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NOTE: Saturday's game is Daddy/Daughter Date Night." For $5/couple, fathers and their daughters get admittance to the game and a halftime snack, catered by The Carriage House Inn. Contact Women's basketball assistant coach Brianna Gauthier at gauthier@msmary.edu or 301-447-5011 to make a reservation. Reservations are due by 5 p.m. on Friday.
opening tip... Saturday's game between Mount St. Mary's and Bryant marks the fourth meeting in the all-time series dating back to the 2008-09 season.
• The Mount leads the series 2-1, including a pair of victories at Knott Arena.
• The Bulldogs won last year's meeting 79-76 in overtime in the first contest between the two teams in Rhode Island.
• The Mountaineers won the first two meetings in the series at Knott Arena with a 71-68 decision in 2009 and a 56-51 victory on Feb. 20, 2010.
• This season will mark the first time the two teams will play a two-game season series.
about the bulldogs... Bryant comes into the contest 10-5 overall and 3-1 in Northeast Conference play after defeating Robert Morris 75-71 on Monday.
• Sophomore F Naana Ankoma-Mensa paced the Bulldogs with 21 points and nine rebounds against the Colonials. The sophomore recorded 17 points in a 57-52 win against Saint Francis (Pa.) on Jan. 7. Ankoma-Mensa leads the team with 12.9 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.
• Junior G Katie Whittington also had 21 points against Robert Morris. Whittington scored 16 points in a 64-54 win against Army on Jan. 3. The junior ranks second on the squad with 12.3 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.
• Junior G Danielle Douglas added 16 points on Monday. Douglas chipped in 12 points against the Red Flash. The junior is third with 10.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.
• Junior G Meredith Soper tallied 12 points and 11 rebounds against the Colonials. The junior registered 20 points in a 77-74 loss against Columbia on Dec. 30. Soper is averaging 9.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.
• This is the final year that Bryant is ineligible for the NEC postseason. The Bulldogs are in the final year of its five-year NCAA Division I reclassification and will be eligible next season.
last time we met... Bryant defeated Mount St. Mary's 79-76 in overtime on Jan. 29, 2010. Mary Dunn paced the Mount with 20 points. Ashley Christie added 18 points and Kelly Guerriero chipped in a career-high 13 points. The Bulldogs had all five starters in double figures. Siamone Bennett paced Bryant with 24 points and 10 rebounds while Danielle Douglas (15 points), Katie Whittington (14 points), Meredith Soper (11 points) and Brittany Stahura (11 points) also registered double digits in the winning effort. The Bulldogs rallied from an 11-point second half deficit and won the game in overtime for the squad's first win against the Mount in three tries.
quick hits on the monmouth game... Monmouth defeated Mount St. Mary's 59-52 on Monday.
• Junior Sydney Henderson paced the Mount with 18 points after drilling six baskets from behind the arc. It was the eighth most 3-pointers in a single game in program history and marked the first time since Lauren Howell drained seven 3-balls against Wagner on Jan. 28, 2008 a Mount player hit more than five treys in a game. The junior has reached double figures in each of her last four games and is averaging 12.8 points per game in that stretch.
• Senior Sandra Andresson added 11 points against the Hawks. It was Andresson's third double-digit performance of the season and the first since posting 10 points against Pittsburgh on Nov. 29.
• Sophomore Rachel Mathews added four points and a career-high nine rebounds off the bench. Mathews has hauled in six rebounds in a game five times this season and is now tied with junior Selina Mann for the team lead in rebounds (4.1 rpg.).
• The Mount made 11 3-pointers in the game, marking the fourth most in program history. It marks the second time this season the Mount has made it into the record book for made 3's in a game after tying the program record with 13 treys against Towson on Nov. 22.
• Despite losing its last two league games, the Mount is off to its best start in NEC play since 2005-06.
next on tap... Mount St. Mary's will host Central Connecticut State on Monday before heading on the road for the final four games in January.
