Women's Basketball Looks to Bounce Back Against Manhattan (Nov. 24; 7 p.m.)

DURHAM, N.H. -- The University of New Hampshire women's basketball team looks to return to its winning ways, welcoming Manhattan College to Lundholm Gymnasium for non-conference action Tuesday, Nov. 24 (7 p.m.). The game will be available on AmericaEast.tv and the Wildcat Sports Radio Network.

NEXT HOME GAME: Dec. 2 (7 p.m.) vs. Northeastern University | Buy Tickets Here

BEAT HUNGER GAMES: The New Hampshire Food Bank, Service Credit Union and TownSquare Media have partnered with UNH Athletics for the eighth annual Wildcat Food Drive. All proceeds and contributions will directly support the NH Food Bank and Granite State communities. UNH women's basketball is part of the 'Beat Hunger Games' at which fans can donate non-perishable food items. The Wildcat women's basktball team will be collecting donations at Lundholm Gymnasium.

THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE: The Wildcats suffered their first loss of the 2015-16 season, falling to the University of Pennsylvania at home in a 67-60 contest Sunday, Nov. 22. Senior guard Elizabeth Belanger (Acton, Mass.) eclipsed 1,000 career points in the game, posting a season-high 23 points and a personal best 13 rebounds in the setback.

Belanger shot 8-for-15 for a team-high 21 points, and notched her second double-double in a row. The co-captain hit the 1,000-point milestone on a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter. She is the 19th player in program history to accomplish the feat. Sophomore center Carlie Pogue (Cincinnati, Ohio) and senior forward Corinne Coia (North Smithfield, R.I.) also recorded double-digit scoring efforts against the Quakers, posting tallies of 12 and 11, respectively.

The Wildcats connected on 23 of 60 (38.3 percent) attempts from the field and made 3 of 8 (37.5 percent) from beyond the arc. New Hampshire converted all 11 of its free throw attempts. UNH held the edge in rebounding (39-37) and points in the paint (32-24).

Belanger (15.5), Coia (14.5) and Pogue (13.3) all average over 10 points per game to propel UNH to 68.5 points per game. Belanger also leads the team on the glass, ripping down 7.3 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Aliza Simpson (Londonderry, N.H.) leads the team in made 3-pointers (five) and steals (10). Belanger has been nearly automatic from the free throw line, knocking down 14 of 15 attempts for a .933 free throw percentage.

New Hampshire is averaging 68.5 points per game while holding its opponents to 58.5 points. UNH has made its presence felt around the paint, boasting a 9.3 rebounding margin and pulling down 40.0 boards per game.

SCOUTING MANHATTAN: The Jaspers step into Lundholm Gymnasium with an overall record of 1-2. In its last outing, Manhattan was on the wrong end of a 61-56 contest against Bucknell University at Draddy Gymnasium on Nov. 21. The Jaspers overcame a 12-point first-quarter deficit to tie the game after three frames. It was still tied midway through the fourth before Bucknell pulled away in the waning moments of the game.

Senior center Crystal Ross led the Jaspers with 16 points, while sophomore guard Nyasha Irizarry finished with eight points. Sophomore center Kayla Grimme snagged a team-high seven rebounds in the loss. As a team, Manhattan shot 33.9 percent (21 of 62) from the field, 21.4 percent (3 of 14) from 3-point range and 61.1 percent (11 of 18) at the free throw line.

Sophomore guard Amani Tatum paces the scoring for the Jaspers this season with 11.0 points per game. Irizarry is right behind Tatum in the scoring column, averaging 10.0 points per game. Grimme is Manhattan's primary rebounder and shot blocker, pulling down 9.7 boards per game while racking up 12 blocks. Tatum and Irizarry are threats from the 3-point line, accounting for 11 of the Jaspers' 18 made treys. Senior guard Blake Underhill facilitates the offense, dishing out 13 helpers while chipping in 6.3 points per game.

The Jaspers are averaging 63.3 points per game, but have conceded 66.3 to opponents this season. Manhattan is connecting on 35.4 percent of its shots from the floor and 36.0 from beyond the arc. From the charity stripe, Manhattan is shooting at just a .607 clip. The Jaspers are forcing 19.3 turnovers a game. John Olenowski is in his seventh season as the head coach at Manhattan.

INSIDE THE SERIES: The Wildcats and Jaspers meet for the eighth time in the all-time series. New Hampshire and Manhattan played last season at Draddy Gymnasium. The Wildcats edged out the Jaspers in a 58-54 win on Dec. 28, 2014. UNH is 3-0 lifetime against Manhattan at Lundholm Gymnasium.

AMERICA EAST LEADERS: New Hampshire ranks second among America East schools in scoring offense (68.5 points per game), field goal percentage (.463), rebounding defense (30.8 rebounds per game) and rebounding margin ( 9.2) through four contests. Individually, Elizabeth Belanger ranks in the top-10 among conference players in scoring (15.5 points per game; seventh), rebounding (8.3 rebounds per game; tied for fourth) and free throw percentage (.933; second).

NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS: The 'Cats compiled an 8-4 record in non-conference play in 2014-15. The eight wins outside of league play matched the most victories under the direction of head coach Maureen Magarity, last accomplishing the feat in the 2011-12 season. UNH is off to a 3-1 start in non-conference play this season.

20-20: Elizabeth Belanger and Corinne Coia each scored over 20 points in the win at Sacred Heart on Nov. 18. It marks the first time two UNH players scored 20 or more points in a game since Coia and Kelsey Hogan '14 accomplished the feat on Feb. 22, 2014.

PASS THE ROCK: Kristen Anderson (Greene, Maine) dished out a career-high nine assists in the 81-69 win at Sacred Heart on Nov. 18. The junior guard leads the team with 10 helpers this season. Anderson ranks sixth among active conference players with 186 assists.

6-OH-E: Senior guard Elizabeth Belanger earned the nod as a member of the America East Preseason First Team this season. An America East All-Conference First Team honoree last season, the guard reached double figures in the scoring column in 15 of 16 America East games and eclipsed 20 points or more in four league contests. Belanger poured in 20 points or more six times throughout the 2014-15 season. She has averaged 13.7 points and a team-high 7.0 rebounds per game this season. The senior tallied 13 points and seven rebounds, including the go-ahead basket to help the Wildcats rally to a 61-57 win at Dartmouth on Nov. 16. Belanger followed with a double-double effort of 22 points and 10 rebounds in a 81-69 win at Sacred Heart (Nov. 18). She exploded for a 23-point 13-rebound effort in a 67-60 setback against Penn on Nov. 22. The senior's 1,002 career points ranks third among active America East players and 18th in program history.

COIA IS BACK: Corinne Coia returns to the squad after being sidelined by an injury for the 2014-15 season. In her first full season playing for UNH in 2013-14, the America East All-Second Team honoree played in 30 games with 25 starts. She averaged 11.8 points per game and ranked first on the squad in field goal percentage (.475). The 6-foot-4 forward eclipsed at least 10 points in a team-high 21 of 30 games and paced the Wildcats with six double-doubles. The senior has hit double figures in all four games to start the 2015-16 campaign. In her season debut, Coia posted 10 points at home against Colby-Sawyer (Nov. 13) in a 74-41 win. She followed with a 16-point performance on the road at Dartmouth (Nov. 16) in the come-from-behind 61-57 win. Coia notched a season-high 21 points and eight rebounds in a 81-69 win at Sacred Heart on Nov. 18. The senior logged 11 points and six rebounds in the 67-60 loss at home against Penn (Nov. 22).

CP32: A member of the America East All-Rookie Team in 2014-15, Carlie Pogue is putting together a strong sophomore campaign this season. The 6-foot-2 center has registered at least 10 points in three consecutive games. She started the streak with a season-high 19-point performance on 9 of 10 shooting in the 61-57 win at Dartmouth (Nov. 16). Pogue followed up by pouring in 15 points in the 81-69 win on the road against Sacred Heart (Nov. 18). Most recently, she chalked up 14 points in the 67-60 loss against Penn (Nov. 22).

GRANITE STATE GROWN: Aliza Simpson, a sophomore guard, chose to play collegiate basketball in her home state of New Hampshire. The New Hampshire Gatorade and NHIAA Player of the Year in 2013-14, is off to a good start to her sophomore season. Against Colby-Sawyer (Nov. 13), the sophomore scored 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting in the season debut. On the road at Dartmouth (Nov. 16), the guard was one point shy of a double-double, posting nine points and a career-high 11 rebounds. Simpson also matched her personal best in steals with four.

FROM THE 603 : Two student-athletes on the 2015-16 roster hail from New Hampshire. They are junior Kat Fogarty (Peterborough) and Aliza Simpson (Londonderry).

CONTROLLING THE PAINT: New Hampshire was 16-3 last season and 3-1 this season when outscoring its opponent in the paint. Since the start of the 2013-14 season, the Wildcats are 29-7 when they win the scoring battle in the paint.

MOVING UP THE LEADERBOARD: Elizabeth Belanger hit the 1,000 point milestone on a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter at Lundholm Gymnasium against Penn on Nov. 22. She became the 19th player in program history to accomplish the feat and ranks 18th in program history with 1,002 career points.

Below are the UNH all-time scoring records 16 through 20.

POINTS
16.	Kelly Butterfield	1981-85	1,030
17.	Marcie Lane	1989-94	1,008
18.	Elizabeth Belanger	2012-	1,002
19.	Heidi Plencner	1998-02	1,000
20.	Kathy Sanborn	1975-79	930
	Danielle Clark	2003-07	930

WILDCATS IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Four of New Hampshire's games this season will be televised. UNH and Maine renews its rivalry in Durham on Jan. 18, which will be featured on ESPN3. New Hampshire is back on ESPN3 six days later on Jan. 24 in a rematch of the America East quarterfinals at Hartford. The game between UNH and UMBC at Lundholm Gymnasium on Jan. 30 will be featured on WBIN Classics. In the following game (Feb. 6), New Hampshire and Binghamton will air on Fox College Sports. Additionally, every game of the 2015 America East Women's Basketball Championship will air on the ESPN networks, including the championship game.

