Jan. 17, 2006
Game 15
Stony Brook (9-5, 2-1 America East)
vs. Boston University (9-5, 2-1 America East)
January 18, 2006 • 7:00 p.m.
Indoor Sports Complex • Stony Brook, N.Y.
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Tonight's Matchup
Stony Brook (9-5, 2-1 America East) hosts Boston University (9-5, 2-1 America East) in a battle for at least sole possession of third place in America East this evening. The Terriers own a slight 6-4 all-time advantage and have won three of the last four meetings, including an 85-74 victory in the first round of the conference tournament a year ago.
Scouting the Terriers
Boston University enters today's contest having won three of its last four games, including a 77-68 victory over Binghamton last time out.
The Terriers are led by Katie Meinhardt's 12.4 points per game, while Cheri Raffo (10.9 ppg) and Erica Kovach (10.2 ppg) are both averaging double figures.
Last Time Out
Sidney Orndorff netted a career-high 17 points, including a crucial layup with 28 seconds left, to lift Stony Brook to a 72-69 victory over New Hampshire on Saturday.
Jessica Smith netted a game-high 22 points, including the 1000th of her career, while Mykeema Ford added 15 points, six rebounds, four steals and four assists. Dana Ferraro finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
Ferraro, Ford Among NCAA Leaders
Stony Brook's Dana Ferraro and Mykeema Ford rank among the NCAA Division I leaders in games played through January 16. Ferraro ranks tied for eighth in the nation with 11.2 rebounds per game, while Ford stands 28th with 5.4 assists.
Ford, Smith Reach 1000 Career Point Mark
Stony Brook's junior standouts, Mykeema Ford and Jessica Smith, have both reached the 1000-point mark for their careers, marking the first time in program history two Seawolves reached the milestone in the same season.
Ford reached the 1000-point mark on January 7th at home vs. Vermont, while Smith notched her 1000th point just two games later at New Hampshire on January 14.
Double Your Pleasure
Stony Brook has come to rely on the duo of Jessica Smith and Mykeema Ford to score in double-figures, while Dana Ferraro has consistently provided the same effort on the boards.
Through 14 games this season, Smith has reached double-figures 12 times and Ford 13, while Ferraro has pulled down double-figures rebounds in 12 contests.
For their careers, Smith has scored in double-digits in 56-of-70 games and Ford in 54-of-68, while Ferraro has reached double-figures boards in 23-of-42 outings.
Ford Cutting Down on TO's
Since posting a career-worst nine turnovers vs. Delaware State on December 28, Mykeema Ford has turned the ball over just five times in Stony Brook's last four games. During that stretch, her assist/turnover ratio was 4.0 compared to 1.8 for the season.
Seawolves Earn Highest RPI Ranking in Among AE Teams
Behind several strong wins to open the season, Stony Brook has earned an America East-best RPI ranking of 33 as of January 15.
The Seawolves, who earned a previous program-best ranking of 28th earlier this season, topped 19th-ranked Temple while also earning impressive wins over defending Ivy League Champion Dartmouth and the Sunbelt Conference's Arkansas State.
America East boasts three teams with RPIs in the top 100 and, as a conference, ranks 12th in the nation in The Collegiate Basketball News Women's RPI Report. More importantly, AE is fourth among I-AA conferences with only the Colonial (eighth), Missouri Valley (11th) and A-10 (ninth) posting higher rankings among I-AA leagues.
Smith on a Roll
Since struggling through a two-game stretch where she averaged just 7.5 points, Jessica Smith has been outstanding, scoring in double figures in 11 straight games. During that streak, which is tops in America East, the junior is averaging 17.5 points per outing while recording four double-doubles.
The next longest double-figures streak belongs to teammate Mykeema Ford with nine games, and two players with four straight.
Orndorff Gets Back on Track
Junior Sidney Orndorff picked up her offensive output in a big way for the Seawolves on their two-game road trip January 11 & 14.
The guard, who entered the week going four straight games without scoring more than six points, chipped in with 13 points to go with career-highs of seven rebounds and five steals at Binghamton before dropping a career-high 17 points at New Hampshire.
For the season, she ranks third on the team with 8.4 points per game and is third in America East with a .452 three point field goal percentage.
Noting the Seawolves
The Seawolves have won nine games so far this season, which is their highest overall win total since 2002-03... with its win over Vermont on January 7, Stony Brook improved to 5-1 at home for the first time since 2001-02... that win also kept the Seawolves perfect in America East openers, as SB has gone 5-0 since joining the league that same year... SB defeated both conference champions it has faced so far this year, knocking off A-10 champ Temple on December 7 before downing Ivy League champion Dartmouth on December 13... SB has faced four teams that have either been ranked or received votes in the national polls this season, going 1-3 in those games.
Paw Prints
Dana Ferraro has pulled down double figures rebounds in five straight games and six of the last seven, averaging 12.4 and 11.6, respectively, during those streaks... Stony Brook has not had much help from its bench this season, as non-starters are averaging a combined 15.3 of the Seawolves 67.5 points per game as opposed to 52.2 from the starting five.
