Conference Overview

America East Women’s Basketball
Contact Information
America East Conference
215 First Street, Suite 140
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone:
Fax:
617.695.6369
617.695.6385 (communications)
617.695.6380 (administrative)
Website: www.AmericaEast.com
Director of Communications
Sean Tainsh ([email protected])
Office:
617.695.6369 ext. 121
Cell:
401.529.8657
Asst. Director of Communications
Leslie Hanna ([email protected])
Office:
617.695.6369 ext. 120
Cell:
603.553.4500
www.AmericaEast.com
Your source for the most up-to-date media
information throughout the entire 2007-08 season, be sure to visit the Media Center on www.
AmericaEast.com for rosters, logos, photos,
press releases, credential request forms and
much, much more.
Credits
Editor: Leslie Hanna
Assistant Editor: Matt Bourque
Editorial Assistance: Member Sports Information Directors
Layout & Design: Pack Network LLC
Printer: Evans Printing
Photos: Brian Jenkins, Steve Slade, Evan Kestenbaum and member Sports Information Directors.
Table of Contents
Conference Overview....................................................................................................................... 2
League Officiating ........................................................................................................................... 5
Composite Schedule ........................................................................................................................ 6
2006-07 Preseason Coaches’ Poll ...................................................................................................... 8
2006-07 Preseason All-Conference Team ........................................................................................... 9
Albany Great Danes ....................................................................................................................... 10
Binghamton Bearcats..................................................................................................................... 14
Boston University Terriers .............................................................................................................. 18
Hartford Hawks ............................................................................................................................. 22
Maine Black Bears ......................................................................................................................... 26
UMBC Retrievers ........................................................................................................................... 30
New Hampshire Wildcats ............................................................................................................... 34
Stony Brook Seawolves .................................................................................................................. 38
Vermont Catamounts ..................................................................................................................... 42
2006-07 Season Review ................................................................................................................. 46
Annual Conference Capsules .......................................................................................................... 54
Annual Standings .......................................................................................................................... 76
Annual Statistical Leaders .............................................................................................................. 78
Annual Awards .............................................................................................................................. 81
All-Conference Breakdown ............................................................................................................. 82
All-Rookie Breakdown .................................................................................................................... 85
Player of the Week Breakdown ....................................................................................................... 86
Rookie of the Week Breakdown ...................................................................................................... 88
Game Records............................................................................................................................... 90
Season Records............................................................................................................................. 92
Career Records ............................................................................................................................. 94
1,000-Point Scorers ....................................................................................................................... 95
Annual Championship Results......................................................................................................... 96
Championship Breakdown .............................................................................................................. 99
Championship Records................................................................................................................. 100
Postseason Breakdown ................................................................................................................ 106
Directions to Campuses ............................................................................................................... 108
Media Coverage .......................................................................................................................... 109
SID Contacts/AETV Schedule ....................................................................................................... 110
1
Conference Overview
America East: Shining Stars
Since its modest beginning as a men’s basketball-only conference in 1979, America East has evolved into
one of the most comprehensive NCAA Division I conferences with a commitment to broad-based, competitive athletics programs, complementing the academic integrity and missions of the member institutions.
Each of the nine institutions - University at Albany, Binghamton University, Boston University, University
of Hartford, University of Maine, University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), University of New
Hampshire, Stony Brook University, and University of Vermont - offers a unique blend of academic and
athletic tradition.
Progressive in its approach to its more than 3,200 student-athletes, America East recognizes champions
in each of its 21 sports: men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, men’s and women’s cross country, field
hockey, women’s golf, men’s and women’s indoor track and field, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and
women’s outdoor track and field, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s swimming and
diving, men’s and women’s tennis, and women’s volleyball. America East also conducts the nation’s most
comprehensive academic recognition program for student-athletes.
With a geographic footprint covering the Mid-Atlantic to Northeast regions of the United States, America
East has a population base of more than 50 million people and nearly 30 million television homes. America
East member institutions include more than 106,000 students on the nine campuses and boast nearly
one million living alumni.
America East Commissioner Patrick Nero
Staff Directory
PATRICK NERO
Commissioner
JULIE RUPPERT
Senior Associate Commissioner
MATT BOURQUE
Associate Commissioner
KATIE WILLETT
Assistant Commissioner/Compliance
MATT JARRET
Assistant Commissioner/Championships & Sports
Admin.
ERIC REDDY
Director of Sales
SEAN TAINSH
Director of Communications
Patrick Nero, the former Athletic Director at the University of Maine, began his tenure as America East
Commissioner on August 14, 2005. Nero serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Conference overseeing all facets of the operations of the NCAA Division I Conference, which is home to nine Universities
participating in 21 sports. Nero is the third commissioner in America East history.
JESSICA DESCARTES
Asst. Dir. of Championships & Sports Admin.
Besides his responsibilities within the America East Conference, Nero also serves on the NCAA Management Council, the NCAA Playing Rules oversight Panel and the NCAA Committee on Women’s
Athletics.
KRISTEN MOORBY
Intern
Prior to being named Commissioner, Nero served as the Maine Athletic Director for three years. In his
tenure at Maine, Nero quickly delivered on a pledge of an athletic program that encouraged its studentathletes to strive for success in the classroom as well as in athletic endeavors. Behind Nero’s leadership,
Maine captured its first ever America East Academic Cup in 2004, given to the institution whose studentathletes achieve the highest cumulative grade point average, with a conference record 3.12 grade point
average.
