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opening tip... Monday's game between Mount St. Mary's and St. Francis (N.Y.) marks the 45th meeting in the all-time series dating back to the 1989-90 season.
•  The Mount has won 42 of the 44 meetings in the series, including six straight.
• The Mountaineers defeated the Terriers 79-39 on Jan. 15, 2011 and 66-49 on Feb. 19, 2011 in the two tilts last season.
• St. Francis (N.Y.) swept the season series in 2007-08 for its only wins in the matchup.

about the terriers... St. Francis (N.Y.) comes into the contest 1-6 overall and 0-1 in Northeast Conference play after falling 49-45 at Wagner on Saturday.
• Freshman F Jaymee Veney paced the Terriers with 10 points against the Seahawks. The freshman scored 15 points in a 68-48 loss against Rider on Nov. 30. Veney ranks third on the team with 8.1 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.
• Freshman F Kelly Myers added nine points and seven rebounds  on Saturday. Myers is averaging 6.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
• Sophomore G Jasmin Robinson fueled St. Francis (N.Y.) to a 48-44 win against Columbia with 13 points on Nov.. 23. Robinson ranks second on the squad with 8.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.
• Freshman F Jessica Kaufman leads the team with 9.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, but the freshman has missed the last two games. The Australian born Kaufman, who bears the same name as Mount sophomore Jessie Kaufman, scored a career-high 16 points in a 70-61 win against Penn in the season opener on Nov. 13, 2011.

last time we met... Ashley Christie and Sandra Andresson combined for 29 points to lead Mount St. Mary's past St. Francis (N.Y.) 66-49 on Feb. 19, 2011.
Christie led the way with 15 points  while Andresson added 14 points to help the Mount to its sixth-straight win against the Terriers. Mary Dunn registered eight points and 10 rebounds while Selina Mann stuffed the stat sheet with four points, five assists and seven steals. St. Francis (N.Y.) was led by the Lau sisters after Amber posted 16 points and Autumn added 13 points in the loss for the Terriers.
quick hits on the long island game... Sophomore Ashley Christie capped a 16-6 run in the final 10 minutes  with a layup with 8.5 seconds left to lift Mount St. Mary's past Long Island 44-43 in a come-from-behind victory on Saturday.
• The basket was Christie's only field goal of the afternoon and finished the game with seven points.
• Junior Sydney Henderson paced the Mount with 11 points and seven rebounds against the Blackbirds. The junior has posted five rebounds in each of her last three games and four times this season.
• Sophomore Jessie Kaufman scored all nine of her points during the Mount's decisive run to close the contest.
• Freshman Jen Carney notched her first collegiate basket in the second half on a 3-pointer and finished the afternoon with five points and two steals.
• Junior Selina Mann added five steals and four rebounds against the Blackbirds.
• Mount St. Mary's rallied from a double-digit deficit  for the first time since coming back from 17 points against San Francisco on Dec. 31, 2010.
• The Mountaineers opened league play win a win for the first time under head coach Bryan Whitten. The last Mount NEC opening win was an 83-70 decision against Wagner on Dec. 4, 2006. The squad is now 15-8 in league openers.

it been a while, but first place feels nice... Mount St. Mary's opened league play with a win for the first time since an 83-70 victory against Wagner on Dec. 4, 2006.
• The Mount has opened 1-0 in the circuit for the 15th time in program history. Each time the squad won its opening league game, it went on to the participate in the NEC Tournament.
• The Mountaineers are looking for their first 2-0 start in the NEC since the 2005-06 season when Mount St. Mary's defeated Fairleigh Dickinson and St. Francis (N.Y.).
• The Mount has opened up the league slate with two wins 11 times in team history.Mount St. Mary's has started league play 2-0 only twice since the 2001-02 campaign.
• When the squad opens the season 2-0, the Mount has won the NEC regular season six times.
next on tap... Mount St. Mary's returns to its non-conference schedule against Loyola on Saturday.
• The squad will then have 10 days before its next contest when it travels to West Virginia on Dec. 20.
• The Mount, who will play five of the six games in the month of December at Knott Arena, will return home to host Rider (Dec. 29) and Bucknell (Dec. 31) to close out the year.

