Women's Basketball Continues Road Trip at North Carolina (Dec. 29; 2 p.m.)

DURHAM, N.H. -- The University of New Hampshire women's basketball team plays its third game of a season-long five-game road swing when the team travels to the Tar Heel State to challenge the University of North Carolina on Tuesday, Dec. 29 (2 p.m.).

THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE: The Wildcats enter the game with a 6-5 overall record. Three of UNH's six wins have come on the road.

In its last outing, New Hampshire was stymied by Bryant University in a 55-42 setback on Dec. 20. Senior guard Elizabeth Belanger (Acton, Mass.) led all scorers with 15 points. Senior forward Corinne Coia (North Smithfield, R.I.) turned in eight points and eight rebounds. Sophomore center Carlie Pogue (Cincinnati, Ohio) poured in nine points to bolster the offense. Junior guard Kristen Anderson (Greene, Maine) matched her career-high with four steals.

The Wildcats prevailed in steals (11-8) and points off turnovers (23-8), but were outrebounded by a 43-33 margin.

Belanger paces the Wildcats in scoring (15.7 points per game), rebounding (6.6 rebounds per game) and free throw percentage (.907). The senior also has the ability to knock down the 3-pointer, leading the team on converting 12 of 33 attempts 36.4 percent). Coia and Pogue support the scoring output with averages of 12.0 and 11.0 points per game, respectively. Anderson pilots the offense with 3.9 assists per game.? The Wildcats have converted 39.0 percent of their shots from the field and 26.3 percent from behind the 3-point line. On the boards, New Hampshire owns a 5.2 rebounding margin, ripping down 38.1 rebounds per game.

SCOUTING NORTH CAROLINA: The Tar Heels welcome the Wildcats for Tuesday's contest with an overall record of 8-5. UNC has tallied back-to-back wins, most recently defeating the University of Southern Mississippi from the Myrtle Beach Convention Center on Dec. 20.

Guards Jamie Cherry and Stephanie Watts each chalked up 17 points to lead the Tar Heel offense. Watts knocked down five 3-pointers as part of her performance, while Cherry was 10 of 11 from the free throw line. North Carolina overcame 25 turnovers by dominating the glass with a 46-32 rebound advantage. UNC was advantageous of second-chance points, tallying 18.

The Tar Heel offense registers 70.8 points per game and features four players that average double figures in the scoring column. Rookie guard Destinee Walker leads North Carolina in points, dropping 15.4 a game. Cherry tallies 15.3 points per game while dishing out a team-high 51 assists. Watts (12.5 points per game) and junior forward Hillary Summers (10.1 points per game). Summers and Watts pace the rebounding efforts for UNC, pulling down averages of 7.9 and 6.3, respectively.

The Tar Heels surrender 68.5 points per game, but have scored more than 70 points on five occasions this season. UNC has outrebounded its opponents by a 42.8-39.9 margin per game. North Carolina has racked up 77 blocks, ranking fourth in the nation.

Head coach Sylvia Hatchell is in her 30^th season with the Tar Heels. The winningest active coach in women's basketball, Hatchell was chosen for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the class of 2013.

ALL-TIME SERIES VS. NORTH CAROLINA: The meeting between UNH and UNC is the first-ever meeting between the two schools. New Hampshire is 2-2 lifetime against schools from North Carolina. The Wildcats' two wins came against Winston-Salem State University (Dec. 29, 2006; 63-55) and Davidson College (Jan. 3, 1993; 91-53).

BELANGER AT THE STRIPE: Elizabeth Belanger, a career 76.8 percent free throw shooter, is having a breakout year from the charity stripe. The senior guard has knocked down 39 of 43 attempts, boasting a .907 free throw percentage. She leads all America East players and ranks 13^th in the nation.

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.).

CLEAN GLASS: UNH pulls down 38.1 rebounds per game this season, second-best in America East. In 11 games this season, New Hampshire has been only been outrebounded once. The Wildcats are boasting their highest rebounding average in the Magarity era and own a 5.2 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 38.7 points per game this season, accounting for 62.7 percent of New Hampshire's points. The 'Cats inflict much of their scoring near the rim. 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.

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 (15.7 points per game) rebounding (6.6 rebounds per game), free throw percentage (.907) and 3-point percentage (364). 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 tallied a game-high 15 points as part of a 55-42 setback at Bryant (Dec. 20). The senior's 1,113 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 eight games this season. 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 12.0 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 11.0 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 18 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 5.8 points and 4.3 rebounds, setting 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 18.0 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 1,113 career points.

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

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	1,113

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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

DUE NEXT: UNH will conclude its pre-America East schedule when the squad visits Yale University on Saturday, Jan. 2 (2 p.m.). The 'Cats are back at Lundholm Gymnasium on Wednesday, Jan. 13 (12 p.m.), welcoming the University at Albany for Education Day. For tickets, please visit UNHWildcats.com/tickets or call (603) 862-4000.

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