Women’s Basketball Continues Road Swing at Bryant on Sunday (Dec. 20; 1 p.m.)

DURHAM, N.H. -- The University of New Hampshire women's basketball team is set for its second straight road game with a contest at Bryant University on Sunday, Dec. 20 (1 p.m.). The game will be broadcasted on the Wildcat Sports Radio Network.

THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE: The Wildcats continue their season-long five-game road trip, carrying a 6-4 overall record into the non-conference bout. New Hampshire was on the losing end of a 71-51 decision at Boston College on Dec. 13. Sophomore guard Aliza Simpson (Londonderry, N.H.) matched her season-high of 12 points. Simpson drilled all four of her shots from the floor, including two from 3-point range. She also went 2-for-2 from the free throw line.

New Hampshire was held to 31.1 percent (19 of 54) shooting from the floor, but knocked down 9 of 12 (75.0 percent) from the free throw line. UNH won the battle on the boards, chalking up 33 rebounds in comparison to BC's 31.

Senior guard Elizabeth Belanger (Acton, Mass.) leads the Wildcats in scoring (15.8 points per game), rebounding (6.9 rebounds per game), free throw percentage (.892) and 3-point percentage (.367) this season. Senior forward Corinne Coia (North Smithfield, R.I.) and sophomore center Carlie Pogue (Cincinnati, Ohio) log double digits in the scoring column with per game averages of 12.4 and 11.2, respectively. Junior guard Kristen Anderson (Greene, Maine) pilots the offense with 4.1 assists per game.

UNH is racking up 63.7 points per game while conceding 58.7. The Wildcats have poured in 41.8 percent of their shots from the field and 27.9 percent from beyond the arc. On the glass, New Hampshire holds a +6.7 rebounding margin, corralling 39.2 rebounds per game.

SCOUTING BRYANT: The Bulldogs aim to snap a five-game skid and enter the tilt with a 2-7 overall record. Most recently, Bryant fell 76-38 on the road at the University of Maine on Dec.12. Senior forward Breanna Rucker recorded a team-high eight points and 11 rebounds in the loss against the Black Bears.

The Bryant offense features three players that average double figures in the scoring column. Sophomore guard Ivory Bailey leads the Bulldogs in points, dropping 14.2 a game while Senior guard Tiersa Winder posts 14.0 points per game. Rucker is averaging a double-double with 13.0 points and 12.1 rebounds per game. Bailey directs the offense with 2.3 assists per game.

The Bulldogs notch 65.1 points per game, but surrender 75.1. Bryant has outrebounded its opponents by a 42.3-29.7 margin per game.

Mary Burke is in her 25th season as head coach of the Bulldogs. In 2014-15, Burke guided the Bulldogs to their best Division I season to date in which they earned a share of the Northeast Conference Regular Season Title with a 22-9 overall record and 14-4 in Northeast Conference play.

INSIDE THE SERIES: The Wildcats and Bulldogs meet for the fourth time in the all-time series. New Hampshire has yet to defeat Bryant, last falling to the Bulldogs in a 57-54 contest on New Year's Eve last year.

HOT START: For the first time under the direction of head coach Maureen Magarity, the Wildcats won six of their first eight games to start the 2015-16 ledger. The last time a UNH team began the season with a 6-2 record dates back to the 2005-06 season.

CLEAN GLASS: UNH pulls down 38.6 rebounds per game this season, second-best in America East. In 10 games this season, New Hampshire has yet to be outrebounded. The Wildcats are boasting their highest rebounding average in the Magarity era and own a +6.7 margin on the glass.

UP FRONT AND PERSONAL: The front court of Elizabeth Belanger, Corinne Coia and Carlie Pogue have backboned the scoring for UNH this season. The trio registers 39.4 points per game this season, accounting for 61.8 percent of New Hampshire's points. The 'Cats inflict much of their scoring near the rim, scoring 46 percent of its points in the paint. New Hampshire is 5-1 this season when outscoring its opponent in the paint. Since the start of the 2013-14 season, the Wildcats are 31-7 when they win the scoring battle in the paint.