BARBARA JACOBS
Coordinator of Women’s Basketball Officials
LESLIE HANNA
Assistant Director of Communications
FRANK SULLIVAN
Coordinator of Men’s Basketball Officials
KATHY FERRARACCIO
Coordinator of Volleyball Officials
The same year as winning the academic cup, Maine finished second in the America East Commissioner
Cup which rewards athletic success. This is the highest finish in Maine history. Maine won seven conference titles in Nero’s tenure and 11 teams advanced to conference title games. The men’s ice hockey team
advanced to the National Championship game, while the football team became the first NCAA Division
1-AA to beat an SEC team with its historic win against Mississippi State.
ROGER TAYLOR
Coordinator of Soccer Officials
Prior to his tenure at Maine, Nero served as the Senior Associate Athletic Director at the University of
Miami. A native of Providence, Rhode Island, Nero began his athletic administration career at his alma
mater, Providence College. He also served in various roles at Lamar University and Marquette University
prior to his seven years at Miami.
MARA WAGER
Coordinator of Women’s Lacrosse Officials
MARIE KOCH
Coordinator of Field Hockey Officials
NICK ZIBELLI
Coordinator of Baseball Umpires
NICK CINQUANTO
Coordinator of Softball Umpires
Contact Information
PHONE NUMBER
617.695.6369
FAX NUMBERS
617.695.6380 (administrative)
617.695.6385 (communications)
MAILING ADDRESS
215 First Street, Suite 140
Cambridge, MA 02142
WEBSITE
www.AmericaEast.com
2
League History
To see how far America East has progressed,
consider the conference was established in
1979 as the ECAC North. The conference at that
time consisted of 10 institutions and sponsored
league competition only in men’s basketball, with
the champion receiving an automatic bid to the
NCAA Championship.
Men’s basketball remained the lone league sport
until the 1988-89 academic year. At that time,
the conference’s Board of Directors made a new
commitment to an all-sports association, creating the North Atlantic Conference by establishing
an office, hiring a full-time commissioner, and
embarking on a
building program.
The North Atlantic Conference merged with
the Seaboard Conference (the league in which
Boston University, Hartford, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, among others, competed in
women’s basketball) in 1989 and the NAC looked
to establish conference championships in several
men’s and women’s sports.
The conference changed its name to America
East prior to the 1996-97 academic year and
moved the conference headquarters to its present location in downtown Boston in 1997.
In 2005, America East hired Patrick Nero, most
recently the Director of Athletics at Maine, as the
conference’s third commissioner.
Quick Facts
FOUNDED
1979 ECAC North (men’s basketball)
1988-89 (all sports)
MEMBERSHIP (YEAR JOINED)
Albany (2001)
Binghamton (2001)
Boston University (1979)
Hartford (1985)
Maine (1979)
UMBC (2003)
New Hampshire (1979)
Stony Brook (2001)
Vermont (1979)
ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP (YEAR JOINED)
Fairfield (Field Hockey only) (2007)
SPORTS
Baseball, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball,
Men’s Cross Country, Women’s Cross Country,
Field Hockey, Women’s Golf, Men’s Indoor Track
and Field, Women’s Indoor Track and Field, Men’s
Lacrosse, Women’s Lacrosse, Men’s Outdoor
Track and Field, Women’s Outdoor Track and
Field, Men’s Soccer, Women’s Soccer, Softball,
Men’s Swimming and Diving, Women’s Swimming and Diving, Men’s Tennis, Women’s Tennis,
Volleyball.
Athletic Success
America East enters its 20th year of all-sports championship competition on the heels of one of the most
successful seasons in history.
America East champion Albany and runner-up UMBC each advanced to the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Quarterfinals. America East and the ACC were the only conferences in the nation with multiple teams in the
elite eight. Scott Marr of Albany was named the national Coach of the Year by the USILA. Albany’s Frank
Resatarits was one of five finalists for the Tewaaraton Trophy, which annually recognizes the top player in
the nation. Resatarits also became the first America East player since 2001 to earn first-team All-American
status. UMBC was co-host of the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship at M&T Bank Stadium, where the
event attracted a record 48,443 fans to the title game.
Hartford and Boston University each earned bids to the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship. It was the
13th trip to the NCAA Championship for the Hawks and fifth appearance for the Terriers.
America East men’s basketball champion Albany and regular-season champion Vermont each advanced to
the post-season. Albany made its second-straight appearance in the NCAA Championship while Vermont
earned an NIT berth. It marked the fourth time in five years America East had placed multiple teams in
the post-season.
UMBC made its first post-season appearance in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship when the
Retrievers won the America East Championship. Hartford advanced to the post-season for the thirdstraight year, earning a bid to the WNIT, where the Hawks defeated Bucknell in the first round.
Albany became the first America East team to advance to the regional final of the NCAA Softball Championship. The Great Danes defeated Harvard and Hofstra before falling to No. 7 Baylor.
Albany also hosted an NCAA Volleyball Championship match when the Great Danes were joined by eighthranked Minnesota, St. John’s and Siena for a regional at University Gym. It was the first such occurrence
for an America East team.
Rory Quiller of Binghamton earned All-America honors at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships,
when he finished second in the pole vault. Arel Gordon of Maine, who finished seventh in the 60-meters,
was also selected an All-American. Quiller, and Joe Greene and Marc Pallozzi of Albany, were named AllAmericans in the pole vault, 400-meter hurdles and javelin, respectively, at the NCAA Outdoor Track and
Field Championships. Cathy Parker of New Hampshire and Marisa Ryan of Boston University competed at
both the NCAA Cross Country Championships and NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Gered
Burns of Albany was a participant at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
David Holmes of Binghamton became the first men’s swimmer in conference history to qualify for the
NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, where he competed in three events.