• The Mount will play six of its eight league games in the month of January on the road, but will have five of eight contests at home in the month of February.
in the nec... The Mount leads the Northeast Conference in 3-point field goals made (6.40) while ranking fourth in 3-pont field goal percentage (.337), fourth in scoring defense (58.3), fifth in rebounding defense (39.2) and fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (0.69).
• Junior Sydney Henderson leads the league in minutes played (35.40) and ranks fourth in 3-point field goals made (1.80) while junior Selina Mann has moved up to second in steals (3.40) after posting 12 steals over the weekend.
henderson gets in the record books... Junior Sydney Henderson hit six 3-pointers against Monmouth on Jan. 9. It was the eighth most in a single game in program history.
• The junior became the fifth player in program history to connect on six or more shots from behind the arc.
• It was the first time a player made more than five 3's in a game since Lauren Howell against Wagner on Jan. 28, 2008.
finding the stroke from behind the arc... Mount St. Mary's has been hot from behind the arc in its last three games, converting 27 of 64 attempts (42.2 percent) from 3-point land.
• In conference play, the Mount has converted 37 of 75 shots (42.7 percent) from long distance.
• The Mount tied a program record after making 13 treys against Towson on Nov. 22.
at the knott... Junior Sydney Henderson is averaging 10.0 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in seven home games this season.
• The junior has registered double figures in four games this season at Knott Arena including an 18-point performance against St. Francis (N.Y.) on Dec. 5.
• Sophomore Ashley Christie is averaging 8.1 points and 2.4 rebounds per game at home. Christie has posted three 10-point games at home this season, including 16 points against Navy on Nov. 26.
• Sophomore Kayla Grossett has posted double digits in her last two games including 14 points against Howard on Jan. 3. Fellow sophomore Jessie Kaufman has a pair of 12-point games at Knott Arena.
• Juniors Tara Lonergan and Selina Mann each have won game in double figures in Emmitsburg.
• The Mount is averaging 54.6 points per game while allowing 50.9 points per game at home. The squad is shooting 37.6 from the field at Knott Arena.
• Mount St. Mary's is 5-2 this season at home.
in the last five... The Mount is 1-4 in its last five games.
• Junior Sydney Henderson is averaging 10.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in her last five contests. Henderson has scored double figures in her last four games, including 18 points in her last contest.
• Sophomore Kayla Grossett is averaging 9.6 points and 2.4 rebounds per game in that stretch. The sophomore posted three-straight double-digit performances, including a career-high 17 points against Fairleigh Dickinson on Jan. 7.
• Sophomore Jessie Kaufman recorded 12 points against Rider on Dec. 29, junior Tara Lonergan registered 12 points against Bucknell two days later, sophomore Ashley Christie had 12 points against Howard on Jan. 3 and senior Sandra Andresson posted 11 points against Monmouth on Jan. 9 for the squad's other double-digit games in that stretch.
a january to remember... Junior Tara Lonergan is averaging 6.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game and has seven blocks since rejoining the starting lineup against Bucknell on Dec. 31.
• The junior posted a season-high 12 points, seven rebounds and three blocks against Bucknell and then added six points against four rebounds against Howard on Jan. 3 before registering seven points against Fairleigh Dickinson on Jan. 7. Lonergan had five rebounds and three blocks against Monmouth on Jan. 9.
• Last season, Lonergan notched a career-high 13 points against San Jose State on Dec. 29 and then grabbed a career-high nine rebounds against San Francisco in her first collegiate start two days later.
• From that point last season through the month of January, the junior averaged 7.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game and posted all four of her 10-point games in career before her 12 points against the Bison in that stretch.
little women... Two of the Mount's top three rebounders are in the starting backcourt. Juniors Selina Mann and Sydney Henderson are the squad's top-2 rebounders.
• Mann, a 5-4 guard, leads the team with 4.2 rebounds per game and has grabbed five caroms in a contest six times this year including 10 rebounds against American on Nov. 18.
