ... In the latest WBCA/Summerville RPI ranking released Jan. 6, the Minutewomen are ranked 35th out of 324 Division I institutions. Massachusetts' schedule has been rated as the nation's 39th toughest, but this only factors in games that have been played and does not take future opponents into consideration. UMass has been ranked as high as one and spent much of the non-conference season amidst the top 10.
Solid At The Line ... Dating back to the Dec. 4 win over Vermont, senior Nekole Smith has connected on 28 of her last 30 (.933) freebies. She had a string of 20 consecutive made free throws snapped in the second half of the Northeastern game, Dec. 14. For the season, Smith is shooting at a .767 (33-43) clip. Fellow classmate Jen Butler has made the most of her team-leading 97 free throw attempts, converting on 63 (.649) of them. Just a career .528 free throw shooter heading into the season, the 2003 All-America candidate has helped the Minutewomen improve to seventh in the conference (.668, 157-235) after finishing last a year ago (.586, 364-621). UMass has made (157) nearly as many free throws as opponents have taken (186). Butler and Smith account for nearly 60 percent of the team's trips to the charity stripe.
Butler Movin' On Up ... With her 48 points in the two-day State Farm Classic in Gainesville, Fla., senior Jen Butler moved into seventh-place on the school's all-time scoring list. The preseason All-Conference selection now has 1,228 career points to go along with her school record 1,109 rebounds. Butler's name is all over the school's record book as she is fifth in free throws made (312), second in free throws attempted (563), third in blocks (113) and second in steals (196). Next up on the scoring list is Crystal Carroll. The 1997 graduate is in sixth-place with 1,405 career points. Butler has recorded a double-double in 11 of 13 games this season and now has 52 in her standout career. She currently leads the country, pulling down 14.8 rpg, and is first in the conference, pouring in 17.5 points per game.
Break-Out Time ... In her fifth year, senior Nekole Smith is having a breakout season. Coming into the season, Smith was averaging 8.9 ppg in 88 career contests. Through 13 games in 2002-03, the Ann Arbor, Mich., native is averaging 13.2 ppg, good for second on the team and 14th in the A-10. Smith now has 956 career points, just 44 shy of becoming the 14th Minutewoman to score 1,000 points. She is shooting at a .473 (69-146) clip from the field. For her career, Smith is shooting .477 (395-828) from the floor, ranking seventh on the school's all-time chart. Smith, though, is not the only senior enjoying a good beginning to the 2002-03 season. Ebony Pegues entered the year averaging 4.7 points per game, but has turned that into a 11.2 average through 13 games in 2002-03, good for 26th in the A-10. In addition, she is pulling down 3.1 rebounds per game, handing out 4.10 assists per game, as well as tallying 14 steals. After making just 15 starts through her first three years, Pegues has been a part of the Marnie's Army starting five each game in 2002-03.
Steppin' Up The D ... In 13 games this year, the Minutewomen are yielding a mere 58.4 points per contest, good for second in the Atlantic 10. They have held the opposition at or under 50 points on seven occasions (Sacred Heart 48, Saint Peter's 49, Vermont 48, New Hampshire 50, Rhode Island 45, Villanova 50 and Memphis 46), winning each game. In UMass' nine wins, opponents are averaging 50.9 points. Villanova came into the Cage on Dec. 11 averaging 65.8 points, but was held to a season-low 50 by the aggressive Minutewoman defense. In addition, the Minutewomen have held four other schools to their season-low for points (Saint Peter's, Sacred Heart Vermont and Rhode Island). UMass is also forcing its opponents to turn the ball over 16.4 times per game, but that number balloons to 17.2 per game in its nine victories.
They Can Dish It Out ... Sophomore guard Katie Nelson is currently second in the conference with a 2.08 assist to turnover ratio. She has already dished out a career-high seven assists against both Sacred Heart and Michigan. Last year, she averaged 3.07 assists per game, good for 13th in the A-10. Through 13 games in 2002-03, Nelson sits in ninth-place in the A-10, averaging 4.00 assists per game. Just ahead of her in eighth-place is senior teammate Ebony Pegues. The Columbus, Ohio, product is also handing out 4.10 helpers per game, including as career-high nine at URI.
Trends To Consider Tonight ... Mass is 4-1 when trailing by six or fewer points at the half ... UMass is 6-1 when scoring 35 or more points in a half ... UMass is 8-0 when outscoring the opposition in the second half ... UMass is 8-2 when outscoring its opponents in the paint.
Marnie's Army Leader ... At 8-1, Massachusetts Head Coach Marnie Dacko enjoyed the best start of any UMass coach in their first season at the helm, not to mention the second-best start of any UMass team in the program's history. The reason for that is because the 1968-69 team, which started the season 9-0, did not have a coach. The 1978 Southern Connecticut State University graduate is currently 9-4 (.692) at UMass and 89-108 (.452) overall in seven-plus seasons as a head coach. She is coaching against the Rams for the first time.
What's On Tap ... Massachusetts returns home for a pair of A-10 tilts next week at the Mullins Center. The Minutewomen welcome Temple on Thursday, Jan. 16 at 7:00 p.m., and St. Bonaventure, Saturday, Jan. 18 at 2:00 p.m., before hitting the road again for games at Xavier and Dayton.