MO' WINS MO' YEARS: On April 24, 2014, head coach Maureen Magarity agreed to a five-year extension with the UNH women's basketball team.

In five seasons at New Hampshire, Magarity has led the Wildcats to back-to-back semifinal appearances in the America East tournament in 2013 and 2014. In the 2013-14 season, she guided the Wildcats to a personal-best 19-12 overall record and 12-4 in conference play, the most wins in a single season since the 1998-99 season (19-8, 13-5 AE).

UNH has not had a 20-win season since the 1983-84 season. Here is a look the at the past seasons in program history with at least 19 wins:

1982-83 23-7
1983-84 20-8
1987-88 19-8 (11-3)
1998-99 19-8 (13-5)
2013-14 19-12 (12-4)*

* Coached by Maureen Magarity

LEADER OF THE 'CAT PACK: The 2015-16 season marks the sixth season for head coach Maureen Magarity, who became the sixth head coach in program history in May 2010 and the youngest coach of a Division I team - men's or women's - in the country. Magarity quickly made a positive impact on the program with a 73-76 record in her five seasons; in comparison, UNH was a combined 33-87 the four years prior to her arrival. In 2014-15, New Hampshire finished the 2014-15 season with an overall record of 17-12 and 9-7 against America East opponents. The Wildcats finished the season fourth in the league standings and reached double digit wins for the fourth consecutive year. Magarity led the Wildcats to a 19-12 record and 12-4 in America East play, the most wins in a single season since the 1998-99 season. Additionally, Magarity directed New Hampshire to its second consecutive appearance in the America East semifinals, topping Vermont 85-79 (March 7). In just her second year at the helm in Durham, Magarity guided the Wildcats to their second postseason appearance (beyond conference postseason play) in the program's 37-year history when UNH advanced to the 2012 Women's Basketball Invitational. New Hampshire finished the year with a 16-14 overall record to mark the team's first winning season since 2006 and most wins since 2002. In her first season, Magarity led the Wildcats to a 9-20 overall record and they doubled their conference wins from the previous season.

WILDCATS ON THE AIR: In 2015-16, select UNH basketball games can be heard on three channels spanning the Seacoast and Manchester. Jim Jeannotte, 23-time New Hampshire Sportscaster of the Year, handles the play-by-play. Mike Murphy, a five-time winner of the New Hampshire Sportscaster of the Year award, does the color commentating.

The Wildcat Sports Radio Network will broadcast a total of 14 UNH women's basketball regular-season games during the 2015-16 season and will air the games during the America East Championships. The Wildcat Sports Radio Network affiliates include:

WPKX-AM - 930 - Rochester
WGIR-AM - 610 - Manchester
Live Stream - Stretch - UNHWildcats.com

Here is the complete schedule:

Nov. 13 vs. Colby-Sawyer
Nov. 22 vs. Penn
Nov. 24 vs. Manhattan
Dec. 2 vs. Northeastern
Dec. 5 vs. Boston University
Dec. 9 vs. Siena
Dec. 20 at Bryant
Jan. 13 vs. UAlbany
Jan. 18 vs. Maine
Jan. 21 vs. UMass Lowell
Jan. 30 vs. UMBC
Feb. 6 vs. Binghamton
Feb. 14 vs. Stony Brook
Feb. 20 vs. Hartford
Feb. 25 vs. Vermont

UP NEXT: New Hampshire hits the road for a contest at Central Connecticut State University on Sunday, Nov. 29 (1 p.m.). UNH then returns to Durham to start a three-game homestand. The Wildcats welcome Beantown foes Northeastern University (Dec. 2; 7 p.m.) and Boston University (Dec. 5; 4 p.m.). UNH concludes the homestand against Siena College (Dec. 9; 7 p.m.). For tickets, visit UNHWildcats.com or call 603-862-4000.

Please visit UNHWildcats.com or follow the Wildcats via social media on Facebook (www.facebook.com/UNHWildcats), Twitter (@UNHWildcats), YouTube (www.youtube.com/UNHAthletics), Instagram (@UNHWildcats) and Snapchat (@UNHWildcats) for the latest news and information on all 20 varsity sports. For additional information on the UNH women's basketball team, follow the 'Cats on Twitter (@UNHHoops),Instagram (@unhwbb) and Snapchat (@UNHWildcats). Text UNH to 90561 to sign up for Sports alerts. Message & Data Rates May Apply. 1 message/text. Consent to receive a text message is not a condition of purchasing goods or services. Text HELP to 90561 for info. STOP to cancel. T&Cs & Privacy Policy is available HERE.

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