in the nec... The Mount ranks second the NEC as a team in made 3-pointers (6.43) and ranks third in free throw percentage (.722).
• Junior Sydney Henderson paces the circuit in minutes (36.57) and ranks second in 3-pointers made (2.14).
• Junior Selina Mann is fourth in steals (3.00).

rock the knott... Mount St. Mary's has won its first two games of the season at Knott Arena for the first time since the 2005-06 season when the team won its first three games.
• It marks only the eighth time the squad has opened up by winning its first two games at Knott Arena.
• The squad has won the first three games at Knott Arena six times.

defense is back... After struggling last season defensively, the Mount has returned to its defensive ways under head coach Bryan Whitten in 2011-12.
• The Mount is allowing 58.8 points per game this season after allowing 64.8 points per game last season.
• The Mount has held its opponent under 60 points five times this season, including three times under 50 points.
• Mount St. Mary's is 3-2 when it keeps an opponent under 60 points this season and 3-0 when the opponents are held under 50 points.

bench scoring... Mount St. Mary's has had three different bench players lead the team in scoring.
• Sophomore Kayla Grossett was the latest player to come off the bench to lead the team in points after posting 13 points against Pittsburgh on Nov. 29.
• Sophomore Jessie Kaufman had a career-high 19 points off the bench against  UMES on Nov. 15 and sophomore Kelly Guerriero had a career-high 13 points against Binghamton on Nov. 11.
 
second-chance points... Mount St. Mary's has been outrebounded in five of the seven games this season.
• The opponent has registered 83 second-chance points to the Mount's 51.
• The only game the Mountaineers outrebounded the opponent was against UMES on Nov. 15. The Mount held a 41-39 rebound edge and also posted 14-13 edge in second-chance points.
• The Mount ended the game against Pittsburgh with the same amount of boards (42).
• The game against Towson came down to rebounds. The Tigers outrebounded the Mount by 31 boards and held a 20-7 margin in second-chance points.
• The Mount's Top-2 rebounders sit in the squad's backcourt. Junior Selina Mann (4.7 rpg.) and sophomore Ashley Christie (3.7 rpg.) ranks second.


i'm a weekend kind of girl... Sophomore Ashley Christie is averaging 11.8 points per game on the weekend.
• In Christie's first Saturday game in 2011-12, the sophomore notched a season-high 16 points against Navy on Nov. 26.
• The sophomore has posted double figures in seven of her last nine Saturday games and is averaging 16.0 points per game in that stretch.
• Christie is averaging 12.7 points per game in seven weekend league games.
• The sophomore posted nine of her 15 double-digit performances on the weekend. Those eight games also represent her Top-9 performances.  
• Saturday's game against Long Island marked the sixth time in her career she has not posted double-figures in a weekend  game. The previous five times, the sophomore has gone on to post double figures in her next game four times and is averaging 9.8 points per game in the game after she does not score double digits on the weekend.

how sydney got her groove back… Junior Sydney Henderson is averaging 11.8 points per game in her last five games and has led the team in scoring three times in that stretch.
• Henderson posted 18 points against American on Nov. 18 and a career-high 20 points against Towson on Nov. 22.
• The junior has grabbed five rebounds in each of her last three games and is averaging  6.0 rebounds in that span.
• Henderson scored 17 points against Virginia in her only action last season before suffering a season-ending injury in the contest.

no cough in second year for kaufman... Sophomore Jessie Kaufman ranks second on the team with 8.6 points per game.
• The sophomore has recorded double figures in three of the first seven games this season off the bench.
• Kaufman notched a career-high 19 points against UMES on Nov. 15.
• She has scored at least nine points four times this season
• Kaufman has register 60 of the team's 128 bench points this season.
• The sophomore has five double-digit performances in her career.

