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opening tip... Saturday's game between Mount St. Mary's and Sacred Heart marks the 26th meeting meeting in the all-time series dating back to the 1999-00 season.
• The Pioneers lead the series 21-4, including a 13-0 mark at the Pitt Center.
• Sacred Heart has won the last seven meetings, including sweeping the season series last year.
• The Mount's last win in the series was a 74-63 decision on Jan. 19, 2008.
about the pioneers... Sacred Heart comes into the contest 14-5 overall and 7-1 in Northeast Conference play after falling 71-34 against Quinnipiac on Monday.
• Senior F Callan Taylor paced the Pioneers with 10 points and 15 rebounds. The senior has scored in double figures in 18 of the 19 games, including posting 31 points and nine rebounds in a 71-64 win against Robert Morris on Jan. 14. Taylor is averaging 17.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game
• Freshman G Gabrielle Washington ranks second on the team with 11.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. The freshman posted 15 points in a 63-57 win against Central Connecticut State on Jan. 21. Washington recorded 18 points in an 85-56 victory against Saint Francis (Pa.) on Jan. 16.
• Sophomore F Ericka Norman ranks third on the team with 8.0 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. The sophomore scored 14 points in the win against the Red Flash and 16 points in a 74-59 win against LIU Brooklyn on Jan. 7.
• Sophomore F Blair Koniszewski is fourth on the squad with 7.7 points and 2.2 rebounds per game off the bench. She has registered double figures six times this season, including 18 points against the Colonials.
last time we met... Sacred Heart defeated Mount St. Mary's 55-46 on Jan. 25, 2011. Selina Mann paced the Mount with her second career double-double after finishing the game with 14 points and a program-record 10 steals. Mary Dunn added 11 points and six rebounds in the loss. Kiley Evans fueled the Pioneers with 17 points while Callan Taylor tallied 14 points and 13 rebounds in the wining effort.
quick hits on the st. francis (n.y.) game... Sophomore Ashley Christie scored seven points to fuel a 12-6 run to end the game and help the Mount rally for a 49-44 win against St. Francis (N.Y.) on Monday.
• Christie finished the game with nine points. The sophomore is averaging 9.0 points per game in her last seven contests.
• Junior Sydney Henderson paced the Mount with 13 points. The junior has posted double figures in eight-consecutive games and is averaging 14.0 points per game in that stretch. Henderson is the first player to registered eight-straight games in double figures since Dominique Mazzuchi posted double digits in the final eight games of her collegiate career in 2008. Dita Krumberga is the last Mount player to post nine-straight 10+ games when she rolled off 12-consecutive games in double digits in 2006-07.
• Sophomore Kayla Grossett added 11 points in her second start of the season. The sophomore is averaging 14.0 points per game as a starter this season.
• Sophomore Jessie Kaufman added a career-high eight rebounds against the Terriers. It was the third time this season the sophomore has registered at least five rebounds in a game and the squad is 2-1 in those games.
• The Mount started the game 7 of 14 from the free throw line, but then made 7 of its final 9 from the line.
• Mount St. Mary's has rallied from a 10-point deficit three times this season. It is the most double-digit comebacks since posting two in 2008-09.
next on tap... Mount St. Mary's concludes its four-game road swing at Quinnipiac on Monday.
• The squad returns home to host Saint Francis (Pa.) on Feb. 4 and Robert Morris on Feb. 6.
• The Mount plays six of its eight league games in the month of January on the road, but will have five of eight contests at home in February.
big next four... The Mount will play each of its next four opponents (Sacred Heart, Quinnipiac, Saint Francis (Pa.) and Robert Morris only once this season.
• The Mount is in the thick of the playoff picture and wins in the next four games could help the Mount's playoff standing because of tiebreakers.
state of the mount... Mount St. Mary's is 8-11 overall and 4-4 in Northeast Conference play this season.
• The Mount has matched last season's win total of eight victories. With two wins, the Mountaineers will win 10 games for the third time under head coach Bryan Whitten.
• In league play, the squad needs one win to equal its win mark from 2010-11.
• In addition, the Mountaineers are 6-3 at home this season, marking the most wins at Knott Arena since 2008-09 when the team went 8-7 in Emmitsburg. The squad had five wins at Knott Arena in the previous two seasons.
in the nec... The Mount leads the Northeast Conference in 3-point field goals made (6.16) while ranking third in turnover margin (+1.47), fourth in 3-point field goal percentage (.316), fifth in scoring defense (59.1) and fifth in steals (9.42).