Academic Success
America East institutions boasted five Academic All-Americans in 2006-07 while another 33 were named
All-District.
A total of 23 America East teams received Public Recognition Awards by the NCAA under the Division I
Academic Progress Rate (APR). The APR provides a real-time snapshot of a team’s academic success and
the academic progress of student-athletes.
America East honored a top-scholar athlete in each of its championship sports: Kirby Davis (Maine men’s
cross country), Marisa Ryan (Boston University women’s cross country, women’s outdoor track and field),
Arlette Westdorp (Albany field hockey), Stephan Hall (Albany men’s soccer), Liz Cook (Hartford women’s
soccer), Megan Hoag (Binghamton volleyball), Brendon Hitchcock (Binghamton baseball), Martin Klimes
(Vermont men’s basketball), Jessica Smith (Stony Brook women’s basketball), Jeff A.J. Oleksak (Hartford
men’s golf), Juliana Carrillo (Hartford women’s golf), Mike Ammann (Albany men’s lacrosse), Kate Fontana
(Albany women’s lacrosse), Christy Leath (Boston University softball), Brian Koizim (Binghamton men’s
swimming & diving), Lidija Breznikar (Boston U. women’s swimming & diving), Nihal Advani (Stony Brook
men’s tennis), Comelia Carapcea (UMBC women’s tennis), Rory Quiller (Binghamton men’s indoor track &
field, men’s outdoor track and field), and Jessica Ortman (Albany women’s indoor track & field).
More than 2,200 of America East’s 3,200 student-athletes were named to the Academic Honor Roll after
receiving grade-point averages of 3.0 or better. Included in that total were 1,061 student-athletes who
earned a 3.5 or better.
Maine and Vermont were awarded the America East Academic Cup. Each institution saw its student-athletes maintain a 3.07 grade-point average. It was the third-consecutive season Vermont was honored and
the fourth time overall. Maine won the award for the second time in history.
3
Conference Overview
Four Among U.S. News & World Report Top 100
Four America East institutions are ranked among the top 100 national universities in America according to the annual U.S. News & World Report survey released
Friday, August 17. Of the nation’s Division I and Football Championship Subdivisions, only the Ivy League had more institutions in the top 100.
Boston University ranked tied for the 57th position for the second-straight year, the highest rating for any of the nine America East institutions. Binghamton
University (83, tie), Stony Brook University (96, tie) and University of Vermont (96, tie) were others highly rated among the national universities.
University of New Hampshire finished among the top half of the national universities with a rating of 108.
To rank colleges and universities, U.S. News first assigns schools to a group of their peers, based on the basic categories developed by the Carnegie Foundation
for the Advancement of Teaching in 2006. Those in the National Universities group are the 262 American universities (164 public and 98 private) that offer a
wide range of undergraduate majors as well as master’s and doctoral degrees; many strongly emphasize research.
In each category, data on up to 15 indicators of academic quality are gathered from each school and tabulated. Schools are ranked within categories by their
total weighted score.
In addition, Binghamton (37), Vermont (45, tie), Stony Brook (45, tie) and New Hampshire (52, tie) ranked among the top public national universities in the
country (67 ranked).
Boston University Collects Commissioner’s Cup
Six league titles, one runner-up finish and three regular-season titles by its women’s programs has led Boston University to the 2006-07 Stuart P. Haskell,
Jr. Commissioner’s Cup. For the second-straight year and fifth time in the last six years, the Terriers earn the conference award that annually recognizes the
highest scoring athletic program in America East as determined by a points system, which rewards a school for success both during the regular season and at
championship competition in the league’s 22 sports.
In the closest margin in conference history, Boston U. tallied 358 points to outdistance second-place University at Albany (353) by just five points. Binghamton
University was third with 302 points, followed by UMBC (271), University of Vermont (265), Stony Brook University (259), University of New Hampshire (241),
University of Maine (228) and University of Hartford (199).
The Terriers won six women’s league championships to bolster their point total. Boston U. took home the conference crown in women’s cross country, field
hockey, women’s indoor track & field, women’s tennis, women’s golf and women’s lacrosse. The Terriers were also runners up in women’s soocer, while winning
regular-season titles in field hockey, women’s lacrosse and softball.
Conference Leadership
America East Presidents and athletic administrators are not only extremely active on their own campuses, but they are also having an impact nationally with
their involvement on NCAA committees. As members of NCAA committees, presidents and athletics administrators play a primary role in the maintenance of
college sports. The positions held by these leaders are both extremely powerful and influential when it comes to the operation and continued success of collegiate athletics.
University of Hartford President Walter Harrison is one who is heavily involved in athletics not only in America East, but also nationally. He is the Chair of the
NCAA Executive Committee, the highest committee in the NCAA governance structure, Chair of the NCAA I-AA/AAA Presidential Advisory Group, --Chair of the
NCAA Committee on Academic Performance, a member of NCAA Division I Board of Directors and a member of the NCAA Presidential Task Force. America East
Commissioner Patrick Nero serves on the NCAA Management Council; the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics and is a member of the Conference Commissioners Association.
Director of Athletics at Stony Brook University, Jim Fiore, serves on the NCAA Championships and Competition Cabinet and Ann Maxim, of Maine, represents
the America East on the NCAA Academics, Eligibility and Compliance Cabinet.