• Henderson, a 5-6 guard, ranks second with 4.1 rebounds per game and has hauled in five boards in a game six times this season, including a career-high 12 rebounds against Rider on Dec. 29. She is averaging 5.7 rebounds per game at home.
• Sophomore Ashley Christie, a 5-8 guard, also has a 10-rebound performance on her resume this season after hauling in 10 boards against American.
• Sophomore Rachel Mathews, a 6-0 forward, is now tied with Henderson with 4.1 rebounds per game.
defense is back baby... 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 58.3 points per game this season after allowing 64.8 points per game last season.
• The Mount has held its opponent under 60 points nine times this season, including three times under 50 points.
• The Mountaineers have not allowed more than 58 points in a contest in seven of their last 10 games.
• Mount St. Mary's is 6-1 when it keeps an opponent under 60 points this season and 5-0 when the opponents are held under 50 points.
tale of the offensive numbers... Mount St. Mary's has scored 70 point in a game twice, between 60-69 points twice, between 50-59 points six times, between 40-49 points four times and under 40 points once.
• The Mount is 1-1 when reached 70 points in a game, 1-1 when it scores in the 60's, 3-3 when it scores in the 50's and 1-4 when it is held under 50 points.
• The Mountaineers have scored in the 50's in their last four games and have not scored over 59 points since defeating St. Francis (N.Y.) 70-48 on Dec. 5.
second-chance points... Mount St. Mary's has been outrebounded in nine of the 15 games this season.
• The opponent has registered 170 second-chance points to the Mount's 116.
• The Mountaineers are 3-1 when it outrebounds an opponent with wins against UMES on Nov. 15, St. Francis (N.Y.) on Dec. 5 and Bucknell on Dec. 31. Mount St. Mary's held a 41-39 edge against the Hawks, a 28-24 margin against the Terriers and a 31-30 edge against the Bison. In those three games, the Mount has posted 37 second-chance points to 25. The Mountaineers lost 53-44 against Rider on Dec. 29 despite holding a 44-43 edge on the boards.
• 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.
• Junior Selina Mann (4.2 rpg.) is the squad's top rebounder.
i'm a weekend kind of girl... Sophomore Ashley Christie is averaging 11.3 points per game in 18 games on the weekend.
• Christie is averaging 10.0 points per game in four weekend games this season. The sophomore posted a season-high 16 points against Navy on Nov. 26 and 14 points against Loyola on Dec. 10.
• The sophomore has posted double figures in eight of her last 12 Saturday games and is averaging 12.8 points per game in that stretch.
• Christie is averaging 12.4 points per game in 10 weekend league games.
• The sophomore posted 10 of her 17 double-digit performances on the weekend. Those 10 games also represent her Top-10 performances.
how sydney got her groove back… Junior Sydney Henderson has registered double figures in four-straight games.
• Henderson posted 18 points against American on Nov. 18 and a career-high 20 points against Towson on Nov. 22. She also had 18 points against St. Francis (N.Y.) on Dec. 5 and 18 points against Monmouth on Jan 9.
• The junior has grabbed four rebounds in six of her last 10 games including a career-high 12 rebounds against Rider on Dec. 29. She is averaging 4.7 rebounds in that span.
• Henderson has posted eight 10-point performances this season.
• 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 third on the team with 6.8 points per game.
• Kaufman notched a career-high 19 points against UMES on Nov. 15.
• She has scored at least nine points six times this season, including three 12-point performances
• The sophomore has six double-digit performances in her career.
career highlights... Sophomore Kayla Grossett scored a career-high 17 points against Fairleigh Dickinson on Jan. 7.
Freshman Mariah Powell scored a career-high nine points against St. Francis (N.Y.) on Dec. 5.
• 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 five times, three categories twice and in four categories once this season.
• Mann has posted a five spot in one of those categories in 54 of the 69 games.
