MOUNT ST. MARY'S vs. CENTRAL CONNECTICUT
Saturday, January 18 | 1:00 p.m.
Emmitsburg, Md. | Knott Arena  

NEC FRONT ROW (Adam Pohl, PxP) | LIVE STATS | GAME NOTES         

EMMITSBURG, Md. (Jan. 17, 2020) – Mount St. Mary's women's basketball kicks off a three-game home stand Saturday with a matinee versus Central Connecticut. The Mount is looking to improve to 4-1 in the Northeast Conference (NEC) after their most recent win streak was snapped by Merrimack last Monday. 

THE MATCHUP 

This is the 42nd ever meeting between the Mountaineers and Blue Devils. Central Connecticut won the first contest, but Mount quickly took control after that, and lead the all-time series, 29-12. The Mount has won the previous five meetings, including a sweep last year. Juliette Lawless led a 84-53 rout against the Blue Devils at home with 21 points and Jatarrikah Settle registered a double-double in New Britain as the Mountaineers won 61-44. 

Central Connecticut's last victory against the Mount came in 2017, and they have won just three meetings since the 2012-13 season.  

MOUNTAINEER REPORT

Mount's opportunity to go 4-0 to start NEC play was dashed by the Merrimack Warriors, who held the Mountaineers to 26 percent shooting from the floor - their second-lowest showing this season. Scoring is paramount to the Mount's success. They are 7-0 in games where they shoot 40 percent or higher, and 1-8 when it is lower. Knott Arena provides a boost as the Mountaineers average 77.3 points a game on their own court, opposed to 60.3 point when away. 

The team is tied for third place in the NEC with Sacred Heart. Robert Morris (4-0) and Saint Francis U (4-1) are ahead of the Mount in the standings. A victory could boost the Mount as high as a tie for first. 

The leading scorer for the team is now sophomore Michaela Harrison, who registered 30 points over last week's game to ramp her average up to 11.8 points per game. The Cleveland native's points per game in conference is substantially higher at 17.3, and she is one of four Mount players who are averaging double figures in the NEC. Settle comes in second with 13 points per game, followed by Kendall Bresee (11.0) and Rebecca Lee (10.3). 

Lee has boosted her rebound average to 5.3 boards per game, tying her with Settle for the team lead among active players. The junior finished with 17 rebounds in the games against Bryant and Merrimack, and averages seven in NEC contests. 

SCOUTING THE BLUE DEVILS

Central Connecticut has struggled to a 1-15 (0-5 NEC) start. The team is bringing a five game losing streak into the game, with their last win on December 21st against Hartford. The Blue Devils have come close in other contests, including a 56-54 defeat to UMass Lowell and a 63-61 loss at Long Island last Monday. 

Ashley Berube leads CCSU with 13.1 points per game and Emma McCamus also averages double figures with 10.9. Berube also leads in rebounding with 7.2 per game. 

LOOKING AHEAD

Following the game with Central Connecticut, the Mount will remain home for contests with St. Francis Brooklyn Monday (Jan. 20) and Bryant next Saturday (Jan. 25). The Bryant game is part of the Mount's 2020 homecoming festivities.