Feb. 21, 2006
Game 24
Stony Brook (15-8, 8-4) America East)
vs. Hartford (21-2, 13-0 America East)
February 22, 2006 • 1:00 p.m.
Indoor Sports Complex • Stony Brook, N.Y.
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Today's Matchup
Stony Brook (15-8, 8-4 America East) looks for its fifth win in its last six games when the Seawolves host first place Hartford (21-2, 13--0 America East) this afternoon. The Hawks tied up the all-time series at five wins a piece with an 82-64 win back on January 21.
Scouting the Hawks
Hartford enters today's contest riding a 15 game winning streak and at a perfect 13-0 in America East play. Last time out, the Hawks earned a 66-56 victory over Binghamton.
The Hawks are led by Danielle Hood's 13.6 points per game, while Erica Beverly (10.8 ppg) and Erika Messam (10.2 ppg) are also averaging double figures scoring.
Last Time Out
A furious rally fell just short as Boston University held off Stony Brook 72-64.
The Seawolves trailed by 10 with 2:42 to go, but they rallied back within six after two Jessica Smith foul shots and a steal by Dana Ferraro that led to a layup drew the Seawolves within 66-62 with 1:27 left. The teams traded baskets and the Seawolves had a chance to get within a basket. Ford's jumper was off the mark and a Ferraro follow fell short. BU's Erica Kovach was fouled on the rebound and converted a pair of free throws to thwart the rally.
Four Seawolves finished in double figures led by Ferraro (12), Smith (12) and Sidney Orndorff (12). Ford added 10 points while Ferraro added 14 rebounds.
McHugh Approaching 250 career Coaching Victories
Stony Brook head coach Maura McHugh is approaching the 250 win milestone for her collegiate career, entering tonight's contest with 249 career victories.
McHugh racked up 142 victories in seven seasons (1980-87) at Oklahoma and 84 wins in six seasons (1987-93) at Arizona State. She then moved on to coach in the professional ranks for six seasons, four as a head coach, before returning to the college game in 2004-05 to join the Seawolves.
Dana Does It
Sophomore Dana Ferraro has been outstanding on the boards all season, but her offensive game has been coming together in the Seawolves last four outings.
The forward collected four of her seven double-figures scoring games on the season during those games, averaging 11.5 points while shooting 51.9 percent (14-for-27) from the field and 85.7 percent (18-for-21) from the free throw line while posting 10.8 boards per game. Her best outing came at Vermont on February 9 where she netted a career-high 14 points and pulled down 15 boards and added 12 points and 14 rebounds at Boston University on February 18.
A First Time For Everything
Stony Brook earned a pair of regular season series sweeps this season, taking two from New Hampshire and Vermont for the first time in the Seawolves five years in America East.
Stony Brook's 62-56 victory over New Hampshire on February 15 capped a series sweep of the Wildcats, while the Seawolves 81-74 win at Vermont on February 9 made it two wins vs. the Catamounts.
In addition, the Seawolves wins at Vermont's Patrick Gymnasium and New Hampshire's Lundholm Gymnasium were also program firsts.
Home Sweet Home
Stony Brook has been outstanding at home so far this season, racking up an 9-2 overall record and a 5-1 league mark at the Indoor Sports Complex.
The Seawolves have won eight of their last nine games at home, including five convincing America East victories, to post their best record through 11 games at the Sports Complex since going 10-1 in 2000-01.
Seawolves Drop to 38th in RPI
After a tough road loss to Boston University on Saturday, Stony Brook dropped five spots to 38th in the latest RPI rankings as of February 20.
The Seawolves, who earned a previous best 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 remained 11th in The Collegiate Basketball News Women's RPI Report and now ranks third among I-AA conferences. Only the Colonial (eighth) and Atlantic 10 (10th) are higher ranking I-AA leagues. America East has never finished as high as 11th in the final RPI for a season and never as high as third among I-AA Conferences. America East boasts three teams with RPIs in the top 100 with Hartford (33) and Boston University (73).
Ferraro Among NCAA Leaders
Dana Ferraro ranks among NCAA Division I leaders in games played through February 13. Ferraro, who leads America East in rebounding, dropped two spots back to seventh in the nation with 11.5 rebounds per game.
Paw Prints
Mykeema Ford moved into 54th place all-time in America East history and first among active players with 1,180 career points... Ford needs just nine points to break into the top 50 all-time... Rachel Laws of Binghamton is second among active players and 55th all-time with 1,162 points just ahead of SB?s Jessica Smith, who stands 59th with 1,135 points... Dana Ferraro has posted double figures rebounds in 10 of the last 14 games... Ford and Smith have led the Seawolves in scoring in all but three games so far this year... Kelly Watson, Jessie Boylan and Sidney Orndorff led in those games.
