Feb. 18, 2003

Game Backdrop: Stony Brook hopes to end a crushing two-game skid when the Seawolves take on Hartford on Wednesday. While Hartford has also dropped two straight, the Hawks have come up short by just four points in the two games combined. Meanwhile, Stony Brook has lost its last two games by an average of 33.5 points.

About the Hawks: Hartford comes off a heartbreaking one-point loss to Boston University, which holds second place in the America East Conference standings. The Hawks overcame a 16-point second half deficit to draw within 58-57. After a Terrier turnover and a Hartford timeout, senior guard Angie Pezzetta drove to the basket but her layup attempt bounced off the underside of the backboard as BU held on for the victory. A 17-0 run gave Hartford a 57-55 edge. On the ensuing Terrier possession, BU's Katie Meinhardt sank a three-pointer to put the Terriers up 58-57. The Hawks had two chances to score over the final 20 seconds but could not convert. Sophomore Liz Stich led three Hartford players in double figures with 15 points and nine rebounds. On the season, Pezzetta leads the Hawks in scoring with an 11.1 average. The senior also averages 3.5 assists. Stich chips in with 9.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.

Series History: The all-time series is even at 2-2.

Injury Update: Forward Malica Jibowu will be eligible to play on Wednesday after being sidelined with a stress fracture in her foot since Jan. 11. Center Meghan Barrett has not practiced since Dec. 30 due to ankle problems and is out indefinitely.

Last Meeting - Jan. 8, 2003: In a rematch of last season's tournament championship, Stony Brook held on for a 58-57 victory over Hartford in its America East opener at the Chase Family Arena. The Hawks had a chance to win the game in the final seconds but freshman Jenna Gale missed a shot from the left wing as time expired. Danielle DeGiorgio led three players in double figures for Stony Brook with a game-high 19 points and six rebounds. Sherry Jordan added a double-double for the Seawolves with 16 points while tying her career-high of 15 rebounds. Danyelle Ingram added 12 points and six rebounds in the win. Hartford was led by freshman guard Danielle Wexler who scored a career-high 13 points. Gale added 11 points while sophomore Anne Whalen had 10 points. Stony Brook had the momentum early as the Seawolves built a 12-point lead in the first half. The Hawks answered with a run of their own to close within 29-25 at halftime. Hartford came back to tie the game at 48-48 with 7:10 remaining, but Stony Brook jumped back ahead 58-53 when DeGiorgio scored at the 2:59 mark. However, Whalen answered for Hartford with a three-pointer to cut the lead to two points at 58-56. Wexler was fouled with 40 seconds remaining but could only manage one of two free throws as Stony Brook hung on for the one-point victory.

Bobo in the Middle: Sophmore Bojana Bogetic's team-high 20 points against BU marked her most prolific scoring performance since a career-high 21-point outing against Albany on Jan. 18. Bogetic ranks among the top 10 in the league in both field goal percentage and offensive rebounds.

Lucky No. 13: Junior Danielle DeGiorgio was Stony Brook's only other double figure scorer on a tough night against BU last week. She finished with 13 points and five rebounds. DeGiorgio is the second-best rebounder on the team (5.4 rpg) and fourth-leading scorer (8.6 ppg).

Offensive Onslaught: After a season-best 90-point performance on Feb. 2, the Seawolves have not managed to put together the same offensive firepower. Stony Brook has averaged only 55 points in the three-game stretch since then. Against BU, the Seawolves managed just 20 field goals on 32 percent shooting and connected on just 1-of-14 three-pointers. Meanwhile, the Terriers recorded season-highs with 93 total points, 35 field goals, and a 54.7 field goal percentage.

On the Boards: Although the Seawolves have held the rebounding edge in 10 games this year, Stony Brook has struggled on the boards in the last two games. The Terriers held a 42-32 advantage last Wednesday, while UVM hauled down 55 caroms compared to just 29 for Stony Brook on Feb. 8. Stony Brook has won the battle on the boards in five of their six victories with its most decisive performance against Hartford on Jan. 8. SBU finished with 48 rebounds compared to just 28 for the Hawks, as Sherry Jordan collected a game-high 15 to lead the way.

Jordan Watch: Sherry Jordan remains in the No. 7 spot on the all-time scoring list. Jordan now has 1,183 career points and has quite an obstacle to reach the No. 6 spot. She needs 149 points to pass Joan Gandolf, who tallied 1,331 points from 1990-94.

Last Time Out: Junior guard Katie Terhune and freshman guard Katie Meinhardt each scored 23 points as Boston University recorded a 93-51 victory over Stony Brook, 93-51, on Feb. 12. Terhune scored 12 of her 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds before intermission as the Terriers took a 39-25 lead at the break. Senior guard Alison Argentieri hit a jumper in the lane with the shot clock expiring to extend B.U.'s lead to 52-32 at 14:07 in the second half. Argentieri finished with 11 points, three assists, and three steals. Meinhardt scored 14 of her 23 points in the second stanza, including seven during a two minute stretch late in the game. Freshman guard Rachael Vanderwal was the fourth Terrier to score in double-digits with 10 points. Terhune also grabbed a game-high 11 boards as B.U. outrebounded Stony Brook, 42-32. The 93 total points, 35 field goals, and 54.7 field goal percentage were all season-highs for the Terriers. Bojana Bogetic scored 20 points and had eight rebounds while Danielle DeGiorgio added 13 points and five rebounds for the Seawolves.

Looking Ahead: The Seawolves hit the road to face conference leader Maine, who remains unbeated in league play, on Saturday, followed by a Feb. 25 home date with Binghamton.