• The junior has posted a five spot in two of those categories 20 times, four times in three categories and three times in four different categories.
• She has scored five points 37 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 19 times in her career, including two 10-board performances.
• Mann has dished out five assists 18 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 eight 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.
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 248 victories.
• The Mount has the third-most wins in league history, trailing only Monmouth (266) and Saint Francis (Pa.) (273).
• The Mount is 248-144 in Northeast Conference play, including 141-58 at Knott Arena and 107-86 on the road.
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 96-for-285 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.
• The Mountaineers also made 11 treys against Monmouth on Jan. 9, which ranks fourth best in team history.
• Junior Sydney Henderson leads the team with 21 baskets from behind the arc while sophomore Jessie Kaufman has 16.
rock the knott... Mount St. Mary's is 5-2 at Knott Arena this season.
• The Mount is 3-2 in non-conference play and 2-0 in league play in Emmitsburg.
• The squad has its first winning record at home in non-conference play since 2008-09 and the third since 1997-98. The Mountaineers had a winning non-league mark in the first 11 years of the building.
• Prior to the loss against Rider on Dec. 29, Mount St. Mary's won its first four games of the season at Knott Arena for the first time since the 1997-98 season.
• It marked only the fifth time the squad has opened up by winning its first four games at Knott Arena.
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 LIU Brooklyn 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.
a new year, a new start... In January, the Mount is 219-95 and 134-87 since switching to Division I.
• The Mountaineers are 69-33 at home and 65-44 on the road since switching to Division I.
• The Mount is 11-28 under head coach Bryan Whitten in the month.
• Mount St. Mary's is 6-12 at home and 5-16 on the road in the month under Whitten.
in the non-conference slate... Mount St. Mary's is 79-122 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 213-105 overall mark, including 72-44 in non-conference play and 141-61 in league play since moving across Route 15 from Memorial Gym.
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 91 of the 102 games she has played.
• Junior Sydney Henderson started 30 of the 41 games she has played.
• Junior Tara Lonergan has started 15 games in her career.
• Sophomore Ashley Christie has started the first 44 games of her collegiate career.
• Sophomore Rachel Mathews started 10 games while Jessie Kaufman ha started nine games while fellow Kayla Grossett has started three 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, LIU Brooklyn, 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 25-21 when it scores 60 points in a game, but 20-61 when it does not reach 60 points.
• Defensively, the Mountaineers are 36-28 when the opponents are held under 60 points and 9-58 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 36-16 when he holds the lead at halftime, 2-3 when the game is tied, but just 8-67 when trailing at the break.
• The squad is 21-17 when it holds a rebounding edge in a game, but just 23-64 when the opponent has the advantage and 2-5 when the two teams have equal boards.
• Mount St. Mary's is 36-28 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 ranks 43rd with 644 career points. She can move into 42nd place with 41 points.
• Junior Selina Mann has 419 points for her career to rank 61st and can move into 60th place with 16 points.
• Sophomore Ashley Christie has 387 points to rank 63rd in program history. The sophomore needs 13 points for 400.
• Junior Sydney Henderson has 310 career points to sit in 70th place. Henderson can move into 69th place with one point, 68th place with five points and 67th place with 21 points.
• Sophomore Jessie Kaufman ranks 80th with 230 career points. She can move into 79th place with four points and 78th place with nine points.
• Sophomore Kayla Grossett ranks 79th with 234 points. She can move into 78th place with five points and 76th place with 22 points.
• Junior Tara Lonergan ranks 82nd with 211 points. She can move into 81st place with eight points and 80th place 10 points.
• Sophomore Kelly Guerriero (133 points) will be the next players to crack the program's Top-100, needing 11 points.
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 46-86 overall under Whitten.
• The Mount is 26-36 overall at Knott Arena and 15-23 in NEC play under Whitten.
• The Mountaineers on the road are 22-49 overall mark away from Emmitsburg and 11-23 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