career highlights... Junior Sydney Henderson scored a career-high 20 points against Towson on Nov. 22.
• Sophomore Rachel Mathews had a career-high 10 points versus American on Nov. 18.
• Sophomore Jessie Kaufman notched a career-best 19 points against UMES on Nov. 15.
• Sophomore Kelly Guerriero had a career-high 13 points against Bingamton on Nov. 11.

man oh mann, selina... Mount St. Mary's can pretty much count on getting five from junior Selina Mann every game. The only question is will it be five points, five rebounds, five assists or five steals.
• This season, Mann has posted at a five spot in two categories three times and in four categories once this season.
• Mann has posted a five spot in one of those categories in 48 of the 61 games.
• The junior has posted a five spot in two of those categories 18 times, twice in three categories and three times in four different categories.
• She has scored five points 33 times in her career, including 17 two-digit performances and a career-high 26 at San Jose State on Dec. 29, 2010.
• The 5-4 guard has posted five rebounds 16 times in her career, including two 10-board performances.
• Mann has dished out five assists 15 times in her career including a career-high eight helpers against San Fransisco on Dec. 31, 2010 and against Towson on Nov. 22, 2011.
• The junior has registered five steals in a game six times in her career, including tying a program record with 10 thefts against Sacred Heart on Jan. 24, 2011. She also has eight games of four steal to her credit.
• Mann leads the team with three double-doubles. She has two points-rebounds tricks and one points-steals. She is only the third player in Mount Division I history with a double-double that includes steals. The junior recorded 10 points and 10 rebounds against American on Nov. 18.

the need to dial long distance for 1-2-3... The NCAA changed the three-point line for the 2011-12 women's basketball season to 20 feet, nine inches, which is the same distance men's basketball has been using for several years.
• Last season, the Mount led the Northeast Conference in 3-point field goal percentage (.355) and had three players rank in the Top-10 in the category.  
• The Mount is 45-for-141 this season from behind the arc, including 13-for-23 against Towson on Nov. 22. The 13 made 3-pointers tied a program record. The squad also hit 13 treys against North Carolina on Feb. 27, 1989.
• Through five games, the Mount is shooting better from behind the arc this season. The squad hit 39 of 126 through seven games  last season.
• Junior Sydney Henderson leads the team with 15 baskets from behind the arc while sophomore Jessie Kaufman has 11.

in their collegiate debut... Freshman Mariah Powell was the lone freshman to make her collegiate debut in the season opener against Binghamton.
• Powell entered the game with 67 seconds left and registered her first career points on a pair of free throws with 52 seconds left and her first collegiate rebound with 19 ticks on the clock.
• Fellow freshmen Jen Carney and Melanie Mocniak  made their collegiate debut after entering the game against Pittsburgh with 1:50 left on Nov. 29.
• Carney notched her first collegiate basket in the second half against Long Island on Dec. 3 and finished with a career-high five points.

would the real jessie kaufman please stand up... There are now to Jessica Kaufman's in the Northeast Conference.
• Sophomore Jessie Kaufman is in her second season at the Mount while freshman Jessica Kaufman joined the St. Francis (N.Y.) team this season.

in the month... Mount St. Mary's is 106-90 in the month of December in program history. The Mount is 51-25 at home, 43-48 on the road and 12-17 at a neutral site in the month.
• The Mountaineers are 52-80 in December since switching to Division I in 1988-89. The team is 23-21 at Knott Arena, 20-44 on the road and 9-15 at a neutral site.
• Under head coach Bryan Whitten, the Mount is 7-20 overall, 2-5 at home, 5-13 on the road and 0-1 at a neutral site in the month.
• Prior to this season's win against Long Island on Dec. 3, all seven of the Mount's victories in December under Whitten have come after Dec. 13, including four after the Christmas holiday.
• Mount St. Mary's played its first-ever contest in program history in the month of December, falling to Loyola 60-31 on Dec. 4, 1974.