• Junior Sydney Henderson leads the league in minutes played (35.58) and ranks second in 3-point field goals made (1.95) while junior Selina Mann ranks second in steals (3.63), third in free throw percentage (.813) and four in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.29).
on the road... Junior Sydney Henderson is averaging 10.6 points and 2.8 rebounds per game in 10 road games this season.
• The junior has registered double figures six times on the road, including a pair of 18-point performances and a 20-point game at Towson on Nov. 22. Henderson is averaging 14.3 points and 2.7 rebounds per game in her last three games away from Knott Arena.
• Senior Sandra Andresson is averaging 7.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game on the road. Andresson has three double-digit contests on the road this season including a season-high 13 points at American on Nov. 18.
• Junior Selina Mann and sophomore Kayla Grossett each have three 10-point performances on the road. Grossett registered a career-high 17 points against Fairleigh Dickinson on Jan. 7.
• Sophomores Ashley Christie and Jessie Kaufman also each have two 10-point games on the road. Kaufman had a career-best 19 points at UMES on Nov. 15.
• Fellow sophomore Rachel Mathews posted 10 points at American on Nov. 22.
• The Mount is averaging 51.9 points per game while allowing 63.3 points per game on the road. The squad is shooting 35.8 from the field away from Knott Arena.
• Mount St. Mary's is 2-8 this season on the road and 1-3 in league games. With its win against St. Francis (N.Y.) on Jan. 23, the squad ended a seven-game road losing streak.
in the last five... The Mount is 2-3 in its last five games.
• Junior Sydney Henderson is averaging 15.8 points and 3.6 rebounds per game in her last five contests. Henderson has scored double figures in her last five games, including a career-high 25 points in her last game.
• Sophomore Ashley Christie is averaging 8.4 points and 2.8 rebounds per game in her last five game. Christie has a 12-point game and two nine-point performances in that span.
• Senior Sandra Andresson posted 11 points against Monmouth on Jan. 9, sophomore Rachel Mathews had a career-high 11 points against Bryant on Jan. 14 and sophomore Kayla Grossett had 11 points against St. Francis (N.Y.) on Jan. 23 for the squad's other double-digit games in that stretch.
moving in on the all-time charts... Senior Sandra Andresson is making a move on the program's all-time career games started list. The senior sits in eight place with 94 career starts and will move up a spot with her next start.
• In addition, the senior has played in 106 games and will move into the Top-10 in that category with seven more games played.
• Junior Selina Mann could be thieving her way into the Top-10 for steals. The junior has 198 steals and can crack the program's all-time career Top-10 with six thefts.
little women... The Mount's two top rebounders this season are in the squad's starting backcourt.
• Junior Selina Mann, a 5-4 guard, leads the team with 4.1 rebounds per game. The junior has grabbed five caroms in a contest seven times this year including 10 rebounds against American on Nov. 18.
• Junior Sydney Henderson, a 5-6 guard, ranks second on the squad with 3.9 rebounds per game. She 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 5.1 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 tied with Henderson for the second with 3.9 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 59.1 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.
• Mount St. Mary's is 7-1 when it keeps an opponent under 60 points this season and 6-0 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 four times, between 50-59 points six times, between 40-49 points six times and under 40 points once.
• The Mount is 1-1 when reached 70 points in a game, 2-2 when it scores in the 60's, 3-3 when it scores in the 50's and 2-5 when it is held under 50 points.
• The Mount has scored over 60 points in two of its last four games.
second-chance points... Mount St. Mary's has been outrebounded in 14 of the 19 games this season.
• The opponent has registered 218 second-chance points to the Mount's 140.
• 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 (4.1 rpg.) is the squad's top rebounder.
i'm a weekend kind of girl... Sophomore Ashley Christie is averaging 11.1 points per game in 19 games on the weekend.
• Christie is averaging 9.6 points per game in seven weekend games this season. The sophomore posted a season-high 16 points against Navy on Nov. 26, 14 points against Loyola on Dec. 10 and 12 points against Bryant on Jan. 14.
• The sophomore has posted double figures in nine of her last 14 Saturday games and is averaging 12.1 points per game in that stretch.
