MOUNT ST. MARY'S (0-0) at PITTSBURGH (0-0)
Saturday, November 12 | 2 p.m.
Pittsburgh, Pa. | Petersen Events Center
VIDEO (ESPN3.COM) | LIVE STATS | TWITTER
GAME NOTES
ABOUT THE MOUNT
* The Mount wrapped up the 2015-16 season at 9-21 overall and 7-11 in Northeast Conference play and reached the NEC playoffs for the fifth straight season before falling to Sacred Heart in the quarterfinals.
* The team returns 10 of 15 letterwinners from a season ago, including a pair of starters in senior guards Alexis Carter and Kayla Bates. Carter led the squad in scoring (12.8 ppg), rebounding (7.0 rpg) and steals (1.9 spg) en route to an All-NEC Third Team selection. Bates (.363 3-pt pct.) and fellow senior guard Kathleen Belanger-Finn (.333) were the team's top-two three-point shooters last season.
* The Mount collected its 700th victory in program history during the 2015-16 campaign, becoming the first NEC women's basketball program to reach the feat.
* The Mountaineers defense ranked second in the Northeast Conference last season, yielding just 61.9 points per contest to opponents. The Mount registered six victories when holding opponents under 60 points.
* The Mount owns a 21-21 all-time record in its season-opening games. The last win in a season opener was a 55-51 victory over Canisius to kick off the 2009-10 campaign.
* Head Coach Bryan Whitten, who needs just 16 wins to move into sole possession of second place on the program's all-time wins list, returns for his 10th season at the helm. Josh Keys (fifth season) and Brittany Pinkney (fourth season) return as assistant coaches, while Antoine White joins the staff for his first season.
2015-16 TEAM LEADERS
* Points per game: Alexis Carter (12.8), Jessica Harris –transferred - (10.4), Sarafina Arthur-Williams –graduated - (7.2)
* Rebounds per game: Carter (7.0), Harris (5.6), Arthur-Williams (5.4)
* Assists per game: Jody Chickey – graduated – (4.1), Harris (1.3), Kathleen Belanger-Finn (1.2)
* Steals per game: Carter (1.9), Harris (1.5), Chickey (1.0)
* Field goal pct.: Caroline Hummell (.452), Kaitlyn Eisenhard (.440), Arthur-Williams (.420)
* Three-point pct.: Kayla Bates (.363), Belanger-Finn (.333), Harris (.304)
NEWCOMERS
* The Mount added four newcomers for the upcoming campaign, including freshmen Kayla Agentowicz, Katrina Scheuvront and Ashlee White, who made up the top-ranked class in the NEC according to the Collegiate Girls Basketball Report.
* Agentowicz was ranked the 81st best guard in this year's class by ESPN and White was ranked the 80th best point guard and 306th overall recruit by the Collegiate Girls Basketball Report.
* Grad transfer Mikal Johnson joins the three freshmen as part of this year's recruiting class. Johnson spent two seasons at Rider and one at Liberty before transferring to the Mount. She earned a MAAC All-Rookie Team selection her freshman year at Rider and followed it up by leading the team in three-pointers (50) and ranking second in scoring (10.5 ppg) during her sophomore campaign.
SCOUTING PITTSBURGH
* The Panthers are coming off a 13-18 overall finish and 4-12 conference mark in 2015-16 as they averaged just 59.9 points per contest and allowed 63.0 to opponents.
* Forwards Brenna Wise and Yacine Diop, the team's top-two scorers a season ago, return for the Panthers after combining for just over 20 points a game in 2015-16. Wise was also the squad's top rebounder as the then-freshman averaged 7.6 per contest.
* Pittsburgh downed IUP by a 72-40 final in an exhibition tune-up this past Sunday. Grad transfer Brandi Harvey-Carr made an impact in her first outing with the Panthers, leading the team with 13 points and eight rebounds.
INSIDE THE SERIES
* The Panthers own an 8-0 advantage in the all-time series with the Mount, including a 7-0 mark on their home court.
* Pitt posted a 74-57 victory in the meeting last season behind 17 points from forward Kalista Walters. Alexis Carter and Kathleen Belanger-Finn led the way for the Mount in the contest, both registering double-digit scoring performances.
NEXT UP
* The Mount returns to Emmitsburg for the home opener against Morgan State on Tuesday, November 15 at 7 p.m. Live action can be seen for free on NECFrontRow.com.