in the non-conference slate... Mount St. Mary's is 76-119 in non-conference games since joining the Northeast Conference in 1989-90.

home sweet home... In its 25th season at Knott Arena, Mount St. Mary's has posted a 210-103 overall mark, including 70-43 in non-conference play and 140-60 in league play since moving across Route 15 from Memorial Gym.

tops in the league... Mount St. Mary's has posted the most wins in the Northeast Conference since joining the league in 1989-90 with 247 victories.
• The Mount has the third-most wins in league history, trailing only Monmouth (264) and Saint Francis (Pa.) (271).
• The Mount is 247-142 in Northeast Conference play, including 140-58 at Knott Arena and 107-83 on the road.

hearing your name called at the start... Head coach Bryan Whitten has only had 19 players start in his four-year tenure at the Mount.
• Senior Sandra Andresson has started 82 of the 93 games she has played.
• Junior  Sydney Henderson started 22 of the 33 games she has played, including 16- straight games she has played.
• Junior Tara Lonergan has started 11 games in her career.
• Sophomore Ashley Christie has started the first 36 games of her collegiate career.
• Sophomore Jessie Kaufman has started nine games while fellow sophomore Rachel Mathews has started six-straight games and sophomore Kayla Grossett has started two contests.

preseason poll... The Mount St. Mary's women's basketball team has been picked 11th in the Northeast Conference (NEC) Preseason Coaches Poll. Five of the 12 teams in the league garnered first place votes with Saint Francis (Pa.) being tabbed the preseason favorite after picking up four first place nods. Robert Morris, Long Island, Monmouth and Sacred Heart each picked up two first place votes apiece. The Colonials and Blackbirds placed 2-3 in the poll while the Hawks and Pioneers finished tied for fourth. Quinnipiac, Fairleigh Dickinson, Bryant, Central Connecticut State, Wagner, Mount St. Mary's and St. Francis (N.Y.) rounded out the 12-team poll.

let's play to 60 points... Mount St. Mary's is most successful under head coach Bryan Whitten when it scores 60 points in a game or holds the opponent under that total.
• The Mount is 24-21 when it scores 60 points in a game, but 19-56 when it does not reach 60 points.
• Defensively, the Mountaineers are 33-26 when the opponents are held under 60 points and 9-55 when the opponent reaches 60 points.

three keys to whitten success... The Mount is most successful under head coach Bryan Whitten when the squad leads at halftime, in rebounding or keeps the opponent under 60 points.
• The Mount is 33-16 when he holds the lead at halftime, 2-3 when the game is tied, but just 8-62 when trailing at the break.
• The squad is 19-16 when it holds a rebounding edge in a game, but just 22-60 when the opponent has the advantage and 2-5 when the two teams have equal boards.
• Mount St. Mary's is 33-26 when it holds opponents under 60 points.

hitting 20 points in a game... Senior Sandra Andresson, juniors Sydney Henderson and Selina Mann and sophomore Ashley Christie are the only four players on the roster that has scored 20 points in a game.
• Henderson became the first player this season to reach 20 points when she scored a career-best 20 points against Towson on Nov. 22.
• Mann scored a career-high 26 points against San Jose State on Dec. 29, 2010.
• Christie posted a career-high 21 points against Fairleigh Dickinson on Feb. 5, 2011.
• Andresson registered a career-best 25 points against Monmouth on Feb. 7, 2011.
• The Mount has registered 25 20-point performances and two 30-point games under head coach Bryan Whitten. The squad is 13-12 when a player reaches 20 points and 2-0 when a player scores 30 in a contest.