Community Involvement
America East’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is comprised of student-athletes from each conference institution who interact and support one
another to shape intercollegiate athletics policy and enhance the student-athlete experience. The group provides a forum for student-athletes to express their
ideas and concerns regarding NCAA legislation, conference policies and other issues related to student-athlete well-being. Participants in SAAC also lead the
way in the conference’s community involvement. Teams all across America East are becoming active in the communities surrounding their campuses to make
a difference in people’s lives. Whether it’s serving dinners at a homeless shelter or taking time to volunteer with local charities, the America East SAAC and
student-athletes are making a difference.
As role models in the community, members of the America East SAAC make an effort to interact with today’s youth and encourage them to work towards their
goals and dreams. During recent SAAC meetings, the group has traveled to Boston’s South End Salvation Army Community Center where they worked with local
youths. As part of a community night, the center had a various activities going on that allowed the student-athletes to relate to the area youth on a number of
levels. They participated in a Habitat for Humanity build at two separate locations in and around Boston. The groups spent the afternoon interacting and working
with volunteers from the community as well as the families whose homes they were constructing. The experience not only provided the student-athletes with
an opportunity to help make a difference in the lives of the families they were working besides, but it also helped them create lasting memories and friendships.
Most recently, the America East SAAC volunteered at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cambridge, providing guidance to youths in an effort to help them become
leaders within the community.
4
League Officiating
2007-08 Officials
Joanne Aldrich
Tewksbury, Mass.
Janice Aliberti
Glassboro, N.J.
Sue Blauch
Harrisonburg, Va.
Kevin Brooks
Upper Marlboro, Md.
Denise Brooks-Clauser
Jersey City, N.J.
Reta Brown
Hollis, Maine
Heather Browne
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Kelly Callahan
Wilmington, Dela.
Cliff Carney
Brighton, Mass.
Fatou Cissoko
Providence, R.I.
Tom Danaher
Sewell, N.J.
Diana DePaul
Rockville, Md.
Kimberly Evans
Rochester, N.Y.
Kevin Farlow
Abingdon, Md.
Patti Fernandes
Stratford, Conn.
Reggie Fowler
Islip, N.Y.
Debra Ann Garcia
Boston, Mass.
Frank Geiselman
Cumberland, R.I.
Kelly Gill
Pocopson, Pa.
Danene Hopson
Nottingham, Md.
Kathy Jenkins
Gorham, Maine
Norma Jones
Lothian, Md.
Rachelle Jones
White Plains, N.Y.
Henry Letendre
Central Falls, R.I.
Angela Lewis
Bowie, Md.
Kathleen Lonergan
Jamison, Pa.
Kathleen Lynch
Clymer, N.Y.
Margaret Lynch-Galadeta
North Providence, R.I.
Duane Mack
East Hartford, Conn.
Terry McKinney
Windsor, Conn.
Keith Miller
Avon, N.Y.
Michael Motta
Quincy, Mass.
Randy Mudge
Hunter, N.Y.
Colleen O’Connor
Northampton, Mass.
John Orminski
Richboro, Pa.
John Palermo
Oxford, Mass.
Susan Peters
West Roxbury, Mass.
Vidmantas Petraitis
Germantown, Md.
Jack Plunkett
Jenkintown, Pa.
Christopher Poles
Rochester, N.Y.
Anthony Price
Bronx, N.Y.
John Riordan
Worcester, Mass.
Rita Roach
Boston, Mass.
Larry Ruffing
White River Junction, Vt.
Michael Schmidt
Chittenango, N.Y.
Robert Simmons
New Bedford, Mass.
Jerome Skrine
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Geraldine Smith
Helmetta, N.J.
Bonita Spence
South Orange, N.J.
Michele St. Pierre
East Greenbush, N.Y.
Victor Torregiano
Mendon, N.Y.
Joseph Vaszily
Westfield, N.J.
Mara Wager
Delmar, N.Y.
Kenneth Weiand
Walpole, Mass.
Pamela Wine
Dayville, Conn.
Richard Wright
Flushing, N.Y.
Gary Zavatkay
Suffield, Conn.
2007-08 NCAA Rules Changes
Courtside Monitor. (Old Rule 2-5.1.a, New Rule 2-13.3.d) - The officials shall use the
monitor when a fight situation is declared.
Back Panel of Uniform. (Old Rule 3-5.1, New Rule 3-5.2) - When a back shoulder
panel is used, it shall extend no more than three inches from the shoulder seam and may
be arched or horizontal.
Uniform Patches. (Old Rule 3-5.7, New Rule 3-5.5.d) - Any commemorative/memorial
patches worn on the uniform shall not exceed a maximum of 2 1/4 square inches.
Uniform Patch Placement. (Old Rule 3-5.7, New Rule 3-5.5.c) - A single flag, institutional or conference logo or mascot may be worn at the center of the neckline or apex on
the back of the game jersey.
Hair Control Devices. (Old Rule 3-5.15, New Rule 3-5.12) - Any item that goes entirely
around the entire head, such as headbands or hair control devices, shall be of a single
solid color, no more than two inches wide with only one institutional or manufacturer’s
logo and the dominant color of the game jersey or white, black or beige (women only).
Hard items including
but not limited to barrettes, beads and bobby pins are prohibited.
Throw-in Ends. (Old Rule 4-65.5, New Rule 4-67.4) - A throw-in shall end when a passed
ball touches or is legally touched inbounds by a player or when a player, who is located on
the playing court, touches and causes the ball to be out of bounds or when the throw-in
team commits a throw-in violation.