• Christie is averaging 11.3 points per game in 12 weekend league games.
• The sophomore posted 11 of her 19 double-digit performances on the weekend. Those 11 games also represent her Top-10 performances.
how sydney got her groove back… Junior Sydney Henderson has registered double figures in eight-straight games.
• Henderson posted 18 points against American on Nov. 18, 20 points against Towson on Nov. 22, 18 points against St. Francis (N.Y.) on Dec. 5, 18 points against Monmouth on Jan 9. She notched a career-high 25 points against Central Connecticut State on Jan. 16.
• The junior has grabbed four rebounds in nine of her last 13 games including a career-high 12 rebounds against Rider on Dec. 29.
• Henderson has posted 12 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 6.1 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.
• Kaufman grabbed a career-best eight rebounds against St. Francis (N.Y.) on Jan. 23.
career highlights... Junior Sydney Henderson scored a career-high 25 points against Central Connecticut State on Dec. 16.
• Sophomore Rachel Mathews had a career-high 11 points versus Bryant on Jan. 14.
• 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.
• 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... 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 four times and in four categories once this season.
• Mann has posted a five spot in one of those categories in 56 of the 73 games.
• The junior has posted a five spot in two of those categories 20 times, six times in three categories and three times in four different categories.
• She has scored five points 38 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 20 times in her career, including two 10-board performances.
• Mann has dished out five assists 20 times in her career including a career-high eight helpers three times, including twice this season.
• The junior has registered five steals in a game 10 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.
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.
in the league... The Mount is 250-146 in Northeast Conference play, including 142-59 at Knott Arena and 108-87 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 117-for-370 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 37 baskets from behind the arc while sophomore Ashley Christie has 20.
rock the knott... Mount St. Mary's is 6-3 at Knott Arena this season.
• The Mount is 3-2 in non-conference play and 3-1 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 221-97 and 136-89 since switching to Division I.
• The Mountaineers are 70-34 at home and 66-45 on the road since switching to Division I.
• The Mount is 13-30 under head coach Bryan Whitten in the month.
• Mount St. Mary's is 7-13 at home and 6-17 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 214-106 overall mark, including 73-44 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 94 of the 106 games she has played.
• Junior Sydney Henderson started 34 of the 45 games she has played.
• Junior Tara Lonergan has started 19 games in her career.
• Sophomore Ashley Christie has started the first 48 games of her collegiate career.
• Sophomore Rachel Mathews started 11 games while Jessie Kaufman ha started nine games while fellow Kayla Grossett has started four 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 26-22 when it scores 60 points in a game, but 22-61 when it does not reach 60 points.
• Defensively, the Mountaineers are 38-28 when the opponents are held under 60 points and 10-60 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 10-69 when trailing at the break.
• The squad is 21-17 when it holds a rebounding edge in a game, but just 25-66 when the opponent has the advantage and 2-5 when the two teams have equal boards.
• Mount St. Mary's is 38-28 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 is the only player this season to reach 20-points in a game. The junior posted a then career-high 20 points against Towson on Nov. 22 and then recorded a career-best 25 points against Central Connecticut State on Jan. 16.
• 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 661 career points. She can move into 42nd place with 18 points.
• Junior Selina Mann has 434 points for her career to rank 61st and can move into 60th place with one points and 59th place with 15 points.
• Sophomore Ashley Christie has 422 points to rank 61st in program history. The sophomore needs 13 points to move into 61st place and 27 points for 60th place.
• Junior Sydney Henderson has 372 career points to sit in 63rd place. Henderson needs 28 points for 400.
• Sophomore Kayla Grossett ranks 77th with 256 points. She can move into 76th place with 19 points.
• Sophomore Jessie Kaufman ranks 79th with 242 career points. She can move into 78th place with 17 points. • Junior Tara Lonergan ranks 80th with 226 points. She can move into 79th place with 14 points.
• Sophomore Kelly Guerriero (138 points) will be the next players to crack the program's Top-100, needing six points.
• Sophomore Rachel Mathews recently went over the 100-point plateau and now stands at 114 points, looking crack the squad's Top-100.
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 48-88 overall under Whitten.
• The Mount is 24-38 overall at Knott Arena and 17-24 in NEC play under Whitten.
• The Mountaineers on the road are 24-48 overall mark away from Emmitsburg and 12-27 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