players on the move... Senior Sandra Andresson currently sits in 49th place in program history with 597 points needs three points to become the 46th place in program history to score 600 points. She can move into 45th place with six points and 44th place with 19 points.
• Junior Selina Mann has 381 points for her career to rank 62nd and can move into 61st place with 36 points.
• Sophomore Ashley Christie has 327 points to rank 68th in program history. The sophomore can move into 67th place with four points, 66th place with nine points, 65th place with 11 points, 63rd place with 13 points and 62nd place with 19 points. .
• Junior Sydney Henderson has 229 career points to sit in 79th place. Henderson can move into 77th place with 10 points and 76th place with 27 points.
• Junior Tara Lonergan sits in 88th place with 176 points  and she can jump into 87th place with six points, 86th place with 10 points, and 85th place with 12 points.
• Sophomore Jessie Kaufman jumped into the program's Top-100 with 19 points against UMES on Nov. 15 and now stands in 85th place with 188 points. She can move into 84th place with five points, 83rd place with eight points, 82nd place with 16 points.
• Sophomore Kayla Grossett ranks 90th place with 173 points, two points from 89th place, three  from 88th place, nine from 87th place, 13 from 86th place and 15 from 85th place.   
• Sophomore Kelly Guerriero (121 points) will be the next players to crack the program's Top-100, needing 23 points.

big east showdowns, at least for now... Mount St. Mary's will play Pittsburgh on Nov. 29 and West Virginia on Dec. 20.
• It will be the fifth meeting against Pittsburgh in the last six years and the two teams will play each other for the third-straight year. The Panthers have won the four previous matchups.
• Pitt head coach Agnus (McGlade) Berenato is a Mount graduate.
• West Virginia returns to the schedule for the first time since 2002-03. West Virginia leads the series 3-2.
• The Mount's lone win against a BCS opponent since switching to Division I was a 78-75 win against West Virginia on Dec. 6, 1994.
• Both Pitt and West Virginia made news earlier this year by announcing that it would be leaving the Big East. The Panthers are slated to join the Atlantic Coast Conference and West Virginia is heading to the Big 12.

new to the mountain... Head coach Bryan Whitten added four players to his 2011-12 team. Freshmen Jen Carney, Melanie Mocniak, Mariah Powell and Lindsay Williams all joined the team this season.
• Sophomore Jacqueline Brewer also joined the team, but will have to sit out this season due to NCAA transfer regulations. Brewer comes to the Mount after playing at Virginia Commonwealth last year.

northeast conference history... Prior to the last two seasons, the Mount had advanced to 20-straight NEC Tournaments.
• Mount St. Mary's is 17-17 in the NEC Tournament.
• The Mountaineers have not won a tournament game since a 50-45 win against Sacred Heart on Mar. 4, 2001.
• Mount St. Mary's won tournaments in 1992-93, 1993-94 and 1994-95, including earning the league's first two NCAA Division I bids.

the underlining whit... Head coach Bryan Whitten is in his fifth season at the Mount. The Mount is 43-81 overall under Whitten.
• The Mount is 21-35 overall at Knott Arena and 14-23 in NEC play under Whitten.
• The Mountaineers fair better on the road with a 22-46  overall mark away from Emmitsburg and 11-22 in league play.
• Whitten picked up his first Mount win with a 55-51 decision at Lafayette on Nov. 17, 2007 and earned his 25th career in at Lafayette on Nov. 30, 2009.
• Whitten earned his 250th win of his career against Quinnipiac on Jan. 30, 2010.

foreign flavor... Mount St. Mary's has two international players on the roster in 2011-12.
• Senior Sandra Andresson (Estonia) became the fourth international player in Emmitsburg and sophomore Kayla Grossett (Canada) became the fifth international player at the Mount.
• The trio follows Katie Walton (Canada, 1998-02), Dita Krumberga (Latvia, 2004-07), and Leah Westbrooks (Ireland, 2007-11.

out of africa... Former women's basketball player Leah Westbrooks was named the recipient of the Shooting Touch Inc. Sabbatical Program grant.
• Westbrooks received $25,000 to help with travel cost and expenses on her 10-month international independent study in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Westbrooks is currently in South Africa to work with the Hoops for Hope group and Western Zimbabwe with the Matilda Project.
• Check out this video of Westbrooks: http://www.nba.com/video/channels/nba_tv/2011/09/24/20110924_shooting_touch.nba