Delay of Game. (Old Rule 9-5.4, New Rule 10-3.7) - After a team warning has been issued, the opponents of the thrower-in shall not have any part of their person beyond the
vertical inside plane of any boundary before the ball has crossed that boundary line. The
team warning will be followed by a technical foul assessed to the offending player.
Fouls and Penalties. (Rule 10) - The rule regarding fouls and penalties was organized
into four areas: personal fouls, administrative technical fouls, player/substitute technical
fouls and bench technical fouls. The rule was also changed to consistently count all technical fouls toward the categories of team foul count. In addition, all technical fouls assessed
to a player or substitute will count toward that individual’s five fouls toward disqualification and the two fouls toward ejection. Under the previous rule, there were some indirect
technical fouls that did not count toward disqualification, team foul count or ejection. The
only remaining indirect technical foul is the technical foul assessed to the head coach for
actions of bench personnel.
Legal Guarding Position. (Old Appendix III. Section 5b) - The officiating guideline that
made it an illegal guarding position for a defensive player to be positioned directly under
the cylinder or the backboard when a dribbler became an airborne shooter has been
revoked.
Jon Iati
5
November
Fri. 9
Sat. 10
Sun. 11
Tue. 13
Wed. 14
Thu. 15
Fri. 16
Sat. 17
Sun. 18
Mon. 19
Tue. 20
Wed. 21
Fri. 23
Sat. 24
Sun. 25
Tue. 27
Wed. 28
Thu. 29
6
Composite Schedule
Iona at Stony Brook
7 p.m.
Albany at Indiana
7 p.m.
Maine at Clemson
7 p.m.
Vermont at Massachusetts
7 p.m.
George Washington at UMBC
7:30 p.m.
Boston University at Siena
2 p.m.
Binghamton at Portland State
10:05 p.m.
Rider at UMBC
12 p.m.
Vermont at Holy Cross
1:30 p.m.
Stony Brook at Connecticut
2 p.m.
Hartford at Kansas
3 p.m.
Albany at St. Bonaventure
7 p.m.
Hartford at Providence
7 p.m.
Rhode Island at Boston University
7 p.m.
Central Connecticut at New Hampshire
7 p.m.
Sacred Heart at Stony Brook
7 p.m.
UMBC at Coppin State
7 p.m.
Colgate at Albany
7 p.m.
Dartmouth at Maine
7:30 p.m.
James Madison at UMBC
7 p.m.
Columbia at Hartford
7 p.m.
Marist at Stony Brook
7 p.m.
Brown at Vermont (1)
12:30 p.m.
Binghamton vs. St. Bonaventure (2)
3 p.m.
Ohio State at Boston University (3)
4 p.m.
New Hampshire vs. South Florida (4)
7 p.m.
New Hampshire vs. Univ. of Tennesse-Martin (4)
11 a.m.
NC State/St. John’s at Vermont (1)
12:30/2:30 p.m.
Holy Cross at Maine
1 p.m.
Albany at La Salle
7 p.m.
Northeastern at Boston University
5:30 p.m.
Hartford at Brigham Young
6:30 p.m.
Binghamton at Canisius
7 p.m.
UMBC at George Mason
2 p.m.
Boston University at UNC-Greensboro (6)
1 p.m.
Hartford vs. Alabama-Birmingham (7)
3 p.m.
Albany vs. Holy Cross (5)
4 p.m.
Harvard at Maine (8)
4:30 p.m.
Vermont vs. Ball State (9)
6:05 p.m.
Quinnipiac at Maine (8)
7 p.m.
Hartford vs. Hawaii/Lipscomb (7)
9 a.m.
Boston University vs. UNC-Asheville/NC A&T (6)
1/3 p.m.
St. Peter’s at New Hampshire
1 p.m.
Albany vs. Long Island/Youngstown State (5)
2/4p.m.
Maine vs. Hofstra (8)
3:30 p.m.
Vermont vs. FDU/Northern Arizona (9)
4:05/6:35 p.m.
Stony Brook at Manhattan
4 p.m.
Mount St. Mary’s at UMBC
4:30 p.m.
TBD at Maine (8)
6 p.m.
Hartford at Hawaii (7)
11 a.m./5:30 p.m.
Binghamton at Sacred Heart
2 p.m.
New Hampshire at Boston College
7 p.m.
Albany at Sacred Heart
7 p.m.
Bucknell at Binghamton
7 p.m.
Massachusetts at Boston University
7 p.m.
UMBC at NJIT
7 p.m.
Maine at William & Mary
7 p.m.
Stony Brook at Quinnipiac
7 p.m.
December
Sat. 1
Sun. 2
Mon. 3
Tue. 4
Wed. 5
Fri. 7
Sat. 8
Sun. 9
Tue. 11
Wed. 12
Thu. 13
Fri. 14
Sat. 15
Sun. 16
Wed. 19
Fri. 21
Sat. 22
Thu. 27
Fri. 28
Sat. 29
Sun. 30
Colgate at New Hampshire
La Salle at Binghamton
Vermont at Kent State
Boston University at St. John’s
Hartford at Massachusetts
Albany at Siena
Maine at Fairfield University
UMBC at Loyola
Stony Brook at Hofstra
Army at New Hampshire
Binghamton at Duquesne
Boston University at Brown
Buffalo at Albany
UMBC at Navy
Stony Brook at Yale
St. John’s at Hartford
Maine at Massachusetts
Binghamton at Liberty
Lafayette at Vermont
Harvard at New Hampshire
Albany at Detroit-Mercy
Northern Iowa at UMBC
Hofstra at Hartford
Boston University at Harvard
Hartford at Marist
Louisville at Vermont
Central Connecticut at Stony Brook
New Hampshire at Iona
Binghamton at Villanova
Maine at St. John’s
Dartmouth at Stony Brook
New Hampshire at Northeastern
Harvard at Vermont
Colgate at Binghamton
Maine at St. Francis N.Y.