ROAD WARRIORS: UNH will travel a total of 2,743.4 miles in its season-long five-game road swing. The 'Cats start the road trip at Boston College on Sunday, Dec. 13 (1 p.m.). New Hampshire then treks to Bryant University on Sunday, Dec. 20 (1 p.m.). After a visit to the Tar Heel State on Tuesday, Dec. 29 (2 p.m.) against the University of North Carolina, UNH travels to Yale University to close out its non-conference schedule Saturday, Jan. 2 (2 p.m.). New Hampshire caps off the road trip at Binghamton University to open the America East schedule Saturday, Jan. 9 (4 p.m.).

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.

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 has scored at least 20 points 13 times in her career and four times this season. She leads the Wildcats in scoring (15.8 points per game) rebounding (6.9 rebounds per game), free throw percentage (.892) and 3-point percentage (367). 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 an 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. Belanger tallied a game-high 17 points in the 64-50 win at CCSU on Nov. 29. She matched her career-high with 27 points scored in the 66-54 loss to Northeastern (Dec. 2). The guard engineered another 20-point performance, dropping 24 against Boston University in a 69-52 rout. Against Siena (Dec. 9), Belanger matched her personal best with four 3-pointers made as part of a 14-point effort in a 57-53 loss. The senior's 1,098 career points ranks third among active America East players and 12th 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-Conference 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 8 of 10 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 an 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). Coia tallied a game-high 19 points to help propel the Wildcats to a 72-57 win over Manhattan on Nov. 24. She poured in 14 points in the 60-44 triumph at Central Connecticut (Nov. 29). Against Boston University (Dec. 5), the senior turned in 13 points in the 69-52 triumph. The forward eclipsed double figures with a 10-point effort in a 57-53 loss against Siena on Dec .9. Coia averages 12.4 points per game, second best on the squad.

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 six games this season. In the second game of the 2015-16 slate, she chalked up 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). She chalked up 14 points in the 67-60 loss against Penn (Nov. 22). Against Manhattan (Nov. 24), Pogue pitched in 10 points in a 72-57 win. She notched her first double-double of the season with a 13-point 11-rebound performance in a 66-54 setback against Northeastern on Dec. 2. The sophomore notched a season-high three blocks in the 69-52 win against BU (Dec. 5). She logged a season-high 22-point performance in a 57-53 setback against Siena (Dec. 9), just two points shy of matching her personal best. Pogue registers 11.2 points per game.

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. Against Boston University (Dec. 5), Simpson was one-point shy of a personal best in scoring with a 12-point performance to help the 'Cats forge a 69-52 win. The guard also reached 12 points in a 71-51 setback at Boston College (Dec. 13). The sophomore leads the team with 17 steals.

SPARK OFF THE BENCH: Senior guard/forward Stephanie Spoto (Pittsford, N.Y.) has enjoyed a good start to the 2015-16 season coming off the bench. She has averaged 6.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game in 2015-16. Spoto has set new personal bests in scoring three times this season. She first hit a career-high in scoring with 10 points in an 81-69 win at Sacred Heart (Nov. 18). She bested her career-high in the scoring column with a 12-point effort against Manhattan (Nov. 24) in a 72-57 victory. In the win against Manhattan she also matched her personal best on the glass with eight rebounds. Spoto has registered 18.5 minutes per game this season.

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 12th in program history with 1,098 career points.

Below are the UNH all-time scoring records 8 through 12.

POINTS

8.	Candance Williams	2006-10	1,277
9.	Theresa Redmond	1979-83	1,252
10.	Kelsey Hogan	2008-14	1,181
11.	Pam Brandell	1993-97	1,140
12.	Elizabeth Belanger	2012-Present	1,098

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.

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

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

TURNING IT AROUND: With the win over Boston University on Dec. 5, head coach Maureen Magarity had an all-time winning percentage above .500 during her tenure at UNH. The sixth year head coach currently owns a 79-80 lifetime record. Magarity has led the Wildcats to four winning seasons during her tenure at UNH. In comparison, New Hampshire was a combined 33-87 the four years prior to her arrival.

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 first 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
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 plays its third game of the five-game road swing at the University of North Carolina on Tuesday, Dec. 29 (2 p.m.). UNH returns to Lundholm Gymnasium to host the University at Albany for Education Day on Wednesday, Jan. 13 (12 p.m.). For tickets, please visit UNHWildcats.com/tickets or call (603) 862-4000.

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