Albany at Richmond
UMBC at Towson
Lehigh at Binghamton
Maine at Boston College
Vermont at Manhattan
Stony Brook at Northeastern
Marist at Albany
Michigan State at Hartford (CSN)
Boston University vs. Georgia Southern (10)
UMBC vs. Richmond (11)
Boston University vs. Morgan State/VCU (10)
St. Francis (N.Y.) at Albany
New Hampshire at Providence
Hartford vs. Connecticut (12)
Stony Brook vs. Rhode Island (13)
St. Bonaventure at Binghamton
Maine vs. TBA (14)
Vermont at Robert Morris
UMBC at Maryland (11)
Boston University at Kansas
Stony Brook vs. Lehigh/Brown (13)
1 p.m.
2 p.m.
2 p.m.
2 p.m.
2 p.m.
5 p.m.
2 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
12 p.m.
1 p.m.
1 p.m.
1 p.m.
1:30 p.m.
12 p.m.
2 p.m.
12 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
2 p.m.
1 p.m.
2 p.m.
2 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
5 p.m.
7 p.m.
12 p.m.
1 p.m.
1 p.m.
2 p.m.
2 p.m.
5 p.m.
2 p.m.
5/7:30 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
12 p.m.
1 p.m.
2 p.m.
TBA
2 p.m.
2 p.m.
3 p.m.
TBA
January
Wed. 2
Sat. 5
Mon. 7
Wed. 9
Sat. 12
Sun. 13
Wed. 16
Sat. 19
Sun. 20
Tue. 22
Wed. 23
Sat. 26
Tue. 29
Wed. 30
Colgate at Vermont
*UMBC at Maine
*Albany at New Hampshire
*Hartford at Boston University
*Vermont at Stony Brook
Cornell at Binghamton
New Hampshire at Dartmouth
*Boston University at Binghamton
*Stony Brook at UMBC
*Maine at Albany
*Vermont at Hartford (CSN/FSNY)
*Binghamton at UMBC
*Albany at Vermont
*Hartford at New Hampshire
*Maine at Stony Brook
*Hartford at Maine
*Stony Brook at Boston University
*New Hampshire at Binghamton
*UMBC at Vermont
*UMBC at Albany
*Binghamton at Hartford (CSN)
*New Hampshire at Vermont
*Boston University at Maine
*Boston University at New Hampshire
*Maine at Vermont
*Albany at Hartford
*Stony Brook at Binghamton
*Hartford at Stony Brook
*UMBC at Boston University
*Binghamton at Albany
*Maine at New Hampshire
February
Sat. 2
Tue. 5
Wed. 6
Sat. 9
Sun. 10
Wed. 13
Sat. 16
Tue. 19
Wed. 20
Sat. 23
Wed. 27
*Binghamton at Maine
*Vermont at Boston University
*Stony Brook at Albany (Big Purple Growl)
*New Hampshire at UMBC
*Vermont at Binghamton
*UMBC at Hartford
*Boston University at Albany (TW3)
*Stony Brook at New Hampshire
*Maine at UMBC
*Boston University at Hartford
*Stony Brook at Vermont
*New Hampshire at Albany
*Binghamton at Boston University
*Hartford at Vermont
*UMBC at Stony Brook
*Albany at Maine
*Stony Brook at Maine
*Vermont at Albany
*UMBC at Binghamton
*New Hampshire at Hartford
*Maine at Boston University
*Vermont at New Hampshire
*Albany at UMBC
*Hartford at Binghamton
*UMBC at New Hampshire
*Albany at Stony Brook
*Maine at Binghamton
*Boston University at Vermont (CN8)
*Hartford at Albany
*Binghamton at Stony Brook
*New Hampshire at Boston University
*Vermont at Maine
7 p.m.
12 p.m.
1 p.m.
1 p.m.
2 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
2 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
2 p.m.
6 p.m.
12 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
12 p.m.
1 p.m.
7 p.m.
1 p.m.
7 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
7 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
12 p.m.
1 p.m.
2 p.m.
2 p.m.
7 p.m.
12 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
12
1
4:30
7
7
7
12
7
1
2
1
2
7
7
7
7:30
12
2
2
2
7
7
7
7
1
2
2
2
7
7
7
7:30
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
March
Sat. 1
*Binghamton at New Hampshire
*Boston University at Stony Brook
*Maine at Hartford
*Vermont at UMBC
Wed. 5 *Albany at Binghamton
*Boston University at UMBC
*Stony Brook at Hartford
*New Hampshire at Maine
Sat. 8
*Albany at Boston University
*Binghamton at Vermont
*New Hampshire at Stony Brook
*Hartford at UMBC
Thu. 13 !America East Championship: First Round
Fri. 14
!America East Championship: Quarterfinals
Sat. 15 !America East Championship: Semifinals (NESN)
Sun. 16 !America East Championship: Title Game (NESN)
1 p.m.
2
2
7
7
7
7
7:30
1
1
2
7
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
TBA
TBA
5/7:30 p.m.
5 p.m.
Key
* America East Conference game
! 2008 America East Championship at Chase Arena (West Hartford, Conn.)
(1) TD Banknorth Classic (Burlington, Vt.)
(2) at Elmira Arena
(3) at Agganis Arena (Boston, Mass.)
(4) South Florida Classic (Tampa Bay, Fla.)
(5) Long Island Turkey Classic (New York, N.Y.)
(6) UNC-Greensboro Tournament (Greensboro, N.C.)
(7) 29th Annual Jack in the Box Rainbow Wahine Classic (Honolulu, Hawaii)
(8) Dead River Company Classic (Orono, Maine)
(9) La Quinta Inn & Suites Thanksgiving Tournament (Flagstaff, Ariz.)
(10) VCU Tournament (Richmond, Va.)
(11) University of Maryland Terrapin Classic (College Park, Md.)
(12) at Hartford Civic Center
(13) Lehigh Tournament (Bethlehem, Pa.)
(14) Miami Tournament (Coral Gables, Fla.)
Television
AETV - game part of the America East Television package
CN8 - Comcast Network
CSN - Comcast Sports Network (formerly Fox Sports New England)
MASN - Mid-Atlantic Sports Network
MSG - Madison Square Garden Network
NESN - New England Sports Network
TW3 - Time Warner Cable (Albany, N.Y.)*
7
2007-08 Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Hartford Women’s Basketball Claims Top Billing
University of Hartford is the unanimous favorite to win the 2008 America East Women’s Basketball Championship according to a vote of the conference’s head coaches. After winning their second-straight regular
season crown and playing in the Championship title game in 2007, the Hawks received all eight possible
first-place votes, tallying 64 points (coaches are not permitted to vote for their own team).
University of Vermont garnered the final first-place vote and 56 points to finish second in the poll. Binghamton University received 45 points for third-place. Boston University placed fourth with 43 points, and Stony
Brook University rounded out the top-five with 32 points. Defending America East Tournament Champion
UMBC earned 28 points for sixth-place.
University of Maine, University at Albany and University of New Hampshire filled out the nine-team poll,
finishing with 25, 16 and 15 points, respectively.
Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Rank
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Team (1st-place votes).......... Points
Hartford (8) ......................................64
Vermont (1) ......................................56
Binghamton ......................................45
Boston U. .........................................43
Stony Brook ......................................32
UMBC ...............................................28
Maine ...............................................25
Albany..............................................16
New Hampshire ................................15
Hartford (25-9 overall record, 15-1 America East record) enters the 2007-08 season with a streak of three seasons with 20 or more wins, including a victory
over a ranked opponent in each of the last two years. After snapping their two-year reign as America East Tournament Champions last year, the Hawks look to
capture the league title once again on their home court. Hartford is led by preseason all-conference pick senior Danielle Hood, who is the only first-team allconference selection returning from a year ago. Sophomore Erica Beverly, the 2006 Rookie of the Year, will return to the court after sustaining an injury early
last season which kept her out for the remainder of ‘06-’07.
Vermont (19-12, 8-8) was the conference’s surprise team last season, finishing third in the regular season after being selected to finish eighth in the preseason
poll. The rookie tandem of Courtnay Pilypaitis, 2007 Rookie of the Year and third-team all-conference, and May Kotsopoulos, an all-rookie and all-defensive team
honoree, lead the Catamounts. Both will return with a year of experience under their belts. Vermont lost just one starter from last year and will look to win its
first conference championship since 2000.
Binghamton (12-19, 7-9) boasts two preseason all-conference team honorees this year in seniors Laura Sario and Laine Kurpniece. Sario and Kurpniece were
second-team and third-team all-conference selections, respectively, last year. The Bearcats are an experienced squad with four seniors and America East Championship Quarterfinal wins in each of the last two seasons. This year’s top-three billing is Binghamton’s highest spot in the preseason poll since joining America
East in 2001.
The Terriers (15-15, 7-9) lost their top two scorers, Katie Meinhardt and Erica Kovach, from a year ago to graduation, but return senior Cheri Raffo and sophomore Aly Hinton. Raffo started all 30 games last season and finished tied with Kovach for second on the team in points. Hinton, a unanimous all-rookie team
honoree, was sixth in the conference in rebounding and also a 30-game starter. The Terriers look to return to the title game, a feat they accomplished for three
straight seasons before falling in the quarterfinals of the 2007 tournament.
Stony Brook (18-11, 14-2) will look to preseason all-conference pick Dana Ferraro to help lead the Seawolves through a youth movement. With the loss of
the conference’s Player of the Year, Mykeema Ford, first-team all-conference Jessica Smith, and third-team all-conference Leah Getz, new head coach Michele
Cherry has a lot of holes to plug. Cherry inherits a roster with five freshmen and five sophomores, and just three seniors and two juniors. The Seawolves have
had the highest-scoring offense in the conference for three straight seasons.
The Retrievers (16-17, 6-10) made a cinderella run through last year’s tournament, becoming the first seven seed to win the America East Women’s Basketball
Championship and playing in the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament. Two starters return from the championship team, seniors Kristin Drabyn and Morgan
Hatten. Drabyn is a force behind the three-point arc with 2.06 three-point field goals per game last season, while Hatten protects the ball well with a 1.64 assistto-turnover ratio a year ago. With a short roster of just 11 players, the five freshmen have a good chance of getting significant time on the court this season.
Maine (13-5, 7-9) hired Head Coach Cindy Blodgett during the offseason to replace Ann McInerney. The Black Bears hope that Blodgett, a 1998 Maine graduate and the program’s all-time leading scorer with 3,005 career points, can return the team to America East dominance as when Blodgett led her team to four
straight America East titles as a player. Kris Younan, Maine’s sole senior, will lead a young team of two juniors, six sophomores and four freshmen which finished
tied for fourth during the 06-07 regular season.
The Great Danes (9-22, 4-12) won their second America East Championship game ever last year, and return seniors Kristin Higy, Sherri Mikus and Gia Sanders
this year. Higy is the top returning scorer and rebounder, averaging 10.4 points per game and 6.2 rebounds per game last season. Mikus started all 31 games
for Albany last year, putting up 2.0 assists, 5.8 rebounds, and 9.3 points per game. An all-defensive player a year ago, Sanders finished second in the conference with 49 blocks on the season.
New Hampshire (9-20, 4-12) welcomed Head Coach Kristin Cole during the offseason as the program’s fifth head coach. A highlight of the 06-07 season was the
emergence of Amy Simpson, an all-rookie last year. Simpson started all 27 games and averaged 7.0 points per game. With 7.3 points per game, senior Ashley
Cerniglia is the Wildcats’ top returning scorer, while junior Danielle Flowers was an 18-game starter a year ago.
8
2007-08 Preseason All-Conference
Hood, Sario and Pilypaitis Head Up Preseason Squad
University of Hartford’s Danielle Hood (Cortland Manor, N.Y./Walter Panas), Binghamton University’s Laura
Sario (Espoo, Finland/Etela-Tapiolanlukio) and University of Vermont’s Courtnay Pilypaitis (Orleans, Ontario/St. Peter’s) were each unanimous selections to the 2007-08 America East Women’s Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team. All three players received the maximum of eight votes from coaches around
the conference (coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players) and were all-conference selections from a year ago.
Preseason All-Conference
Rounding out the five-player team is Stony Brook University’s senior forward Dana Ferraro (Middlesex,
N.J./Middlesex) and Binghamton’s senior center Laine Kurpniece (Riga, Latvia/Riga Secondary School 47).
Both were third-team all-conference honorees last season.
*Danielle Hood, Sr., F, Hartford
*Laura Sario, Sr., G, Binghamton
*Courtnay Pilypaitis, So., G, Vermont
Dana Ferraro, Sr., F, Stony Brook
Laine Kurpniece, Sr., C, Binghamton
*unanimous selection
Hood, a senior forward, is the only 2007 first-team all-conference player returning this year. She led the
Hawks in scoring for a second-straight year with 13.1 points per game. Hood also pulled down 4.3 rebounds per game and shot at a .472 clip. She started all 34 games, including Hartford’s run to the America
East Championship Final and the second round of the Women’s National Invitational Tournament.
Sario, one of the Bearcats’ two preseason favorites, averaged 13.5 points per game in 06-07. She threw
for a .787 free throw percentage, fifth-best in the conference, and a .351 field goal percentage. This
second-team all-conference honoree played over 33 minutes per game last year. Sario is one reason why
Binghamton received it’s highest preseason ranking of third this year since its inception into America East,
and has won America East Championship Quarterfinal games in each of the past two years.
Dana Ferraro
2007 Rookie of the Year Pilypaitis helped the Catamounts finish third in the conference last year after they
were voted to finish eighth in the preseason. The sophomore was a unanimous all-rookie selection and a
third-team all-conference with 13.7 points per game on her scorecard (sixth in America East). Pilypaitis
also dished out 4.06 assists per game and came away with 5.3 rebounds per contest. To put the icing
on her freshman resume, Pilypaitis attempted 156 three-point field goals and nailed almost 37 percent
of them.
Ferraro was another third-team all-conference selection a year ago for the second-seeded Seawolves. Ferraro averaged 7.2 points per game and led the conference in rebounding with 7.7 per game. The senior
will step into a crucial leadership position on the court this season after the graduation of Stony Brook’s
two first-team all-conference honorees last year, including the Player of the Year Mykeema Ford.
Kurpniece rounds out the preseason all-conference team. A third-team all-conference pick last season,
Kurpniece finished 15th in the conference with 10.9 points per game and 11th with a team-high 5.7 rebounds per game. The center’s shooting accuracy is phenomenal, hitting nearly half of her attempted field
goals (.494) for third-best in the conference, and nearly 80 percent of her free throws (.787). Kurpniece
is another reason for Binghamton’s rising success in the conference since 2001.
Danielle Hood
Mike Gordon
Player
D. Hood
L. Sario
C. Pilypaitis
D. Ferraro
L. Kurpniece
GP
34
26
31
29
26
GS Min
34 941
26 865
30 935
28 919
10 599
2006-07 Individual Statistics (All Games)
Avg FG FGA Pct 3FG FGA Pct FT
27.7 183 388 .472
0
1 .000 81
33.3 115 282 .408
33 94 .351 87
30.2 144 340 .424
57 156 .365 81
31.7
81 204 .397
0
1 .000 47
23.0
82 166 .494
1
7 .143 118
FTA
121
110
116
71
150
Pct Off Def Tot Avg PF FO
A TO Blk Stl Pts Avg
.669 56 91 147 4.3 63 1 51 89 21 27 447 13.1
.791 26 99 125 4.8 49 0 65 76
6 23 350 13.5
.698 48 116 164 5.3 75 2 126 104
9 59 426 13.7
.662 85 138 223 7.7 88 7 43 45 13 44 209 7.2
.787 66 82 148 5.7 64 1 43 65
6 14 283 10.9
9